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Kimberly Porter Martin

Associate Professor of Anthropology

Dr. Martin was completing a B. A. in Psychology from Stanford University when she discovered the field of anthropology. She received her M. A. from the University of Hawaii in Biological Anthropology and her Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside. Her areas of specialization include psychological and cognitive anthropology, intercultural communication, ethnic relations, evolutionary psychology, Mesoamerica, Polynesia and Western Europe.

Dr. Martin designed the Anthropology major at ULV and teaches courses in cultural, linguistic and psychological anthropology, human sexuality and research methods. She also teaches a general education course for which students travel to Mexico as part of the course requirements. She is very involved with undergraduate student research and regularly teaches the Senior Project Research Seminar. In 1996, she was awarded the University of La Verne Excellence in Teaching Award. In addition to academic courses, she also conducts multicultural workshops both on and off campus for educators, professional organizations and government agencies.

Dr. Martin's past fieldwork has included studying life trauma, anger and depression in Vietnamese Amerasian immigrants to the United States, exploring the impact of hazardous pollution in a multiethnic suburban neighborhood in California, and the investigation of the impact of immigration an health in the Samoan community in Hawaii. Her current research is focused on the nature of ethnic identity in U. S., European and Mexican societies.

Who Hires Anthropology Majors?
Sapient, a company that develops software and electronics, has more than two dozen anthropologists on staff. House anthropologists can also be found at such companies as Intel, Kodak, Whirlpool, AT&T, Motorola, and General Motors.