My Biography
What first sparked your interest in anthropology?
Growing up in a multilingual family and living in a tourism hotspot made me aware of “differences” and the effort it takes to understand those. When working as a psychologist for a refugee agency, I experienced things that I could not place. This is when I decided to study anthropology.
What did you intend to do as a career after pursuing an education in anthropology?
I had no plans because it was not clear to me what the options were. Because my doctoral research had focused on tourism, I was offered a temporary position in a geography department. Through applying for funding, and obtaining it, I “bought” myself into an anthropology department as postdoctoral researcher.
How do you utilize anthropological skills in your current position?
I am a Full Professor in Anthropology at KU Leuven, Belgium. I use plenty of anthropological skills in my daily work with master’s students, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers. However, I am also constantly searching for theoretical and methodological innovations, by collaborating with artists and scholars from many other disciplines.
Why did you become a AAA member and how has it enhanced your professional development?
I became a member when I was a graduate student to attend annual meetings, present my work, and meet anthropologists from across the world. These meetings planted in me the seeds for my later work representing anthropology and anthropologists in organizations such as EASA, IUAES, WCAA, WAU, ISC, and CIPSH.
What tips do you have for the next generation of student anthropologists?
Do not stick to what you already know but venture out, explore, study, and unpack the many unknown “worlds” around you. It is the way anthropologists conduct research, in-depth and slowly, and the way they analyze things, critically and with attention to both detail and context, that sets it apart.
I became a member when I was a graduate student to attend annual meetings, present my work, and meet anthropologists from across the world. These meetings planted in me the seeds for my later work representing anthropology and anthropologists in organizations such as EASA, IUAES, WCAA, WAU, ISC, and CIPSH.