Ty Matejowsky

Ty Matejowsky is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Central Florida (UCF), part of the College of Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University (2001) and has been at UCF since 2002. His research focuses on cultural anthropology, economic anthropology, globalization impacts, fast food systems, disaster studies, and Southeast Asian studies with emphasis on the Philippines.

• Key research locations: Philippines and U.S.
• Expertise: Food studies, urbanization, cultural change, and development.

His notable works include the 2022 book Smothered and Covered: Waffle House and the Southern Imaginary and the 2017 monograph Fast Food Globalization in the Provincial Philippines. His 2014 award-winning article explored the cultural symbolism of balut in the Philippines. Current research examines transnational food systems and disaster resilience in urbanizing regions.

Awards: 2014 Belasco Prize for Scholarly Excellence (Association for the Study of Food and Society).

Professional roles include department chair responsibilities and ongoing contributions to UCF's anthropology curriculum development. His work bridges theoretical anthropology with applied studies in globalized contexts.