Andrea K. Molnar (Ph.D., Australian National University, 1995; CANADA: M.A. University of Alberta, 1990; B.A. University of Alberta 1987; B.Sc. University of Alberta 1986) is a broadly trained comparativist cultural anthropologist with special interests in Austronesian and Southeast Asian cultures, religion, Islam, political anthropology, social organization, language, ecological anthropology, and culture change.  She has ongoing research in Indonesia and East Timor. She has conducted field research among a number of cultures of Flores island in eastern Indonesia.  Her research in East Timor focuses on the Kemak culture from a political anthropology perspective. Molnar will also commence a comparative research project among the Malay Muslim minority population of Southern Thailand in summer 2007. [Southeast Asia, Indonesia, East Timor, Southern Thailand]

Training also includes: linguistic anthropology, medical and ecological anthropology, anthropology of gender and age, technology in culture, (latter taught at previous institutions); human biology (pre-medical studies), chemistry

Molnar teaches: anthropology of religion, ritual and myth, religion and cosmology in Southeast Asia, political anthropology, social organization and kinship, Muslim cultures in anthropological perspective

Transnationality: Hungarian-born, former political refugee, Canadian citizen, permanent resident of USA, lived in Australia and Indonesia.

Languages: Hungarian, German, Russian, English, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Indonesian, Malay, [Flores languages with their various dialects from eastern Indonesia] Bajawa, southeastern Ngada, So’a, Northeastern Manggarai, Nage; [East Timor]: Kemak, Tetun

Sample of other Asia related professional work : anthropology consultant for Indonesia Biodiversity Project for Asia Development Project; designer of ASEAN program and writer of textbook for ASEAN courses for Grant McEwan Community College’s Asia Pacific Institute, for same institute Indonesian Language instructor; International election observer for the democracy program of the Carter Center in East Timor; Panelist for final deliberations on NSEP fellowship decisions for Asia in Washington DC; Panelist for final deliberations on International University Linkages Program for Asia in Washington DC; former Chair of the Indonesian and East Timor Studies Committee of the Association for Asian Studies; Evaluator of Cultural Field Manuals and Smart Cards for MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY-- CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS—each of the following countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore

Selected Publications

“Died in the service of Portugal”: legitimacy of authority and dynamics of group identity among  the Atsabe Kemak in East Timor. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 37 (2), pp 335–355 June 2006. The National University of Singapore

East Timor: An Introduction to the History, Politics and Culture of Southeast Asia’s Youngerst Nation.   A complete introductory course and resources for undergraduates as well as graduate students and professionals for  research in East Timor. 2005. Web Course. www.seasite.niu.edu/EastTimor/default.htm

“Traditional Village Leadership Patterns Among the Hoga Sara of Flores in Eastern Indonesia.”  In Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography, Anthony R. Walker Editor, No. 12., pp. 247-73, 2004.

“An Anthropological Study of Atsabe Perceptions of Kolimau 2000.  A New East Timorese Religious Cult or Internal Security Problem?  Anthropos, 99 (2):  365-380, 2004.

“Di Pinggir Konflik:  Kekerasan, Politik dan Kehidupan Sehari-hari di Indonesia Bagian Timur; Introduction” (On the edge of conflict: violence, Politics and daily life in eastern Indonesia:  Introduction).  In Jurnal Antropologi Indonesia. No. 74.   (With Nils Bubandt).  Menghadapi Konflik:  Indonesia Timur di Antara desentralisasi dan kerusuhan [Facing Conflict:  Eastern Indonesia between decentralization and unrest. [in both English and Indonesian languages].  Refereed, 2004

Grandchildren of the Ga'e Ancestors:  Social Organization and Cosmology of the Hoga Sara of Flores.  KITLV Press, Leiden, 2000.

"Considerations of Consequences of Rapid Agricultural Modernization Among Two Ngada Communities."  Special Edition of Flores Cultures.  Molnar, A.K. (ed.) Anthropology Indonesia, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia 22(56): 47-58, 1999.

"Christianity and Traditional Religion among the Hoga Sara of West-Central Flores." Anthropos, (92): 393-408, 1997.