CURRICULUM VITAE

Risa D. Cromer
EDUCATION
Ph.D.
M.Phil.
B.A.

Cultural Anthropology, Graduate Center, City University of New York, May 2016
Saved: Stem Cell Science, Christian Adoption, and Frozen Embryo Potential in the
United States
Cultural Anthropology, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 2010
Willamette University, Gender Studies, 2004

GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

External
2016

2015-2016
2010-2011

Brocher Foundation Writing Residency for Ethical, Legal, Social Implications of

New Medical Developments
Woodrow Wilson Foundation Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation
Fellowship in Religion and Ethics
American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship (declined)
Wenner-Gren Foundation Dissertation Fieldwork Grant

University
2013-2014
2009
2008
2006-2010

Dissertation Fellowship, CUNY Graduate Center

Doctoral Student Council Research Grant, CUNY Graduate Center
Pre-Dissertation Field Research Grant, CUNY Graduate Center
Chancellors Teaching and Tuition Fellowship, CUNY Graduate Center

2015-2016

PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Reviewed Publications
(under review) Female Veterans who Died by Suicide. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.
Co-authored with Denneson, L., Cromer, R., Jacobson, L., Teo, A., Dobscha, S.
(under review) Qualitative Analysis of U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Mental Health
Clinician Perspectives on Patient-Centered Care International Journal of Health
Systems. Co-authored with Dobscha, S., Cromer, R., Crain, A., Denneson, L.
(in press)
VA Mental Health Clinician Experiences and Attitudes Toward OpenNotes.
General Hospital Psychiatry. Co-authored with Dobscha, S., Denneson, L,
Jacobson, L., Williams, H., Cromer, R., Woods, S.
2014
A Virtual Hope Box Smart Phone App as an Accessory to Therapy: Proof-ofConcept in a Clinical Sample of Veterans. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.
45(1): 1-9. Co-authored with Bush, N., Dobscha, S., Crumpton, R., Denneson, L.,
Hoffman, J., Crain, A., Cromer, R., Kinn, J.
2009
Embryonic Properties and Fetal Frontiers: Potential Life in U.S. Property Law.
Revista Romana de Sociologie. 20(5/6): 385-407.
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Book Chapters
(in press)
Waiting: The Redemption of Frozen Embryos through Embryo Adoption and Stem
Cell Research in the United States. The Fetus: Biology, Culture, and Society.
Edited by Sallie Han, Tracy Betsinger, and Amy Scott. Berghahn Press.
Non-Refereed Publications
2014
Seeing like an Anthropologist. The Adoption Constellation Magazine Ethics
Issue 11(Summer): 4-5.
2012
Notes from the Field of an Embryo Ethnographer. Council on the Anthropology
of Reproduction Newsletter. 19(1): 9-11.
Policy Statements
2014
The Council on Anthropology and Reproduction Oppose the TRAP Laws Limiting
Access to Abortion. Co-authored with Elise Andaya, Lauren Fordyce, Joanna
Mishtal, Bonnie Ruder, Risa Cromer. Second Opinion. 2(1): 7.
Book and Film Reviews
2011
Book Review: Jungle Laboratories: Mexican Peasants, National Projects, and the
Making of the Pill. Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology 16(2):
477-479.
2009
Book Review: Plants and Empire: Colonial Bioprospecting in the Atlantic World.
Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology. 14(1): 218-220
2008
Film Review: Rosita. Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology.
13(1): 270-272.
PRESENTATIONS
Invited Talks
2016 Listening as Advocacy: Why We Need Anthropology in Bioethical Controversies
Pacific University Department of Anthropology Anthropology@Work series. March 14.
2015 Rescued: Science, Religion, and the Frozen Embryo Problem in the United States.
Oregon State University Department of Anthropology Brown Bag Lecture Series.
November 13.
2015 Saved: Frozen Embryo Politics in Stem Cell Science and Christian Adoption in the United
States. University of California San Francisco Bixby Center for Global Reproductive
Health, Advancing New Standard in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH). June 15.
2015 Saving Accounts: Embryo Donation/Adoption in the United States.
Portland State University Department of Sociology Brown Bag Lecture Series. January 30.
2014 Intersections of Adoption and Third Party Reproduction.
Oregon Womens Health Network Lecture Series. Portland, OR, September 26.
2012 Price of Potential: Case Study of Embryo Donation for Research.
Stanford Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Journal Club. Stanford, CA, November 13.
2012 Social Lives of Frozen Human Embryos.
Stanford Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center Journal Club. Stanford, CA, Oct 3.
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Panels Organized
2015 Intimate Aftermaths. Society for the Anthropology of North America Inequality, Equality,
and Difference Conference. Co-chair with Natali Valdez. New York, NY, April 17-18.
2013 Vital Futures: Life, Value, and Health in Uncertain Times. Society for the Anthropology of
North America Uncertain Futures Conference. Co-chair with Elan Abrell. Durham, NC,
March 14-16.
2008 Politics of Kinship and Family in Crisis. American Anthropological Association Annual
Meeting. Co-chair with Sophie Statzel. San Francisco, CA. November 19-23.
Papers Presented at Professional Meetings
2015 Saved: Race, Reproduction, and Frozen Embryo Politics in the Wake of IVF in the United
States. American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. Denver, CO, November
18-22.
2015 Rescued: Science, Religion, and Frozen Embryo Aftermaths in the United States.
Society for the Anthropology of North America. New York, NY, April 17-18.
2014 Saved: Science, Religion, and the Frozen Embryo Problem in the United States.
American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. Washington D.C., December 3-7.
2014 Between the Lines: Reading and Researching Mental Health Notes.
Anthropology & Mental Health Interest Group Conference. Washington D.C., December 2.
2013 Icons for Potential: Frozen Embryos and their Futures.
American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, November 21-25.
2013 What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting.
Museum of Motherhood A New Motherhood?: Evolving Policies, Practices and Families
Conference. New York, NY, May 2-4.
2013 Human Embryo Donation for Research: RENEW Biobank Experience.
Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Meeting. Ranch Mirage, CA, April 18-22. Co-authored
with Trivedi, D., Cromer, R., Dasig, J., Suarez, M., and Barry Behr
2013 The Values of Potential, or the Three Million Dollar Frozen Embryo.
Society for the Anthropology of North America Uncertain Futures Conference. Durham,
NC, March 14-16.
2012 Notes from the Field of an Embryo Ethnographer.
American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA, November
10-14.
2008 Life worth Protecting: Embryo Adoption and the Frozen U.S. Surplus.
American Anthropological Association Meeting. San Francisco, CA, November 19-23.
2008 Feminism in the Age of HIV/AIDS: Voices from South African Activists.
International AIDS Conference. Co-presented with Daisy Deomampo. Mexico City,
Mexico. August 3-8.
2007 Public Secrets & Abortive Ends: A Biography of Cytotec in Brazil, 1986-1991.
American Anthropological Association Meeting, Washington D.C., November 28December 2.
Discussant
2009 Encountering Needs: Bodies & Selves. In Times of Need? Graduate Conference, CUNY
Graduate Center, March 13.

TEACHING
2006-2013

Instructor, Lehman College, CUNY, Department of Anthropology & Online Education

Gender and Anthropology

Global Politics of Health
Human Rights in Latin America
Medical Anthropology
Women in Latin America
2010

(nine sections Fall 2006-Summer 2011)

(eleven sections Summer 2011-Spring 2013)
(seven section Fall 2010-Spring 2013)
(two sections Spring 2009-Spring 2010)
(seven sections Spring 2008-Spring 2013)

Instructor, York College, CUNY, Department of Social Sciences

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

(one section Spring 2010)

RESEARCH
Positions
2013-Present Qualitative Analyst, Center for Improving Veteran Engagement in Care, Veteran
Affairs Portland Health Care System
2013-2015
Visiting Scholar, Department of Sociology, Portland State University
2012-2013
Visiting Student Researcher, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Stanford
University
2010
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Sociology, Lehman College
2008-2010
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Anthropology, CUNY Graduate
Center
Fieldwork
2011-2013
2009
2008
2007

February-April. California, USA

June. California, USA
June-July. California, USA
June-July. Capetown, South Africa

HONORS & AWARDS

2015
2015
2013
2013
2012-2013
2010
2006-2010

Graduate Paper Prize, Council on the Anthropology of Reproduction

Graduate Student Paper Prize, Committee for the Anthropology of Science,
Technology, and Computing
St. Clair Drake Travel Grant, Society for Anthropology of North America
PSC-CUNY Adjunct Professional Development Funds, CUNY Lehman College
Nina E. Fortin Memorial Dissertation Proposal Award, CUNY Graduate Center
Womens Studies Program
Passed Doctoral Qualifying Exam with Distinction, CUNY Graduate Center
Department of Anthropology
Sue Rosenberg Zalk Student Travel and Research Award, CUNY Graduate Center
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PROFESSIONAL & UNIVERSITY SERVICE

Manuscript Reviewer
American Ethnologist (2015)
Feminist Theory (2008)
Editor
2009-2010

Anthropology Now Findings Column Graduate Editorial Collective

Professional Committee Service

2014-2015
Co-Chair of Advocacy Committee, Council for the Anthropology of Reproduction
2013-2014
Member of Advocacy Committee, Council for the Anthropology of Reproduction
University Service
2006-2010
First Year Initiative Faculty Collaborator, Lehman College
2006
Writing Across the Curriculum Faculty Collaborator, Lehman College
Department Service
2009-2010
Executive Committee Member, Department of Anthropology, CUNY Graduate
Center
2009-2010
Elections Committee Co-Chair, Department of Anthropology, CUNY Graduate
Center
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
2014-2016
2013-2015
2010-2013

Facilitator, RJ:PDX Reproductive Justice Salon Series, Portland, OR

Regional Team Leader, Backline, Portland, OR
Talk Line Peer Counseling Advocate, Backline, Portland, OR

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Anthropological Association
Association for Feminist Anthropology
Society for the Anthropology of North America
Society for the Anthropology of Religion
Society for Medical Anthropology