I am a Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with a specialization in Southeast Asian archaeology and human-environment dynamics. My research focuses on the intersections of archaeology, climate adaptation, and indigenous knowledge, particularly in the Philippines. As an expert in landscape archaeology, I lead the Ifugao Archaeological Project, which has contributed to rethinking the timeline of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, showing they are around 400 years old, contrary to the widely held belief that they are 2,000 years old. This work has challenged long-standing assumptions and has been crucial in decolonizing historical narratives in Philippine archaeology.
I serve as the Director of the UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies, where I facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, focusing on environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, and resilience. My research also extends to public outreach and heritage conservation, aiming to engage communities and ensure that indigenous voices are central to both scholarship and education.
In addition to my academic role, I have been actively involved in capacity-building initiatives through the Program for Early Modern Southeast Asia (PEMSEA) S, which promotes collaborative research and knowledge-sharing across Southeast Asia. I have contributed extensively to indigenous archaeology, with a focus on elevating local perspectives in both research and policy frameworks.
