معرفی
Anthropology Professor Bonnie Glass-Coffin of Utah State University's College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences has earned national recognition as the 2004 U.S. Professor of the Year for her transformative pedagogical approaches. She pioneered an immersive international ethnographic field school in Huanchaco, Peru, where undergraduate students engage in 24/7 cultural immersion, conducting interviews, creating cognitive maps, and participating in traditional rituals that mirror graduate-level research experiences. Her innovative classroom methods include professional-style student presentations and campus museum exhibits viewed by hundreds of schoolchildren.
Professor Glass-Coffin's research spans shamanic traditions, religious studies, and autoethnographic methodologies, with recent publications exploring Ayahuasca spirituality, interfaith initiatives, and Peruvian cultural practices. Her work consistently bridges academic theory with practical application, particularly through USU's Interfaith Initiative where she develops programs like 'Speed-Faithing' to build religious literacy and empathy. The ethnographic field school she established serves as both a pedagogical model and research laboratory, generating student papers that inform local Peruvian communities while advancing anthropological understanding of cultural change.
Her scientific recognition includes the prestigious 2004 U.S. Professor of the Year award, acknowledging her exceptional ability to stretch academic engagement beyond traditional boundaries. Student testimonials consistently highlight her capacity to empower learners, challenge perspectives without taking sides, and foster passionate engagement with anthropological inquiry. Through her direction of the Ethnographic Field School, she has created a pipeline for undergraduate research that transforms student projects into professional conference presentations and publications.
Professor Glass-Coffin's academic leadership extends to developing museum exhibits through USU's Anthropology program, contributing to the Museum of Anthropology's mission of connecting campus and community through cultural education. Her work exemplifies engaged anthropology that values both scholarly rigor and community impact, particularly through long-standing partnerships with Peruvian communities that have demonstrably improved local quality of life through collaborative research.
