Member Bio

I am a political anthropologist who has researched Mongolians’ changing ideas on democracy after they voted out the Communist/socialist government in 1992. I learned that democracy is not a goal but a means towards an end, which is personal and national dignity. Before that, I researched patron-client relations in Mexico and the USA. That work taught me that even clients—people beholden or subordinate to landowners, bosses, etc.—can have some influence on the decisions of their superiors. My research has led to scholarly publications (including Does Everyone Want Democracy? Insights from Mongolia), many museum talks, and an exhibition/catalogue, Modern Mongolia: Reclaiming Genghis Khan. The latter was featured at the University of Pennsylvania and the Smithsonian (National Museum of Natural History). My political activism started when I first moved to New Mexico in the 1970s and realized how important every vote was. Once in Philadelphia, I delivered leaflets and made phone calls for presidential candidates Kerry and Obama. I am happy to be part of Indivisible SOS, which helps us organize our thoughts and actions and makes me feel that I am not powerless. I was born in Detroit, grew up in Larchmont (NY) and Newton (Mass). I graduated Vassar, attended University of Pennsylvania graduate program, and received my MA and PhD from Brandeis. All of my degrees were in anthropology. I married Jeremy Sabloff, a Maya scholar, and we have celebrated our 53rd anniversary. Our two children have given us 4 ½ wonderful grandchildren (one on the way). I worked in higher education administration—as Coordinator of Strategic Planning for the State of New Mexico and then UNM. I taught at Pitt and Penn, then became a professor at the Santa Fe Institute when Jerry became its president. I am retired but am still researching and writing scholarly papers.