Dr. Burmeister has a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Connecticut. She performed her main ethnographic research on Fulbright scholarship in the Northern Territory of Australia, where she investigated how Aboriginal peoples were coping with, embracing, resisting and transforming neocolonial forms of formal education and their related policy impositions in secondary schools and their surrounding communities outside of Darwin, Australia. Her main areas of expertise include: indigenous and human rights; educational leadership; identity construction; postmodernity; anthropological theory; economic anthropology; applied anthropology; and Aboriginal Australia.

Education

*PhD in Anthropology, University of Connecticut 2009

Thesis Title: Advancing Australia Fair’s Aboriginal ‘Problem’

*M.A. in Anthropology, University of Connecticut 2004

*Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies, University of Connecticut

2004

*B.S. in Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina 2001

Experience

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ADJUNCT FACULTY

San Antonio College Department of Natural Sciences 2017-present

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Troy University Department of Anthropology 2010-2016

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN RESIDENCE 2009-2010

University of Connecticut Women’s Studies Program

FIELDWORK

“ADVANCING AUSTRALIA FAIR’S ABORIGINAL ‘PROBLEM’: COMMONWEALTH UNDER-RESOURCING

OF LOCALIZED EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES”

Palmerston, NT of Australia 2008

Follow-up dissertation research funding

“FOLLOW THE AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS CHILDREN: REFLEXIVE RECONSTRUCTIONS OF ABORIGINAL

IDENTITIES AND AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION”

Palmerston, NT of Australia 2006-2007

Fulbright-supported Primary dissertation research funding

“FOLLOW THE AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS CHILDREN: REFLEXIVE RECONSTRUCTIONS OF ABORIGINAL

IDENTITIES AND AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION”

Palmerston, NT of Australia 2005

Preliminary dissertation research funding

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

ANTHROPOLOGY OF SEX AND GENDER

Anthropology 4450, Troy University

ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS

Anthropology 4445, Troy University

CULTURE IN MEDIA

Anthropology 4440, Troy University

MAGIC, WITCHCRAFT AND RELIGION

Anthropology 3360, Troy University

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN SOCIETY

Anthropology 3340, Troy University

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology 3310, Troy University

WORLD RELIGIONS

Anthropology 2280, Troy University

INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology 2200, Troy University

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

Anthropology 228, University of Connecticut

HUMAN RIGHTS IN DEMOCRATIZING COUNTRIES

Human Rights/Anthropology 280 (W), University of Connecticut

Cross-listed, Anthropology/ Human Rights 280W.

GENDER IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Women’s Studies 124, University of Connecticut

GENDER IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Women’s Studies 105, University of Connecticut

FEMINISMS AND THE ARTS

Women’s Studies 104, University of Connecticut

INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology 2300, San Antonio College

PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology 2130, San Antonio College

Publications

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Under Review

Burmeister, Laura Kat. 2016. “Market-Based Denials of Diversity: the Importance of Collaborative Local

Educators.” American Ethnologist. Wiley Publications, New York.

JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Book Review 2013

Burmeister, Laura Kat. 2013. “Review of Growing Up in Central Australia: New Anthropological Studies of Aboriginal Childhood and Adolescence.” Journal of Anthropological Research, 69: 129-130.

RED BRICK IN THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS: CREATING THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, 1881-2006

Co-Author 2006

Stave, Bruce; Burmeister, Laura; Neagle, Micheal; Papandrea, Leslie Horner; & Stave, Sondra Astor. 2006. Red Brick in the Land of Steady Habits: Creating the University of Connecticut, 1881-2006. University Press of New England, Lebanon, NH.