Michael D. Hill

Michael D. Hill is a Professor of Anthropology at San Francisco University of Quito (USFQ) in Ecuador, where he previously served as department chair. His work centers on cultural and ethnoracial identity, tourism, organizational anthropology, and collaborative ethnography in the Andean region, with extensive fieldwork in Ecuador and Peru.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Institute of Liberal Arts (Program in Culture, History, and Theory) from Emory University, Atlanta
• Affiliation with SIT Graduate Institute for MA in Sustainable Development Practice

Hill's research investigates how cultural identity, heritage, and organizational structures intersect in Latin American contexts. He employs life history and collaborative ethnographic methods to explore topics like indigenous mobility, medical pluralism during pandemics, and the political economies of tourism. His recent work increasingly addresses contemporary crises, including pandemic responses and institutional modernization.

Analysis of his 2013-2023 publications reveals persistent focus on Andean ethnoracial dynamics, with growing emphasis on pandemic impacts (2020-2023) and organizational transformation. Key recurring themes include medical pluralism, collaborative research methodologies, and the negotiation of cultural heritage in development contexts.

Hill actively leads interdisciplinary projects including cultural memory initiatives in Yunguilla, organizational culture studies with Ecuador's largest bank, and ethnographic research for Quito's religious diversity exhibition. His teaching includes courses like "Human Flourishing in the Anthropocene: From Development to Regeneration" and he frequently presents at international conferences on indigenous exchange programs and intercultural health.