Academic Degrees:

• Ph.D., Socio-Cultural Anthropology, University of California, Riverside
• M.A., Anthropology, University of California, Riverside
• B.A. Anthropology with Honors, Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA)

Biography

Ted knows firsthand the transformational power of a liberal arts education. For his undergraduate education he went to a small liberal arts college that, like CSB/SJU, is dedicated to student-centered classrooms, experiential learning, and undergraduate research opportunities. This helped him realize he could apply anthropological tools to address real world problems. His goal at CSB/SJU is to create the same experiences for our students, so they can realize their own potential to improve our world.

His first book, Cahuilla Nation Activism and the Tribal Casino Movement (University of Nevada Press, 2018) investigates American Indian activism and its impacts on public policy and perceptions. It focuses on his research with the Cahuilla nations who are indigenous to inland Southern California. The Cahuilla have a long tradition of challenging unjust colonial policies. One of the Cahuilla nations opened the poker club that sparked a precedent-setting Supreme Court decision. This decision (California v Cabazon) accelerated the tribal casino movement into a $30 billion industry. Cahuilla Nation Activism and the Tribal Casino Movement explores the impacts of this industry and the strategies Cahuilla nations use to strengthen their self-determination.

Ted works to serve all members of our culturally diverse community. He is currently serves on the Community Education and Research Committee for the Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization, a non-profit that serves refugees in need.