Education:

Ph.D. Sexology, 2003
The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, CA
Dissertation: Jealousy and Transformation in Polyamorous Relationships

MA Anthropology, 1980
New School for Social Research, New York, NY
Thesis: Towards a Cross-Cultural Understanding of Female Sexuality

BA Anthropology, 1975
University of California, Berkeley, CA

Fields of Concentration:  Social-Cultural, Marriage, Family, Sexuality, Gender, Evolutionary Psychology, Women, Media, and Religion.

Field Research:

Morocco. June 2009. The Gender Divide in a Modern Islamic Country
Costa Rica. July 2008  The Cultural Economics of Tourism, Coffee and Bananas.
Peru and Galapagos Islands.  January 2008.  An Intercultural Dance of Tourism and Imaginary Edens.
India. January 2007. Transitions from Arranged Marriage into Love Marriage
United States. 2004-2006. Users of Donated Gametes/Single Mothers by Choice
Jamaica. February 2006. Sex Tourism: A Mecca for Western Women
Bali. June 2004. Sex Tourism: A Mecca for Western Men
Thailand. August 2003.  Sex workers and cross-national relationships.
Cuba. March 2003. Sexuality and health care since the revolution.
Papua New Guinea. August 2001.  Polygyny and sexuality amongst the Enga and Huli.
East Africa. Spring 1998. Polygyny and jealousy in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Yucatan, Mexico. 1975, 1985, 1990, 2001. Immigration, changes in marriage patterns.
United States. 1990-2004. Multiple partner sexuality including polyamory and swinging.

Survey Research:

Who Cheats and Why? (2009)
Sexual Boundaries: Who Pushes Them and Why? (2009)
Sexual Beliefs and Practices of Baby Boomers (on-going)
Herpes: Beliefs and Practices (on-going)
Polyamorous Behaviors of Non-Poly Identified Peoples (2008)
Sex and Culture Project: Contemporary Cultural Generation Gaps (2006)

Teaching Experience:

Current Employment:
LA Valley College, (Winter 1996 – present)
Instructor of Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, Gender, Sex & Culture, Magic, Religion & Witchcraft and Human Sexuality

Anthropology Professor, LA Community College District
LA Trade Technical College, (Fall 1995; Spring 2000/2002, Fall 2006-Fall 2009)
LA Southwest College (1989 – 2003)
LA City College (Summer 1999)
East LA College (Spring-Fall 1999)
LA Harbor College (Fall 1996)
LA Pierce College (Spring 1993, Spring 2001-Spring 2002)
Instructional Television Instructor for the Telecourse, “Faces of Culture” (Fall 1994)

Anthropology/Sociology Professor, Additional Community College Districts
Instructor of Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, Magic, Religion & Witchcraft and Social Problems (Sociology)
Pasadena City College (Fall 2000 – Spring 2006)
Long Beach City College (Spring 2000—Spring 2001)
El Camino College (Summer 1990 – Fall 1998)
Middlesex County College, Edison, New Jersey (Fall 1980)
Ramapo College, Mahwah, New Jersey (Fall 1980)

Anthropology Professor, California State University
CSU Los Angeles (Summer 2006/Spring 2007) Evolutionary Perspectives on Sex and Gender; (Fall 2000)
Intercultural Proficiency Program (Spring 2000)
CSU Dominguez Hills (Fall 1990 – Fall  1998) Gender, Sexuality & Family, Technology & Culture, and Psychological  Anthropology
CSU Long Beach (Spring/87) Cultural Anthropology and Culture & Communications

Guest Professor, Antioch University (Summer 1995)
Workshop Instructor on my book, Women Who May Never Marry

Publications:

“On Kittens and the Very Invented Culture of Polyamory”
Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, vol. 11. Fall 2008

"As The Other Shoe Drops: Unraveling A Relationship and A Story"
Teaching Anthropology: SACC Notes, Vol. 9, No. 1, Fall 2002
Loving More Magazine #31, Fall 2002

“When One Lover Isn’t Enough,” Loving More Magazine #22, Summer 2000
Teaching Anthropology: SACC Notes, Vol. 7, No.2, Fall-Winter 2000-2001

“America’s Fidelity Crisis,” Loving More Magazine #20, Winter 2000
Teaching Anthropology: SACC Notes, Vol. 6, No. 2, Fall-Winter 1999

“Academic Careers,” Great Jobs for Anthropology Majors, pages 197-199
By Blythe Camenson, VGM Career Horizons, 2000

“The Magic of Burning Man,” The Los Angeles Free Press, Vol 36, #16, October 1999
Newsletter of the Southern California Applied Anthropology Network, December 1999

“African Polygamy,” Loving More Magazine #17, Spring 1999

"Adding a Co-Wife," Loving More Magazine #15, Fall 1998
Teaching Anthropology: SACC Notes, Vol 5, No 2, Fall-Winter, 1998
California Anthropologist, Vol. 26, No. 2, 1999
Annual Editions Anthropology 06/07, 29th Edition, McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2006

Cupid's Coupons
November 1998 by Longstreet Press
A veritable relationship book for the sound-bite generation; co-created with Don Byrd
Formerly released as Love Coupons (1994) and Permission Granted  (1995).

More Cupid's Coupons
November 1998 by Longstreet Press.  Part of the best-selling relationship coupon series; co-created with Don Byrd
Formerly released as More Love Coupons (1995) and More Permission Granted  (1995).

Cupid's Romance Coupons
November 1998 by Longstreet Press.  Part of the best-selling relationship coupon series; co-created with Don Byrd
Formerly released as Romance Coupons (1995)

Women Who May Never Marry: The Reasons, Realities, and Opportunities,
November 1993 by Longstreet Press.  Reviewed in over 80 papers nationwide including USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Copley and Gannett News Services.  Guest on 100 television and radio shows including Phil Donahue, Jane Whitney, and Good Day LA.   

"Exploring Nonmonogamy," Floodtide, Fall 1992 and Winter 1992

Giving Birth in New York City: A Guide to Childbirth Option, 1981 by The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG).  Reviewed in the New York Times and New York Magazine.  Reprinted three times.

Flatbush from the Youth Perspective: Histories, Research and Stories of African- American and Caribbean Youth, 1981 by Citibank and City University of New York. Selected by the National Commission on Resources for Youth as a model program for youth employment.

"A Stay in a Mayan Village: A Personal Account," From the Margins, 1978.

"The Informal Use of and Potential for Anthropology in the San Francisco Neighborhood Arts Program," Kroeber Islanders, 1976

Selected Television Appearances:

Sex Files, “Beyond Monogamy,” Discovery Canada, October 2004
Talk or Walk, “Polyamory,” November 2001
Love Chronicles, “Love in the Victorian Age,” A&E, October 1999
Donahue, “Women Who May Never Marry,” March 1995
Good Day LA, “Women Who May Never Marry,” May 1994
Night Talk with Jane Whitney, “Women Who Choose Not to Marry” November 1992
Ron Reagan, “Killer Women,” 1991

Scholarly and Community Lectures:

“Polyamory and Identity”
Poly Living 2010, Philadelphia, PA – February 20, 2010

“Human Evolution, Culture and Polyamory”
“Cultural Evolution of Human Bonding: Why We Love Who We Love”
“The Ways Poly People Lie to Make Their Relationships Work”
Burning Man, Black Rock City—September 2-3, 2009

“Beyond the Monogamy Gene”
NYC Poly Pride Day – October 4, 2008

“Polyamorous Behaviors of Non-Poly Identified Peoples”
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, San Diego, CA – April 11, 2008

“How the Bough Bends: The Creation of Family, Kinship and Community amongst Users of Donated Gametes”
Southwestern Anthropological Association, Pasadena, CA—April 29, 2006
Communal Studies Association, Marshall, CA—September 29, 2006
American Anthropological Association, San Jose, CA—November 15, 2006

“Negotiating Pairbonding, Romantic Love and Jealousy in Polyamorous Relationships”
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Las Vegas, NV – November 10, 2006

Today’s Cultural Generation Gap: Coming of Age Armenian, Asian and Hispanic in 21st Century America
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Las Vegas, NV – November 11, 2006
Southern California Applied Anthropology Network, Los Angeles, CA  – December 10, 2006
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, Asilomar, Monterrey, CA  – April 7, 2007

“America’s Fidelity Crisis: Politics, Hypocrisy and Family Values” (Keynote Address)
Institute for 21st Century Relationships Conference,  Seattle, WA – October 14, 2006

“How the Bough Bends: The Creation of Family, Kinships and Community Amongst Users of Donated Gametes”
Southwestern Anthropological Association, Pasadena, CA—April 29, 2006
Communal Studies Association, Marshall, CA—September 29, 2006
American Anthropological Association, San Jose, CA—November 15, 2006

“Polyamory 101”
Hedonism II, Negril, Jamaica—February 7, 2006

“Sexuality, Gender, Marriage and Family: Where We’ve Been and What’s on the Horizon,”
Network for a New Culture, Trillium, Oregon—August 12, 2005

“Pairbonding, Romantic Love, and Multiple Partner Sexuality”
Institute for 21st Century Relationships Conference,  Boston, MA – October 16, 2004
World Polyamory Association, Laguna, CA—October 23, 2004
American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, CA—November 19, 2004
Live the Dream, Woodland Hills, CA – March 19, 2005
Family Synergy Conference, De Benneville Pines, CA—June 24, 2005

“Marrying Sex and Anthropology”  
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, Montreal, Canada – April 1, 2004

“Negotiating Jealousy in Polyamorous Relationships,”  
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Western Region Conference, San Diego, CA – April 17, 2004
International Conference of Social Sciences, Honolulu, HI – June 17, 2004

“Jealousy and Transformation in Polyamorous Relationships,”
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Western Region Conference, San Jose ,CA – April 11, 2003
Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, CA – June 24, 2003
Loving More Conference, Harbin Hot Springs, CA – July 27, 2003
Live the Dream, Woodland Hills, CA – September 6, 2003
Institute for 21st Century Relationships Conference,  Seattle, WA – October 19, 2003
Los Angeles Polyamory Support, Carson, CA—February 21, 2004

“Orgasm, Arousal, Satisfaction and Desire”
Conversations, Santa Monica, CA – June 29, 2003

“Why Women Swing,”
16th World Conference of Sexology, Havana, Cuba – March 13, 2003
Lifestyles Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada – July 28, 2001

“Hierarchy and Jealousy in Polygamous Relationships”
American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, LA – November 23, 2002

"Just Below the Surface: The Erotic Power of Jealousy"
Lifestyles-East Convention, Miami, Florida – April 13, 2002
Lifestyles Convention, Reno, Nevada – August 3, 2002 (with Jim Herriot)

"Women Who Share Men…Men Who Share Women"
Lifestyles Convention, Reno, Nevada – August 2, 2002 (with Don Byrd)

"The Importance of Station: Hierarchy, Power and Stability in Polyamorous Relationships,"
Loving More Conference, Harbin Hot Springs, CA – June 15, 2002

“Tourism and Socio-Economic Change in Papua New Guinea”
Channing House, Palo Alto, CA – October 26, 2001
Servas International, Los Angeles, CA – November 4, 2001
Southern California Applied Anthropology Network – December 13, 2001
Southern California Travel Network – February 9, 2002
Campus Conversations, Pierce College, Woodland Hills, CA – February 26, 2002

“Weathering the Extraordinary: The Cultural Invention of Polyamory”
Communal Studies Association, New Harmony Indiana – September 28, 2001

“Mani: A Yucatan Mayan Village 25 Years Later”
Channing House, Palo Alto, CA– June 28, 2001

“Playing the Media as an Anthropologist”
American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, CA – November 17, 2000
Pomona College, Applied Anthropology Class, January 31, 2001

“Polyamory Salon”
Elysium, Topanga, CA, May 21, 2000 and July 23, 2000

“When One Lover Isn’t Enough: My Adventure in the Cultural Behavior of Sluts”
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, Seattle, WA – April 6, 2000

“Sharing /Being Shared: The Dynamics of Polygyny and Polyandry”
Live the Dream, Los Angeles, CA – March 18, 2000

“Adding A Co-Wife”
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, Santa Fe, New Mexico – April 17, 1998;
Los Angeles Polyamory Support, Long Beach, CA – November 14, 1998
Southwestern Anthropological Association, Fullerton, CA – April 16, 1999

“Coming Out to Our Students”
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, Boston, MA –April 9, 1999

"Co-Wives in East Africa”
Loving More Conference, Berkeley, CA – August 8, 1998

"The Dynamics of Sharing a Man: What I Learned in Africa,"
Southern California Applied Anthropology Network, Los Angeles, CA – May 19, 1998
Lifestyles Convention, Las Vegas, NV – July 18, 1998

"When One Partner Isn't Enough"
National Congress on Women's Health, Washington D.C. – June 22, 1998

“How Swingers and Practitioners of Polyamory Mimic Darwinian Reproductive Strategies”
Human Behavior and Education Society, Tucson, AZ  – June 7, 1997

“Making Polygamy Come Alive”
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, Toronto, Ontario, Canada – April 18, 1997

“Spinsters, Old Maids, and Fallen Women”
Women’s Day Celebration, El Camino College, Torrance, CA – March 10, 1997

"Man Sharing: A Multi-Dimensional Examination"
American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, CA – November 21, 1996
Southwestern Anthropological Association, Pasadena, CA April 13, 1996

“The James Dean Syndrome: Why We’re Attracted to Dangerous People”
Conversations, Santa Monica, CA  – July 16, 1996, June 11, 1997, and February 4, 2001

"The Dynamics of Polysexuality"
Lifestyles Convention, San Diego – August 23, 1996
Elysium, Topanga, CA  – July 17, 1996

"America's Fidelity Crisis"
Loving More Conference, Harbin Hot Springs, CA – July 27, 1996

“The Impact of Consciousness on Human Mate Selection”
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, Encino, CA – March 29, 1996

“Well Beyond Monogamy: The Social Cultural Behaviors of Americans Who Practice Consensual Nonmonogamy”
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, Santa Monica, CA – February 24, 1996

“Never Say I Do: Why It May Be Better to Stay Single”
Three Keynote Addresses to Committed Singles of Southern, CA – September 22 – 24, 1996

“Bringing Anthropology to the Masses”
Southern California Applied Anthropology Network, Los Angeles, CA – September 14, 1995

“Managing Variety: How People Everywhere Make it Work”
Lifestyles Convention, San Diego, CA – August 26, 1995

“The Mating Game: Why We Choose Who We Do”
Elysium, Topanga, CA – July 16, 1995 and October 7, 1995

“Consensual Nonmonogamy: Challenging Evolutionary Directives”
Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Santa Barbara, CA – July 1, 1995

"Women Who May Never Marry”
25 lectures and workshops from 1990 -1995 in churches, bookstores, universities, the American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting (Nov. 1993), women's professional organizations, and singles groups.

“The Origins of and Future for Family”
Humanist Association of Los Angeles, CA – November 6, 1994

“We’re Hardly Alone: Cross-Cultural and Sociobiological Precedents for Poly-Living“
Loving More Conference, Harbin Hot Springs, CA – August 12, 1994

“Becoming Polysexual: Shifts in Consciousness Made by Americans Who Engage in Consensual Nonmonogamy”
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness 1994 Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

“Multiple Negotiated Relationships”
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness 1993 Meeting, Santa Barbara, CA

Media Education:

AA Television Production, 1984
Laney College, Oakland, CA

Certificate, Broadcast Journalism, 1980
Community Film Workshop, New York, NY

Selected Media Productions and Activities:

Documentary Producer/Director/Editor
“Festival” (2009)
“Burning Man Pastiche” (2007)
"Internet Chat with Dr. James Herriot," 2002
“Changes in Childbirth,” winner: Tucson Video Festival, 1986; finalist: Hometown USA Video Festival, 1986
“Running with Jesse Jackson,” 1985
“Wireless! Ham Radio’s Social-Political Impact on Telecommunications,” 1985
“Throwing Ceramic Pots,” finalist: Hometown USA Video Festival, 1986

Radio Talk Show Host
“Intimate Matters,” KIEV Radio, Glendale, CA, 1991

Additional Employment:

Advisor, “Anthropology Telecourse,” Coastline Community College, Fountain Valley, CA (2004 – 2008) Emmy Award Winner 2008
Director of Research, Loveology University, Los Angeles (2008)
Producer/Leader, Dr. Leanna Polyamory Salons and Workshops, Los Angeles, (2005)
Experiential Analyst, Context-Based Research Group, Baltimore/Los Angeles, (2003 – 2004)
Ethnographic Interviewer, Tell Your Story, Los Angeles, CA (1992 – 1994)                   
Proposal Writer/Production Consultant, National Latino Communications Center, KCET Television, Los Angeles, CA (1988 – 1991)
Assistant Producer, “Hush Little Baby: The Challenge of Childcare,” Dennis Lofgren Productions for Lifetime Television (1988)
Video Production Instructor, Peralta Colleges Television, Oakland, CA (1984 – 1986)
Community Affairs Director, Peralta Colleges Television, Oakland, CA (1983 – 1985)

Foreign Languages:
Fluent in Spanish, knowledge of  French, Italian, and a bit of Swahili, Pidgin and Mayan

Professional/Community Affiliations:

Network for a New Culture
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Institute for 21st Century Relationships
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
Southern California Applied Anthropology Network (President 1998 – 1999)
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges
Society for Applied Anthropology
American Anthropological Association
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness
Communal Studies Association