Nancy Bonvillain

Nancy Bonvillain is a Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics at Bard College at Simon's Rock, serving as Director of the Tutoring and Writing Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Columbia University (1972). Her research focuses on Native American languages, cultural histories, and global indigenous sovereignty movements. She has conducted fieldwork with the Akwesasne Mohawk First Nation and Navajo Nation, emphasizing language revitalization and land rights advocacy.

Teaching interests include linguistic analysis, Native American religions, and indigenous representation in media. She has authored over 13 ethnographies and textbooks, including Cultural Anthropology and Native Nations, which examine indigenous cultures, gender dynamics, and sociolinguistic practices. Previously, she taught at Michigan State University, SUNY-Stony Brook, and part-time at The New School and Columbia University.

Her work bridges academia and community engagement, with a focus on preserving indigenous knowledge systems and advocating for cultural autonomy.