معرفی
Dr. Natalie Bourdon is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Women’s and Gender Studies at Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she has taught since 2009. She serves as Chair of Women’s and Gender Studies and Director of the Applied Social Justice Certificate, demonstrating leadership in interdisciplinary social justice education.
Dr. Bourdon's educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Anthropology with a Certificate in Gender, Justice, and Environmental Change from Michigan State University
- B.A. in Anthropology and African Studies from Michigan State University
Her research centers on legal anthropology and human rights advocacy in Tanzania, analyzing how local actors reinterpret international human rights frameworks to advance women’s land, inheritance, and sexual rights within legal pluralism contexts. She further investigates intersections of race, nationality, and gender in yoga practitioners’ empowerment experiences across Santa Fe and Nairobi, blending embodiment studies with critical identity analysis.
Dr. Bourdon’s publications reveal consistent focus on African legal systems, human rights implementation challenges, and ethical dimensions of development work. Her scholarship critically examines tensions between customary law and universal rights frameworks, particularly regarding women’s rights advocacy and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in East Africa.
While specific advising details are unlisted, her course portfolio—including Cultural Anthropology, Activism and Anthropology, Engaging Social Justice, and Feminist Theories—highlights active mentorship in social justice praxis. She maintains field connections through summers in Tanzania and collaborates across Santa Fe and Nairobi on identity-focused research.
