Ernesto Benitez

Ernesto Benitez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Virginia. He holds a PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies from Florida International University (2021). His research examines the socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism on Indigenous Amazonian communities, particularly focusing on Kichwa peoples in Ecuador's Napo province.

• Education: PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies, Florida International University (2021)

Research interests include development, ecotourism dynamics, indigeneity, masculinity, and South American ethnography. His work traces how Kichwa tour guides navigate ethnic and gendered identities amid economic transitions caused by tourism booms. Recent publications analyze Indigenous pageants as political training grounds and the intersection of masculinity with ecotourism.

Publications (2022–2024) reflect thematic focus on cultural performativity, gender, and environmental anthropology. No scientific awards are listed. Advising and grant details are not documented here. His fieldwork spans over a decade in Napo province, emphasizing long-term ethnographic engagement with Amazonian communities.