Marybeth Eleanor Nevins

Marybeth Eleanor Nevins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Middlebury College, specializing in Linguistic Anthropology with a focus on Indigenous language documentation and revitalization efforts among Native American communities.

Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Virginia (2005), where she studied under Dell H. Hymes, a foundational figure in linguistic anthropology who pioneered the ethnography of communication approach. This academic lineage deeply informs her methodological approach and theoretical framework.

Professor Nevins' research centers on Indigenous language documentation and reclamation, particularly focusing on Apachean languages of the Southwest, Maiduan languages of Northern California, and Algonquian languages of the Northeast. Her work explores collaborative ethnography, storytelling traditions, political voice, and decolonization approaches within Indigenous communities. She investigates how speakers of indigenous and less commonly taught languages engage with and reshape globalization processes, examining the complex interplay between language, culture, and power dynamics. Her research demonstrates particular expertise in Western Apache communities and linguistic traditions.

Her scholarly publications reveal consistent thematic focus on language endangerment, Bible interpretation in Apache contexts, place-naming practices, and political argumentation. Her methodological approach frequently employs dialogical frameworks and examines intertextuality and misunderstanding as key mechanisms in cross-cultural communication. She has made significant contributions to understanding how Indigenous communities navigate cultural preservation while engaging with contemporary global forces.

Professor Nevins teaches foundational courses including Language, Culture and Society; Language Structure & Function; Native North America; and Linguistic Anthropology Methods. Her courses emphasize experiential learning, with students engaging in ethnographic research through the ethnography of communication methodology. She maintains regular office hours in the LingLab at Sunderland 202, demonstrating commitment to student engagement and linguistic research.