Ph.D. 2003, Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin
M.A. 1988, Latin American Studies, University of Texas at Austin
B.S.E. 1980, Secondary Education: Spanish/Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
B.A. 1977, Spanish/Latin American Studies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Research Interests

Medical Anthropology, Power Relations and Social Change, Poverty and Health, Cultural Analysis of Science and Technology, Race and Ethnicity, Migration and Transnationalism, Gender, Religion, U.S. Latinos, Mexico, and Central America

Selected Research, Publications, and Presentations

2005. Culture, Biology and Race: Using Medical Anthropology to Re-Interpret the Epidemiology of Type II Diabetes Among Mexican Americans, to be presented at Society for Applied Anthropology meetings, Santa Fe, NM.

2003. Control, Compliance, and Common Sense: Power Relations in Diabetes Care for Mexican Americans, Doctoral Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin.

1998. Crossing Borders with Information and Resources for the Treatment of Diabetes, in The Survival of Families in Poverty in the United States/Mexico Border Region, Manuel Ribeiro Ferreira and David M. Austin, eds. Monterrey, México: Schools of Social Work at University of Texas at Austin and Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León.

1996. Control of "The Creeper": A Mexican American Interpretation of Diabetes and its Treatment, American Anthropological Association meetings, San Francisco.

1993. Researchers, Social Agencies, and Single Mothers, with Erica David and Pamela Smith, Society for Applied Anthropology meetings, San Antonio, TX.

1991. The Misa Campesina: Revolutionary Change "a la nica," presented at Latin American Studies Association International Congress, Washington, D.C.

1991. Lay Activities among Mexican American Catholics: La Iglesia San Juan and Austin Interfaith, research paper based on field research in Austin, TX.

1988. Church and Politics in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Master's Thesis, University of Texas at Austin.