Katherine Ann Snyder
- Professor, School of Geography and Development
- Director, MDP
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- (520) 621-1652
- Environment and Natural Res. 2, Rm. S434
- Tucson, AZ 85719
- katherineasnyder@arizona.edu
Biography
I began my career focusing on how ideas about development shape everyday life in rural Tanzania. As Tanzania underwent the transformation from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy, I focused on how these political shifts affected social change in rural communities and in national narratives. While on a Fulbright grant to teach at the University of Nairobi in 2005, I decided to stay on in Africa and carry out more applied work. I ran a small NGO in northern Tanzania that worked on community-based natural resource management and land rights for pastoralist communities. From there, I moved to Malawi to take up research again focusing on small-scale fisheries and farming communities who had adopted aquaculture. From fish, I moved to water in Ethiopia and concentrated on institutional analysis and livelihoods at the landscape scale. Moving south to Kenya, my research focus turned to land degradation issues. All my work in Africa over the last decade has been in multidisciplinary and multistakeholder teams. I am excited to take up the director position of the master's program in development practice to train a new generation of practitioners who will bring new ideas and approaches to their work around the globe.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Anthropology
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- ""Like Water and Honey": Moral Ideology and the Construction of Community among the Iraqw of Northern Tanzania"
- M.Phil. Anthropology
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- B.A. Sociology
- Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States
Work Experience
- School of Geography and Development, University of Arizona (2016 - Ongoing)
Awards
- ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION SOCIAL SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP
- Rockefeller Foundation, Fall 1994
- AGRARIAN STUDIES PROGRAM FELLOWSHIP
- Yale University, Agrarian Studies Program, Fall 1993
- 2019 MARIA TERESA VELEZ OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD.
- University of Arizona’s Commission on the Status of Women’s Equity and Mentoring Group., Spring 2019 (Award Nominee)
- Graduate College GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION TEACHING AND MENTORING AWARD.
- University of Arizona, Graduate College, Spring 2019 (Award Nominee)
- • FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR LECTURING AND TEACHING AWARD, Kenya. 2005-2006
- Fulbright, Fall 2005
- • CIVIL SOCIETY FELLOWSHIP, Center for Philanthropy, City University of New York Graduate Center
- City University of New York, Center for Philanthropy, Fall 2004
- • CUNY grant: research on civil society organizations in Tanzania.
- City University of New York, Fall 2004
- CUNY grant: rural and urban perspectives on democracy in Tanzania
- City University of New York, Fall 2001
- FULBRIGHT-HAYS FACULTY RESEARCH ABROAD GRANT
- Fulbright-Hays, Fall 2001
Interests
Research
Development, land rights, globalization, political change, Africa
Teaching
Development, Human Rights, Agrarian Change in Africa, Gender and Development
Courses
2023-24 Courses
-
Dissertation
ARL 920 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Dissertation
ARL 920 (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
ARL 920 (Fall 2022) -
Internship
DVP 693 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Summer I 2022) -
Culture in Sustain Development
DVP 602 (Spring 2022) -
Dissertation
ARL 920 (Spring 2022) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Spring 2022) -
Prin of Social Science for Dev
DVP 601 (Fall 2021) -
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Summer I 2021) -
Culture in Sustain Development
DVP 602 (Spring 2021) -
Independent Study
GEOG 699 (Spring 2021) -
Intro to Natural Systems
DVP 620 (Spring 2021) -
Foundations of Development
DVP 600 (Fall 2020) -
Prin of Social Science for Dev
DVP 601 (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Summer I 2020) -
The MDP Culmination Project
DVP 909 (Summer I 2020) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Spring 2020) -
Independent Study
GEOG 699 (Spring 2020) -
Intro to Natural Systems
DVP 620 (Spring 2020) -
Methods Development Practice
DVP 640 (Spring 2020) -
Culture in Sustain Development
DVP 602 (Fall 2019) -
DVP Workshop
DVP 697 (Fall 2019) -
Foundations of Development
DVP 600 (Fall 2019) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Fall 2019) -
Prin of Social Science for Dev
DVP 601 (Fall 2019) -
The MDP Culmination Project
DVP 909 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Summer I 2019) -
Essential Mgmt Principles
DVP 630 (Spring 2019) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Spring 2019) -
Methods Development Practice
DVP 640 (Spring 2019) -
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Spring 2019) -
Culture in Sustain Development
DVP 602 (Fall 2018) -
Foundations of Development
DVP 600 (Fall 2018) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Fall 2018) -
Intro to Natural Systems
DVP 620 (Fall 2018) -
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Fall 2018) -
The MDP Culmination Project
DVP 909 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Summer I 2018) -
Culture in Sustain Development
DVP 602 (Spring 2018) -
Essential Mgmt Principles
DVP 630 (Spring 2018) -
Honors Thesis
GEOG 498H (Spring 2018) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Spring 2018) -
Foundations of Development
DVP 600 (Fall 2017) -
Honors Thesis
GEOG 498H (Fall 2017) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Fall 2017) -
Intro to Natural Systems
DVP 620 (Fall 2017) -
Methods Development Practice
DVP 640 (Fall 2017) -
Regional Geographies
GEOG 455 (Fall 2017) -
The MDP Culmination Project
DVP 909 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
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Summer Field Practicum
DVP 694A (Summer I 2017) -
Cross Cohort Workshop
DVP 642A (Spring 2017) -
Essential Mgmt Principles
DVP 630 (Spring 2017) -
Global Human Rights
GEOG 378 (Spring 2017) -
Global Human Rights
HIST 378 (Spring 2017) -
Independent Study
DVP 699 (Spring 2017) -
Regional Geographies
GEOG 455 (Spring 2017) -
Regional Geographies
GEOG 555 (Spring 2017) -
The MDP Culmination Project
DVP 909 (Spring 2017) -
The MDP Culmination Project
DVP 909 (Fall 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Snyder, K. A. (2005). The Iraqw of Tanzania: Negotiating Rural Development. Westview/Perseus.
Chapters
- Snyder, K. A. (2021). ‘Modern’ agriculture and its impact on smallholder farmer livelihoods. In Handbook on the Human Impact of Agriculture. Edward Elgar.More infoBroad review of literature on the impact of modern farming on smallholder farmers globally.
- Snyder, K. A., Sulle, E., Amedeus, D., Peter, A., & Brockington, D. (2021). “Modern” farming and the transformation of livelihoods in rural Tanzania. In Prosperity in Rural Africa. Oxford University Press.
Journals/Publications
- Snyder, K. A., Mayanja, S., & Mudege, N. (2022). Commercialisation of the sweetpotato value chain: impacts on women producers in Mozambique. Outlook on Agriculture.
- Snyder, K. A., Sulle, E., Amadeus, D., Petro, A., Qamara, P., & Brockington, D. (2019). “Modern” Farming and the Transformation of Livelihoods in Rural Tanzania. Agriculture and Human Values, 37(1), 33-46. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09967-6
- Snyder, K. A., & Emerton, L. (2018). Rethinking sustainable land management planning: understanding the social and economic drivers of farmer decision-making in Africa. Land Use Policy.
- Snyder, K. A., Corral, A., Woods, G., Prichard, A., Montgomery, M., & Karanikola, V. (2018). Challenges and Lessons Learned from a Sanitation Project in Rural Bolivia. Development in Practice.
- Snyder, K. A., Cullen, B., & Braslow, J. (2019). FARMERS AS EXPERTS: INTERPRETING THE MESSAGES OF PARTICIPATORY VIDEO ACROSS AFRICAN CONTEXTS. AREA, 51(4), 779-787.. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12538
- Snyder, K. A., MITHTHAPALA, S., Sommer, R., & Braslow, J. (2016). The yield gap: closing the gap by widening the approach. Experimental Agriculture, 15. doi:DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479716000508
- Cordingley, J. e., Snyder, K. A., Rosendahl, J., Kizito, F., & Bossio, D. (2015). Thinking outside the plot: addressing low adoption of sustainable land management in sub-Saharan Africa. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 15, 35–40. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2015.07.010
- Yami, M., & Snyder, K. A. (2015). After all land belongs to the state: examining the benefits of land registration for smallholders in Ethiopia. Land degradation and development, 27(3), 465-478. doi:DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2371
- Snyder, K. A., & Cullen, B. (2014). Implications of sustainable agricultural intensification for family farming in Africa: Anthropological perspectives. Anthropological Notebooks, 20(3), 9-29. doi:http://www.drustvo-antropologov.si/AN/PDF/2014_3/Anthropological_Notebooks_XX_3_Snyder.pdf
- Snyder, K. A., Cullen, B., Tucker, J., Lema, Z., & Duncan, A. (2014). An analysis of power dynamics within innovation platforms for natural resource management. Innovation and Development, 4(2), 259-275. doi:DOI: 10.1080/2157930X.2014.921274
- Snyder, K. A., Ludi, E., Cullen, B., Tucker, J., Belay, A., & Tucker, A. (2014). Participation and performance: planning and implementation of soil and water management in Ethiopia. Public Administration and Development, 34(2), 83-95. doi:DOI: 10.1002/pad.1680
- Snyder, K. A., & Sulle, E. (2011). Tourism in Maasai communities: a chance to improve livelihoods?. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 8, 935-951. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2011.579617
- Snyder, K. A., Jamu, D., Njaya, F., Wilson, J., Andrew, N., Howard-Williams, C., & Allison, E. (2011). The natural history and fisheries ecology of Lake Chilwa, southern Malawi.. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 37, 15-25. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2010.09.008
- Snyder, K. A., Weeratunge, N., & Sze, C. P. (2010). Gleaner, fisher, trader, processor: gendered employment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Fish and Fisheries, 11(4), 405-420. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2979.2010.00368.x
- Snyder, K. A. (2008). Building democracy from below: a case from Tanzania. Journal of Modern African Studies, 46(2), 267-285.
- Snyder, K. A. (2006). Mothers on the march: rethinking gender in Africa. Africa Today, 53(1), 79-99.
Presentations
- Snyder, K. A. (2017, April). Adopting the narratives of degradation: local and global approaches to land use in Africa. Society for Applied Anthropology. Sante Fe, NM: Society for Applied Anthropology.
- Snyder, K. A., & Braslow, J. (2016, November). African farmers demonstrate the power of collective action to safeguard ecosystems through participatory video. African Ecosystem Services Partnership Conference: Ecosystem Services for SDGs in Africa. Nairobi: International Center for Tropical Agriculture.
- Snyder, K. A., Braslow, J., & Cordingley, J. (2016, November). Participatory mapping of ecosystem services and livelihood impacts in agricultural landscapes. African Ecosystem Services Partnership Conference: Ecosystem Services for SDGs in Africa. Nairobi: International Center for Tropical Agriculture.
- Snyder, K. A. (2004, April). Reflections on the integration of social and natural science research: 20 years of the Tropical Resources Institute. 20-year anniversary celebration of the Tropical Resources Institute program at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Yale University.
- Snyder, K. A. (2003, November). Church and state in Tanzania: reflections from Mbulu district. American Anthropological Association. Chicago.
- Snyder, K. A. (2003, November). The Culture of Democracy in Tanzania. CUNY Graduate Center. CUNY Grad Center.
- Snyder, K. A. (2003, October). Democracy and civil society in Tanzania. Invited Talk, SUNY Stonybrook, International Studies Group.
- Snyder, K. A. (2001, November). 'Modern' cows and exotic trees: development in northern Tanzania. American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. Washington, DC.
- Snyder, K. A. (2000, November). "The Shaping of Personhood and Self among the Iraqw of Tanzania.". African Studies Association Annual Meeting. Nashville TN.
- Snyder, K. A. (1988, November). Ujamaa, economic liberalization, and multi-party politics: Iraqw responses to state ideology and policy in Tanzania. Invited Session: State Power, the Liberalist Mirage and Politics from Below in Africa, American Anthropological Association.
- Snyder, K. A. (1997, November). Identity and power: the uses of ‘tradition’ and ‘modernity’ among the Iraqw of Tanzania. American Anthropological Association annual meeting.
- Snyder, K. A. (1996, December). "Tradition" and "progress" (maendeleo): competing ideology in a local Iraqw community in northern Tanzania. Invited talk University of Manchester. University of Manchester.
- Snyder, K. A. (1996, May). Keynote paper on social forestry: lessons from the study of impact assessment. International conference on Forestry and Land-use, Zimbabwe Forestry Commission. Kaduna, Zimbabwe.
- Snyder, K. A. (1996, Spring). Analyzing the impact of agroforestry technologies: case studies from Kenya and Tanzania. International Center for Research in Agroforestry. Nairobi.
- Snyder, K. A. (1995, November). Agrarian change in north-central Tanzania. African Studies Meetings. Orlando, FL.
Reviews
- Snyder, K. A. (2020. The Politics of Poverty: policy-making and development in rural Tanzania by FELICITAS BECKER Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. 381.. Journal of Modern African Studies.More infoInvited book review
Creative Productions
- Snyder, K. A., Braslow, J., & Lushoto Tanzania, C. m. (2016. Environment is Life: participatory video from Lushoto, Tanzania. youtube. Lushoto Tanzania: International Center for Tropical Agriculture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErjbvNr15jY
- Snyder, K. A., Braslow, J., Nabdam Ghana, C. m., & Dittoh, S. (2016. "We Can": Participatory Video in Upper East Region, Ghana. youtube. Bolgatanga, Ghana: International Center for Tropical Agriculture.
Other Teaching Materials
- Snyder, K. A., Braslow, J., & Cordingley, J. (2016. A Guide for participatory mapping of ecosystem services in multiuse agricultural landscapes: How to conduct a rapid spatial assessment of ecosystem services. International Center for Tropical Agriculture.
Others
- Snyder, K. A., & Braslow, J. (2016, January). Farmers film their homegrown solutions. WLE blog. https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2016/01/08/farmers-film-their-homegrown-solutions
- Snyder, K. A., Dittoh, S., & Lefore, N. (2015, April). Gender policies and implementation in agriculture, natural resources and poverty reduction: case study of Ghana’s Upper East Region. RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (R4D) LEARNING SERIES 3. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/54035/retrieve
- Snyder, K. A., & Cullen, B. (2013, November). Gender: moving beyond the box-ticking exercise. WLE blog. https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2013/11/07/gender-moving-beyond-box-ticking-exercise
- Snyder, K. A., Ludi, E., Cullen, B., Tucker, J., Belay, A., & Duncan, A. (2013, April). Rhetoric versus realities: A diagnosis of rainwater management development processes in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Challenge Program For Water and Food Working Paper series. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/27603