Lindsey Feldman

Dr. Lindsey Feldman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Memphis (previously tenured at the University of Arizona). Her work focuses on the intersection of identity, incarceration, and justice, particularly exploring how incarcerated individuals navigate and resist dominant masculine norms within prison systems. She employs visual ethnography and participatory methods, emphasizing dignity and agency in marginalized communities.

Education and Career: She holds a PhD in Anthropology, with extensive fieldwork in Arizona and Tennessee. She has taught courses on race, gender, and social identity at both the University of Arizona and University of Memphis, including innovative programs like the Inside Out Prison Education Program collaboration with Shelby County Division of Corrections.

Research Interests: Her projects include a visual ethnography on post-release masculinities in Memphis, a study on LGBTQ+ health post-incarceration funded by Innovate Memphis and Wenner-Gren Foundation, and analyses of prison labor programs like Arizona's wildfire crews. She theorizes inclusive masculinities as tools of resistance against carceral violence.

Publications and Talks: Feldman has published in journals like Incarceration, Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, and Annals of Anthropological Practice. Her work bridges academia and activism, addressing topics like prison TikTok culture and homelessness during the pandemic. She has presented at major conferences (Society for Applied Anthropology, American Society of Criminology) and collaborated with organizations like the Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology.

Grants and Collaborations: Recent funding includes $29,835 from Innovate Memphis (2024) and $25,000 from the Wenner-Gren Foundation (2023). Her community-based projects include queer-affirming sexual education programs for formerly incarcerated individuals and participatory photovoice initiatives with impacted families.

Awards: Recognized with the 2022 Professional Development Award and 2021 Early Career Award from the University of Memphis. She is also a recipient of the Howard League Best PhD Paper Award (2016) and Diebold Applied Anthropology Grant (2015).

Labs/Teams: Works closely with Memphis-based non-profits and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on carceral justice issues. Her research prioritizes ethical engagement and community-driven outcomes, including policy recommendations and public exhibitions.