Professor Dr. Teresa Montoya

Biography

Teresa Montoya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago. She received her PhD from New York University in 2019. Her research focuses on social and cultural anthropology, particularly regarding Native Indigenous studies and the complexities surrounding sovereignty and environmental issues. Montoya's work investigates the intersections of settler colonialism and water governance in relation to the Navajo Nation, with notable attention to the impact of historical events such as the 1979 Church Rock uranium spill and the 2015 Gold King Mine spill. She is currently engaged in a manuscript project that integrates Diné oral histories and ethnographic research to evaluate the ongoing environmental and legal ramifications for Diné communities. In addition to her academic endeavors, Montoya has curatorial experience, having contributed to exhibitions at institutions such as the Peabody Essex Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian. Her broader research interests encompass the politics of water insecurity and governance, with published work in esteemed journals such as the American Journal of Public Health and Cultural Anthropology. She is also involved with the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Research Coordination Network and the Native American Indigenous Studies Association.

Research Interests