My research focuses on the transformation of African pastoral systems. I have investigated how pastoralists in have adapted to changing ecological, political and institutional conditions that affect their lives and livelihoods. I have been conducting research with pastoralists in the Far North Region of Cameroon since 1993. The long-term research has resulted in strong collaborations with local researchers, which has allowed me to develop new interdisciplinary research projects with colleagues at the Ohio State University. All my research projects examine pastoral systems within the analytical framework of coupled human and natural systems using a regional approach that situates the Far North Region within the larger Chad Basin.

I am teaching several courses on Research Design and Ethnographic Methods (4650H, 5650, 8891.05) that are useful for students in linguistics (http://mlab.osu.edu/teaching). In these courses, I use collaborative course projects, which are a great way for students to learn how to design a study, collect and analyze data, and write up and present ethnographic research. I have written a piece for Anthropology News in which explain how I organize these collaborative projects and outline the conceptual framework that guides this ethnographic research project, which integrates scientific and interpretive approaches in anthropology (http://www.anthropology-news.org/index.php/2013/07/02/teaching-ethnographic-research-through-a-collaborative-project/).