Dr. Rachel Newcomb is an associate professor of Anthropology and Diane and Michael Maher Professor of Distinguished Teaching at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Rachel specializes in cultural anthropology with a focus on gender, globalization, Islam, and identity in the Middle East and North Africa.
Rachel has published extensively on cultural anthropology, having written multiple scholarly articles on issues ranging from marriage and reproductive rights to the role of non-governmental organizations in the advancement of women’s rights in North Africa. She has also written op-eds and book reviews for publications including The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, USA Today, and The Christian Science Monitor. Dr. Newcomb has produced two books, her first, Women of Fes: Ambiguities of Life in Urban Morocco was authored in 2009; and her second, Encountering Morocco: Fieldwork and Cultural Understanding, was co-edited with Dr. David Crawford of Fairfield University in 2013.
In addition to her academic work, Rachel has served as a consultant on projects related to the presentation of Middle Eastern cultures, having worked with a variety of clients, including Disney World and Universal Studios. She has also trained future business leaders in issues related to cultural awareness and workplace diversity.
Rachel received a BA in History from Davidson College, an MA in the Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University, and an MA and PhD in Anthropology from Princeton University. A former Fulbright scholar, she has been a member of the faculty at Rollins College since 2004. She is a native of Rock Hill, South Carolina and attended TIP for three summers.