Iván Sandoval-Cervantes

Iván Sandoval-Cervantes is an Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Universidad de las Americas-Puebla (2005), an M.Sc. in Philosophy of Social Science from the London School of Economics (2007), and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Oregon (2016).

• Education:
  • B.A., Anthropology, Universidad de las Americas-Puebla (2005)
  • M.Sc., Philosophy of Social Science, London School of Economics (2007)
  • Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Oregon (2016)

His research focuses on cultural anthropology with an emphasis on migration, gender, indigeneity, and human-animal relations. Key interests include internal and transnational migration dynamics, gender roles in Mexican communities, and the emergence of animal protection movements in urban Mexico. His book Oaxaca in Motion (2022) explores how migration reshapes gender norms among Zapotec communities, while his current project investigates animal rights activism in Ciudad Juárez, funded by UCLA Law, the Culture and Animals Foundation, and Harvard Law School's Animal Law Program.

He co-edited The Marginalized in Death (2022), a volume combining forensic and cultural anthropology perspectives. His work bridges ethnography, policy analysis, and social movement studies, particularly in borderland contexts. His research has been supported by grants from institutions such as the National Science Foundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation.

• Key Projects:
  • Animal Protection Movement in Mexico (2017–present)
  • Gender and Migration in Oaxaca (ongoing)
• Awards & Grants: Research grants from UCLA Law, Culture and Animals Foundation, and Harvard Animal Law Program.

His recent articles address topics like canine biographies along the Mexico-U.S. border, the politicization of animal rights, and the intersection of migration and labor systems. He is a leading voice in multi-species ethnography and critical border studies, advocating for interdisciplinary approaches to anthropological inquiry.