Christine J. Walley

Christine J. Walley is the SHASS Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at MIT, serving as Program Head. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from New York University (1999). Her research focuses on deindustrialization, environmental conflict, and working-class communities. Notable works include Rough Waters (2004) on Tanzania’s marine park conflicts and Exit Zero (book, 2013; film, 2017), examining post-industrial transformation in Southeast Chicago. She collaborates with the Southeast Chicago Historical Museum on an interactive archive (sechicagohistory.org). Her upcoming book Notes from a 'Paraindustrial’ Age explores class dynamics in deindustrialized regions. Walley co-teaches MIT’s DV Lab course, blending anthropology and documentary practices.

Education: Ph.D., Anthropology, NYU (1999).

Research Interests: Deindustrialization’s social impacts, environmental anthropology, labor history, and participatory digital storytelling. Her projects emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, combining ethnography, film, and digital media to preserve marginalized histories.

Labs/Teams: Co-founder of the Southeast Chicago Archive & Storytelling Project; affiliated with MIT’s Work of the Future Initiative and Open Documentary Lab. These collaborations highlight her commitment to public anthropology and accessible historical documentation.