Brent Metz

Brent Metz is a sociocultural anthropologist specializing in indigenous identity and development in Mesoamerica, namely Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico.  He has published four books and approximately 20 articles and chapters on the Ch’orti’ Maya, indigenous movements, international migration, demography, development, climate change, collaborative ethnography, pedagogy, religious conversion, and migrant farmworkers. He has taught 24 different courses at five institutions, including designing two online courses. He is a strong believer in service learning in both on-campus courses and his study abroad courses, of which he has led five to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. His research, teaching, collaboration with foreign scholars, and co-founding and serving as cultural liaison for an Engineers Without Borders professional chapter resulted in his Woodyard International Educator Award in 2017 and the KU Service Learning Award in 2023. He has served on the boards of the KU Center for Latin American Studies on and off since 2001, Lawrence Centro Hispano during its formative years (2006-12), KU WGSS during its restructuring period, the KU Global Awareness Program, the KU Center for Service Learning from its inception, Wuqu’ Kawoq Maya health iNGO institutional review board since its inception, and the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences DEIB. In the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, he has served as director (2015-16, 2021-present), associate and graduate director (2001-05, 07), undergraduate director (2019-23). In the KU Department of Anthropology, he has held all positions except chair and graduate director. Metz is also strongly devoted to student mentorship, serving on 56 PhD committees (seven chaired) and 60 MA committees (22 chaired) since starting at KU in 2001.  As director of KU Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Metz focuses on strengthening offerings and enrollments in Less Commonly Taught Languages, expanding study abroad opportunities, building international partnerships, reaching Minority Serving Institutions and community colleges, and creating synergy between KU faculty, students, offices, and regional institutions (schools, international development, businesses, etc.) that focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.