Joseph Wiltberger

Joseph Wiltberger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Central American Studies at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on migration, borders, violence, and human rights, with a regional emphasis on El Salvador and transnational Central American migrant communities. His work examines displacement, collective organizing, and resistance strategies amid gang violence and restrictive U.S. immigration policies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Interests: Dr. Wiltberger investigates the interplay between migration, socioeconomic marginalization, and cultural transformation. His current projects include studies on asylum-seeking Central Americans in Costa Rica and a digital archive documenting Salvadoran refugee repatriation during the 1980-1992 civil war. He employs ethnography, oral histories, and digital media to center marginalized voices.

Grants & Awards: Funded by the National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, and Inter-American Foundation. His work has been recognized through awards such as the Roseberry-Nash Award and a Kellogg Institute Fellowship.

Labs/Teams: Leads the 4Humanities@CSUN Research Lab and collaborates with the Central America Section of the Latin American Studies Association. He also contributes to the American Anthropological Association's Committee on Refugees and Immigrants.