Michael Roman  Ph.D. MPH MA

Education

2014 Ph.D. - Cultural Anthropology - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

2013 MPH - Behavioral and Community Health Sciences - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

2005 MA - Applied Medical Anthropology - Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

2000 BS - Early Childhood Education - Miami University, Oxford, OH

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Work Experience

September 2014 to Present: Academic Advisor

Academic Advising Center, University of Cincinnati

Ensured students met educational goals as a primary guide through degree requirements. Furnish course registration assistance to students. Addressed student questions regarding academic appeals, probation, and various curriculum issues and concerns. Member of inaugural CPAS (back on track) advising team for identified at-risk student populations. Co-created and advised international student group ECG.

Summer 2013 & 2012:  Instructor

Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh

Instructed two undergraduate courses that studied the beliefs and practices of various populations through examining patterns of marriage, family organization, warfare, political behavior, economy, and ritual in pursuit of understanding what it means to be human.

August 2008 - December 2009 & January 2011 - August 2012: Academic Advisor

Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh

Academically advised a department of over 400 students.  Maintained academic progress records, and mentored undergraduate leadership team.  Advised departmental undergraduate club, and honors society.  Managed class registration, conducted departmental orientation, and served as a liaison between the department, and the School of Arts & Sciences.

2010: Fulbright Graduate Student Researcher & Tutorial Instructor (TA)

Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Waikato (New Zealand)

Designed, conducted, and analyzed ethnographic research that focused on transnational identity development in migrant Pacific Island Communities, impacted by climate change displacement.  Assisted in the instruction of two undergraduate courses, and presented research findings throughout New Zealand. 

Fall 2007 – Spring 2008:  Graduate Teaching Assistant

Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh

Assisted in the instruction and evaluation of two undergraduate introductory courses which examined patterns of marriage, family organization, warfare, political behavior, economy, and rituals; developing an understanding of what it means to be human.

Spring – Fall 2006: Cultural Programming and Marketing Coordinator

Student Activities, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Advised the University’s student cultural programming board on student involvement strategies, event planning, and program evaluation.  Managed an annual budget of $35,000 to develop on-campus marketing campaigns and materials for the student activities office, and maintained the office’s website.  

Fall 2004 – Spring 2005: International Students of OSU Program Coordinator

Student Involvement, Oregon State University

Administered policies and procedures governing on-campus international student organizations. Provided resources and training for student leaders and faculty advisors.  Developed and maintained the organization's website. Created and implemented ongoing social activities for international students.  Assisted in the development of fifteen campus-wide multicultural nights throughout the year.  Mentored twelve multicultural student groups. 

Fall 2004 - Spring 2005: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Department of Anthropology, Oregon State University

Assisted in the grading of 200 undergraduates in two semester-long anthropological courses; Comparative Cultures, and Cultures in Conflict.  Presented personal research in relevant discussions. 

Fall 2003 – Spring 2004: Peace Corps Representative

Career Services, Oregon State University

Directed programs and services of the Oregon State University Peace Corps Office.  Screened candidates to determine suitability, competitiveness, and professional qualifications/skills for service.  Coordinated over fifty outreach activities throughout the year in collaboration with over fifteen academic departments and twenty student organizations.  Established relationships with the general public, community groups, and media to increase recruitment efforts.  Prepared written reports highlighting campaign plans, activities, and results.

Fall 2002 – Summer 2003: AmeriCorps Service Learning Coordinator

Academic Affairs, Central College

Provided leadership for academic and co-curricular student development through service-learning activities. Coordinated the annual placement of 300 first-year students in a service project as part of the First-Year Experience program.  Connected faculty with service sites to enhance course objectives, activities, and lectures. Provided support to faculty incorporating service-learning into their courses. Acted as a liaison between students, and community organizations. Conducted a complete end of the year program summary for AmeriCorps, Central College, and partner organizations.  Organized and led three campus-wide service trips during fall, winter, and spring breaks.

Fall 2000 – Fall 2002: Peace Corps Volunteer

Tamana Island, Republic of Kiribati

Assumed all responsibilities of a primary school teacher.  Developed a student-focused environment with the goal of advancing student confidence and utilization of the English language. Secondary responsibilities included tutoring middle school students in Science, English, and Math during after school programs in a small village setting. 

Spring 2000: Student teacher Bloom Middle School, Cincinnati Public School District

Cincinnati, Ohio

Assumed all the responsibilities of a classroom teacher.  Communicated with students, parents, and guardians over individual progress, and ways they could improve classroom performance. Collaborated with other teachers in lesson plan design, and classroom activities.  Performed administrative classroom duties through standalone classroom management.

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Courses of instruction

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Examined patterns of marriage, social organization, warfare, political behavior, economic systems, rituals, etc., of other peoples, and compared these with known social facts and norms in considering what it means to be human.

Cultures of the Pacific

Building on basic Anthropological concepts learned in intro to cultural anthropology; this course explored peoples and cultures of Oceania to create a better understanding of familiar cultural norms through examination of non-western perspectives.

Introduction to Medical Anthropology

An introductory course to the broad subfield of medical anthropology, which included reviews of ethnomedicine, disease, and ecology, epidemiology, demography, population growth, development, and the political economy of health and healing in western and non-western settings.

Human Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspectives

Examined gender and sexuality through cultural history, ecology, population, religious ideology, economic systems, social change, and contemporary issues about indigenous peoples in culturally distinct regions of the world.

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Selected Presentations

2020 - Voices from the last generation, Ocean Conservancy Washington DC, USA: March 5.

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2018 - What consumes you? TEDx, Xavier University Cincinnati, OH, USA: November 1.

2018 - The Human Faces of Climate Change Citizens Climate Lobby, Perrysville OH, USA: October 6.

2017 - Film and Climate Activism University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, USA: March 13.

2015 - The Human Faces of Climate Change, Confronting the Fierce Urgency of Now: Acting Locally and Globally for Climate Justice Keynote Address Central College, Pella, IA, USA: April 25.

2013 - Migration, Transnationality, and Climate Change in the Republic of Kiribati, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA: November 4.

2012 - Transnational Families – Stories of Migration from Kiribati: A Pacific Context for Evaluating the Human Cost of Climate Change, Asia Over Lunch Series, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: February 2.

2010 - A new life in New Zealand a Story of Transnational Migration, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand: September 1.

2010 - When There Was No Money, The Kiribati Diaspora and Climate Change, Pacific Post Graduate Talanoa Series- Building Research Capability in the Social Sciences Network, Hamilton, New Zealand: September 20.

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2008 - First Experiences, Reflections of an Applied Medical Anthropologist working in a Pacific Island Nation, Asia Over Lunch Series, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: February 7.

2007 - Sinking Islands, Paradise Lost? University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: January 25.

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2005 - Kiribati Youth, Perceptions of HIV/AIDS and Related Risk Behaviors, SfAA National Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA: April 7.

2004 - Kiribati Youth & HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS Expanded Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, Suva, Fiji: September 21.

2004 - Kiribati Youth & HIV/AIDS, Kiribati National AIDS Committee, Tarawa, Kiribati: September 15.

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Languages

English       spoken/read/written - fluent
Gilbertese   spoken - proficiency, read/written - moderate proficiency
Spanish       spoken - beginner