Biography

I am a cultural anthropologist focusing on intersections of race and gender in the United States and on intersections of community, archaeology, and conservation in Jordan. I teach courses in anthropology and behavioral sciences for the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, the Community and International Development Program, and the J.N. Andrews Honors Program. Drawing from a four-field approach to anthropological inquiry, I engage cultural, archaeological, linguistic, and biological scholarship to better understand human beings as wondrously diverse social creatures whose interconnectedness reflects God's image in us. Through my classes students develop the ability to critically examine the contexts that shape diverse human experiences while fostering a sense of wonder for the many social worlds we live in and among.

Current Research or Professional Activities

Research Interests

Race, Gender, Care, Belonging, Spirituality, activism, archaeology, and conservation

Publications

• Hatfield, S. (2022), "You're already Black...": Racially-informed Care and Intersections of Gender for LGBTQ African American Children and Youth in Birmingham, Alabama. NEOS, 14(1).
• Hatfield, S. (2020), Cultural Citizenship and Intersections of Race and Gender for LGBTQ African American Children and Youth. 2020 Conference Research Briefs. Adventist Human Subjects Research Association, Berrien Springs, MI, p. 15-19.

Conference Presentations

• "What makes us human?: Human Distinctness in Anthropological and Theological Perspective." Adventist Theological Society, San Antonio, Texas (November 14, 2023)
• "'If God says you’re ok': Rejection and Spiritual Self-determination Among LGBTQ African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama." Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Salt Lake City, Utah (October 21, 2023)
• "Flood Stories Around the World: Oral Histories, Knowledge Production and Faith." South Pacific Division Faith and Science Conference, Surfers Paradise, Australia (July 6, 2023)
• "Antediluvian Social Landscapes: Challenges and Continuities in Human Social Life." South Pacific Division Faith and Science Conference, Surfers Paradise, Australia (July 5, 2023)
• "Qualitative Research Working Group: Facilitating scholarship through shared writing space." Co-presented with Kristen Witzel. Higher Education Adventist Society Conference, Virtual Conference. (June 1, 2023)
• "'I don’t trust you just yet': White Solidarity and Black LGBTQ Activism in Birmingham, Alabama." Michigan Academy of Arts and Letters, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. (March 17, 2023)
• "Feedback with a Purpose: A Specifications-Graded Course Built Around a Progressive Writing Assignment." Co-presented with Karl Bailey. Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference. Online. Berrien Springs, Michigan. (March 31, 2023)
• "'Homines Curans' and the Common Good: Rethinking Political, Economic, and Spiritual Approaches to Human Social Life." Society of Adventist Philosophers Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas. (November 2021)
• "Laodicea and the American Dream: Wealth, Poverty, and Christianity in the United States." Adventist Theological Society Annual Conference. San Antonio, Texas. (November 2021)
• "Church, Churches, and Being Gay: Finding Belonging for African American LGBTQ Individuals of Faith". Andrews Research Conference. Berrien Springs, Michigan. (2019)
• "Don’t Yuck My Yum": Stigma, STI Education, and LGBTQ Space in a Birmingham Middle School". American Anthropological Association – Anthropology of Children and Youth Interest Group Biennial Meeting. Camden, New Jersey. (2019)
• "Locating African American LGBTQ Youth: Citizenship and Belonging in Birmingham Alabama". American Anthropological Association Annual Meetings. San Jose, California. (2018)
• "Social Belonging and Cultural Citizenship for African American LGBTQ youth in Birmingham Alabama: A Dialectical Approach to Methodology". Andrew’s Research Conference. Berrien Springs, Michigan.
• "Morality, the Free Market, and Affordable Care". Society of Adventist Philosophers Annual Meeting. Boston, Massachusetts. (2017)
• "Ethnocentrisms of the State, Youth Sexuality, and HIV Prevention". Southern Anthropological Society Annual Meeting. Carrollton, Georgia. (2017)
• "Youth Culture and HIV Prevention: Developing a qualitative study of youth and HIV prevention in the Southeastern United States" Andrews Research Conference. Berrien Springs, Michigan. (2016)
• "Marriage: Spiritual Insights from an Anthropological Perspective" Adventist Theological Society Professional Meetings. Atlanta, Georgia.(2015)
• "The Origins of Human Culture: Anthropology as a Bible Based Curriculum" International Conference on the Bible and Science. Curriculum Roundtable. Faith & Science Council. St. George, Utah. (2014)
• "Determinants of Cultural Sensitivity in Middle School Students" Senior Seminar Research Project. Fort Lewis College Symposium of Natural and Behavioral Sciences. Durango, Colorado. (2009)