Jessica Nelson

Jessica Nelson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming. Her work bridges linguistic anthropology and Indigenous studies, focusing on community-driven language revitalization projects and the intersection of indigeneity with sociocultural meaning-making.

• BA in Cultural Anthropology, University of Michigan (2006)
• MA in Linguistic Anthropology, University of Arizona (2011)
• PhD in Linguistic Anthropology with a minor in Linguistics, University of Arizona (2018)

Her research explores:

• Language revitalization strategies
• Indigenous identity formation
• Gendered linguistic practices
• Audiovisual methodologies in linguistic anthropology
• Virtual environments as tools for language reclamation
• Social meaning construction in endangered language contexts

Jessica's publications demonstrate expertise in Indigenous language documentation, including collaborative projects like the Pataxó Hãhãhãe community dictionary, historical linguistic reconstruction, and innovative applications of media (e.g., Lakota-dubbed Berenstein Bears cartoons). She also develops digital tools for language preservation, such as the ongoing Patxohã mobile dictionary app.

Jessica teaches foundational courses in Native American and Indigenous Studies, Lakota language instruction, and advanced seminars on gendered communication patterns and audiovisual research methods.