David M. Hoffman

Nationality: USA

Current Position within UPEACE:

David M. Hoffman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Environment, Peace and Security, and he works primarily in the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Programme, a dual Master’s given in cooperation between the University for Peace and American University ( Washington, D.C.).

Professor Hoffman received his Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the Department of Anthropology and a certificate in Development Studies from the Developing Areas Research and Teaching program at the University of Colorado—Boulder. His dissertation research focused on the attitudinal and behavioral impacts of the comanagement of a marine protected area on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. As a Fulbright grantee, David conducted 11 months of ethnographic fieldwork within the community of Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexico, where he focused on observing resource use behavior and eliciting community perspectives on the process and impacts of Xcalak Reefs National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak).

David will be teaching courses that are directly related to his research interests including: conservation and development (especially community-based and comanagement of protected areas), coastal resource management, and sustainable tourism. In addition to his teaching, David plans to continue his research on community conservation initiatives and contextual influences upon conservation and development effectiveness.

Education:

Ph.D. (May 2006) Cultural Anthropology

University of Colorado, Boulder CO

Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. J. Terrence McCabe

Certificate (2003) Graduate Interdisciplinary Certificate in Development Studies, Developing Areas Research and Teaching (DART), University of Colorado, Boulder CO

M.A. (2000) Cultural Anthropology

With Distinction University of Colorado, Boulder CO

B.A. (1997) Environmental Studies/Anthropology

Summa Cum Laude St. Lawrence University, Canton NY  

Research Interests: Community-based Conservation, Comanagement and Policy of Marine Protected Areas, Latin America, Mexico, Political Ecology, Environmental Anthropology, Fishing Peoples and Cultures, Maritime Anthropology, Sustainable Development, Tourism.  

Publications:

 Professional Activities:

March 2006 Brown Bag Presentation. “The Subversion of Comanagement in Xcalak Reefs National Park.” Developing Areas Research and Teaching Program, University of Colorado— Boulder.  

Nov. 2005 Paper Presentation: “Hybrid Institutional Relationships and Contested Authority: What is the Role of Mexico in a Mexican National Marine Park?” Paper to be presented as part of invited session for the Anthropology and Environment Section entitled Seeing Like a State, Seeing Like an ENGO: Post-National Visions of Environmental Governance. American Anthropological Association meetings, Washington, D.C.

April 2005 Chair / Organizer/ Presenter for session entitled Tourism in Mexico: Saviour or Pariah? Paper presented: “There’s Not Enough for Everyone: Conservation-based Tourism in Coastal Quintana Roo Mexico”, 65 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Santa Fe, NM.

March 2005 Elected as Editor, Society for Applied Anthropology Student Commitee

Feb. 2005 Brown Bag Presentation. “Gringos, Feds, Pirates and Caciques: The Subversion of Comanagement in Xcalak Reefs National Park.” Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado— Boulder.

2003-2004 Graduate Representative on Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Internal Review Committee

April 2004 Paper Presentation: “How Do I ‘Do’ Anthropology: Reflections from Early Fieldwork.” Presenter and Co- Chair for session entitled Dispatches from the Field: Exploring the Relationship Between Advocacy and Fieldwork. 64 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Dallas, TX.

Nov. 2003 Paper presentation: “Is Conservation Still a Project of the Nation-State?: The Role of Mexico in the Coastal Conservation of Quintana Roo.” Paper presented as part of panel entitled Contestations Over Sovereignty in Latin America: Tensions Between Local, National and International Interests, American Anthropological Association meetings, Chicago, IL.

April 2003 Paper presentation: “Analyzing Coastal Conservation and Community-Based Management in Quintana Roo, Mexico.” 63 rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Portland, OR.  

Professional Associations:

American Anthropological Association

Society for Applied Anthropology

Society for Conservation Biology, Social Science Working Group