Chris Chiappari

Chris Chiappari is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at St. Olaf College. His academic work focuses on religious beliefs and practices in highland Guatemala, examining the intersections of Maya spirituality, Protestantism, Catholicism, and the Pentecostal/charismatic movement.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University
• Master's in International Agricultural Development from the University of California, Davis
• Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota

Research Interests include Latin America (particularly Central America, Mexico, and Brazil), Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity, religious hybridity, the Maya, and cultural studies. His work emphasizes the holistic and comparative approaches of cultural anthropology, analyzing how popular religious practices contrast with official doctrines and interrelate across traditions.

Teaching: He teaches courses such as Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Latin American Culture, Religion, Culture, and Society, and Ethnographic Research Methods. Office hours are scheduled for Spring 2025 via Zoom or in person at Holland Hall 425.