Kelly Fayard

Kelly Fayard is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Denver, affiliated with the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (in)Equality. Her work bridges cultural anthropology with Indigenous studies, focusing on identity, sovereignty, and decolonization.

• Education: BA in Cultural Anthropology and Religion from Duke University (2002), MA (2006) and PhD (2011) in Anthropology, and a Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Michigan (2011).

Kelly’s research explores themes such as kinship and personhood, Native American Christianity, Indigenous political movements, and anthropology of media. She advocates for decolonizing methodologies and community collaboration, as evidenced by her 2020 chapter on decolonization and community-building.

Her publications span critical analyses of Indigenous sovereignty (2021), blood quantum policies, and the Poarch Creek community’s self-conception (2011). She also engages with exhibit design, NAGPRA, and anti-racist frameworks in anthropology.

Professional affiliations include the American Anthropological Association, Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, and Society for Applied Anthropology. Contact: kelly.fayard@du.edu.