Bobbie Chew Bigby

Dr. Bobbie Chew Bigby is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Nulungu Research Institute and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at New York University (NYU) Tulsa. Her research focuses on Indigenous-led tourism models, cultural resurgence, and environmental stewardship, emphasizing community empowerment through tourism. Bobbie completed her PhD at the University of Notre Dame Australia in 2023, with support from the Western Australian Government’s JTSI Science/Tourism Fellows program and the Australian Government’s RTP.

Education:

• PhD, University of Notre Dame Australia (2023)
• MS in Arts and Culture Administration, Drexel University (AIANTA Scholar)
• MA in International Studies (Peace and Conflict Resolution), University of Queensland (Rotary Peace Fellow, 2014–2015)
• BA in Chinese Language/Literature and Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis (Rodriguez Scholar, 2005–2009)

Research Interests: Bobbie explores tourism’s role in cultural preservation, language revitalization, and ecological justice for Indigenous and post-conflict communities. She advocates for tourism as a tool for cultural resilience and environmental stewardship, particularly in Indigenous Australia, Oklahoma Indian Country, and Asia.

Awards and Fellowships:

• Mellon Mays Fellowship
• Fulbright Fellowship
• Rodriguez Scholar (2005–2009)
• Graduate Women Western Australia Fellowship

Grants and Collaborations: Her work is supported by grants from JTSI Science/Tourism Fellows, RTP, and partnerships with Indigenous communities worldwide. She co-edited The Local Turn in Tourism: Empowering Communities (2022) and Socialising Tourism: Rethinking Tourism for Social and Ecological Justice (2021).

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Nulungu Research Institute, focusing on Indigenous research methodologies and community engagement.