Isabel I. Murphy
Degrees
- Ph.D. Educational Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, 1992
- Graduate Certificate Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh, 1992
- M.A. in Liberal Studies, State University of New York, Brockport College, 1980
Current positions
- International Anthropology Consultant (2006– )
- International Literacy Consultant (2005– )
- Brazil SIL Head of Government Relations (2002– )
- Brazil SIL Anthropology Coordinator (1995– )
Other experience
- Director of Language Development and Literature Use Workshops, Guinea Bissau: Balanta, Papel and Bijago language groups, respectively (2002, 2003).
- Educator: regularly teach anthropology applied to Missions at various Brazilian institutions (3 to 4 courses per year) (Masters level)
Memberships
- American Anthropology Association (AAA)
- Associação Brasileira de Antropologia (ABA)
Language proficiency
- English (Native speaker)
- Portuguese (fluent)
- Italian, French, Spanish (read)
- Kayapo
- Read Spanish & French
Research interests
- Educational anthropology
- Indigenous education and instruction in mother tongue
- Knowledge transmission
- Learning styles
- Human rights
- Infanticide
Selected publications
Publications in SIL International Bibliography
2008. “Maintaining Two Worlds: The Relevance of Mother Tongue in Brazil’s Amerindian Societies” (accepted for publication in International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism.). (Co-authored with: Elizabeth Vencio).
2008. Passe isto adiante: A transmissão do conhecimento e desenvolvimento do processo de educação entre os Kayapó do Brasil. (Volume 2nd, chapter6 of Indígenas do Brasil. Org. Ronaldo Lidório e Isaac Costa de Souza. Editora Ultimato Ltda. Viçosa, MG.)
2005. “Escolas indígenas e educação especial.” in Indígenas do Brasil: avaliando a missão da igreja. Org. Ronaldo Lidório. Editora Ultimato Ltda. Viçosa, MG. Cápitulo 13:173-188.
2004. “And I, In My Turn, Will Pass It On.” Language Use and Education No. 2.
2001. “Conflitos de cosmovisão no ensino--educação indígena” in Capacitando, março.
2000. “Racismo e seu efeito no campo missionário” in Capacitando, julho.
1998. “Educação indígena Kayapó: orientação para professores não-Kayapó.” em Ameríndia: Tecendo os caminhos da educação escolar. Org. Darci Secchi.
1997. “Kayapo kinship and two-way radios” in Notes on Anthropology and Intercultural Community Work, pp. 3-15.
Selected papers presented
2007. “Infanticide: snuff out or speak out? ” Isabel I. Murpy (SIL) and Márcia dos Santos Suzuki(ATINI), Paper presented to the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington, DC, Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2007.
2006. “Maintaining Two Worlds: The Relevance of Mother Tongue Literacy in Brazil’s Amerindian Societies. ” Paper Presented at the American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, San Jose, CA, November, 2006.
2004. “Escolas indígenas e educação especial.” Paper presented at the 3° Seminário Integrador de Educação: “Educação, Trabalho e Inclusão para a Transformação Social”. in Canarana, MT [Mato Grosso,] Brazil.