Dr. Linda Winkler

Dr. Linda Winkler is an Anthropologist whose academic background is multidisciplinary, including a B.A. from a liberal arts college, an M.A. and PhD in Anthropology (Biological) and an MPH from the University of Pittsburgh. Her current academic interests concern global and community health, global collaboration, and developing broader global perspectives for university students in the United States. She has taught at Wilkes University, the University of Pittsburgh, Oregon State University, La Suerte Biological Field Station (Costa Rica), Ometepe Biological Field Station (Nicaragua), with Amizade Service Learning Group at West Virginia University, and on Semester at Sea. She received the Chancellor’s Outstanding Teaching Award at the University of Pittsburgh (2005) for her teaching endeavors, in particular her work in developing and teaching international courses. She recently received an Incubator Award from the Savings Lives at Birth USAID/ Gates Foundation for her work on maternal health in Tanzania with Nyakahanga Hospital. She has also received the awards from Wilkes University, her undergraduate alma mater and Rotary International for her work in promoting diversity, her educational projects in Tanzania and career successes.

She has done research, professional presentations, and published numerous articles in journals on a variety of topics in anthropology including maternal health, cultural correlates of disease, primatology, and primate morphology. Her most recent project involves assessing maternal and infant mortality and related factors in rural Tanzania. One of her favorite earlier endeavors has been to develop a series of children’s book in Swahili for use in East Africa. These books began as a research project in collaboration with a Tanzanian AIDS Control Program to develop AIDS education materials for children in Swahili. The project expanded to include a book designed to instill pride in community (Nyumbani Mwa Grace) and an ethnohistorical story of the last hereditary chief of a regional trading kingdom (Rumanyika). She is active in several professional organizations including American Anthropological Association, Sigma Xi, American Association of Physical Anthropology, PACIE, and the Medical Anthropology Association. She serves as a reviewer for a number of journals, publishers, and grant organizations and has repeatedly served as a National Science Foundation panel reviewer for Anthropology.

Education

• B.A. - Midland Lutheran College, Sociology and Religion
• M.A. - Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh
• Ph.D., - Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh
• M.P.H. - University of Pittsburgh

Professional Affiliations

• American Association of Physical Anthropologists
• Sigma Xi
• Joint Appointment, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anthropology
• American Anthropological Association
• PaCIE (The Pennsylvania Council for International Education)
• Association of International Education Administrators

In Progress

• Improving Access to Vitamin K as a means of lowering neonatal mortality: results of a two year study in rural Tanzania. 

2020

• A multi-year analysis of kangaroo mother care outcomes in low birth weight babies in rural Tanzania. African Health Sciences 20 (with secondary authors Agnes Stypulkowski, Shana Noon, Theophila Babwanga, Jesca Lutahoire) (DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v20i1.56). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7750084/ external website

2017

• Evaluating medical and systemic factors related to maternal and neonatal mortality at a hospital in rural Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Health Research 19 (4): October.

• Contemporary Changes in a Global Economy. Linda A Winkler and Harold Codrington (eds.) Vernon Press. Wilmington Delaware.

2016

• Global Health Engagement in Karagwe Tanzania: An Interprofessional Educational Experience Pennsylvania Nurse 70 (4): 18-25. (Cynthia Glawe Mailloux and Linda Winkler)

• Medical and Systemic Barriers to Implementing Kangaroo Mother Care at Nyakahanga Hospital, Karagwe Tanzania. Internet Journal of Third World Health 12(1) March 2016 (Sara M Wing and Linda A Winkler).

2015

• Development Strategies for Enhancing Hospital Income: A Case Study of Private Hospital Suites in a Rural African Hospital. In Global Perspectives on Sustainable Regional Development, Irmela Gorges (ed.) Verlag Dr. Kovac, Hamburg.

2014

• Global Health Curricula through Interprofessional Collaboration, peer reviewed session presented at 2014 PaCIE Conference: Building Global Competence through Collaborative Strategies in International Education (with Karen Arscott, The Commonwealth Medical College).

• Creating Global Citizens through Multidisciplinary Community Health Programs, Reciprocal Partnerships, and the United Nations Millennium Goals, AACU Global Learning Conference, October 2014, poster with E. Estwick, M. Grandinetti, and L. Bilder, Wilkes University).

• Economy and Social Conditions in Transition (Edited book from Proceedings from Congress of Political Economist International Meeting, July, 2013) Irmela Gorges and Linda Winkler (Eds.) Verlag Dr. Kovac, Hamburg.

• Economic Factors Related to Global Health in Rural Africa: A Case Study of HIV/AIDS and Maternal Health Programs in Rural Africa in the Context of the Global Funding and Regional Development. In Irmela Gorges and Linda Winkler (Eds.) Economy and Social Conditions in Transition (pp. 105-121), Verlag Dr. Kovac, Hamburg (with M. Winkler).

2013

• “IT TAKES A VILLAGE”: An Inside Look at Educational Achievement in Africa through the voices of AIDS Orphans, paper presented at Annual Kings College/Wilkes University Women’s Studies Conference (Kirstin Cook, Evene Estwick and Linda Winkler
• Improving Global Health for Women: a Case Study of Maternal Health Indicators in Rural Tanzania. Peer reviewed presentation for Northeastern PA Faculty and Student Research Symposium, April 2013, (Linda Winkler, Marisa Winkler, and Katie Bradley).

2011

• “Navigating the Global Landscape: Blogging, Digital Communication, and Neo-Imperialism” refereed paper for Conference and Proceedings: Changing Global Paradigms of Mediascape at Punjabi University India , October 2011 (Marcia Farrell and Linda Winkler)

2010

• Chief Rumanika, Historical folk tale for children in Swahili and English
• Developing a Successful Study Abroad Program, ” peer reviewed paper presented at 2010 PaCIEConference (with Jeff Whitehead and Carol Larson).

2009

• “Study Abroad, International Research, and Cultural Context” peer reviewed paper presented at 2009 PaCIEConference: Global Innovation, Diversity and Education.

2007

• Nyumbani Mwa Grace (Grace’s Home) (with artist Katie Moran) Community Children’s Book in Swahili.
• Western medicine meets rural Africa: an assessment of a HIV mother-child transmission program in rural Tanzania and related biocultural issues(abstract).Presentation at Annual Meetings of American Association of Physical Anthropologists, March 2007. (with Katherine Bradley).
• Community Health and Cultural Bias in Predicting HIV rates in Tanzania(abstract) . Presentation at Annual Meetings of American Association of Physical Anthropologists, March 2007. (with Katherine Bradley, Melissa Buss, and Greg Wolfe).
• Cultural and Demographic Factors Affecting HIV Rates in Rural Tanzania (abstract). Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anthropologists, November 2007.
• Kukua Kwa Adelina (Adelina Grows Up) (with artist Katie Moran), Children’s HIV/AIDS education book in Swahili, developed for use in East Africa .

2005

• Adelina, Children’s HIV/AIDS education book in Swahili, developed for use in East Africa.

2004

• Geographic Microsatellite Variability in Central American Howling Monkeys (with several secondary co-authors), International Journal of Primatology 25: 197-201.
• Western research in a Non-western World: HIV research in Tanzania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology (abstract of presentation).
• Community Health in Rural Tanzania: Partnering Medical Anthropology, Public Health, and Service Learning (abstract of invited paper), American Anthropological Association
• Lab Manual, Human Body Systems, University of Pittsburgh “in house” publication

2003

• Connecting Anthropology to the Real World: Strategies for Maximizing Experiential Learning Courses. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Annual Meeting Issue. (abstract of presentation).

2002

• A comparison of fission-fusion grouping patterns in two communities of howling monkeys. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Meeting Supplement (with several secondary co-authors)(abstract)
• Adaptive strategies and resource utilization of the mantled howling monkey in a small forest fragment in Nicaragua. (with K. Mitchell and J. Floyd) (abstract)American Journal of Physical Anthropology Meeting Supplement.
• Nyakahanga Hospital: Serving the World in Tanzania. The Lutheran Magazine, Northwestern PA, October.

2001

• Intergroup differences, troop immigration, and genetic variation in mantled howling monkeys in Nicaragua. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Supplement 32: 166 (abstract, with Xichen Zhang and Robert Ferrell.
• Foraging, feeding, and defecation site selection as a parasite avoidance strategy of Alouatta palliata in a dry tropical forest. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Supplement 32: 79. (abstract, with R. Henry).

2000

• Tracking fission-fusion social patterns in the mantled howling monkey (Alouatta palliata) in the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua. (abstract, presentation at national meetings, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Meeting Supplement).

1999

• Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Status of Primate Populations in Nicaragua (Symposium). (with Paul Garber) American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Annual Meeting Issue.
• Assessing intragroup genetic variation of free ranging mantled howling monkeys on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua. (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology , Supplement 28: 279-280 (with X. Zhang and R. Ferrell).
• Shifting social dynamics in a group of mantled howler monkeys (A. palliata) on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua. (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology , Supplement 28: 137 (with S.Z.Goldsmith).
• Capture, health, and morphological assessment of free ranging mantled howling monkeys in Nicaragua (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology Supplement 28: 221 (with G. Peter and R. Sohn).
• Monitoring health, genetic diversity, movement, and fission-fusion social patterns in a New World monkey (Alouatta palliata): an interdisciplinary project. In Investigations of Animal Movements: Analytical
• Techniques Across the Animal Kingdom, pp 79-84. J. Bowman and F. Huettmann (editors). (with G. Peter and R. Sohn)

1998

• The appearance of cleft palate in a newborn gorilla. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 35: 436-441 September (with J. Siebert et al.).

1997

• Weight and stature changes in Mexican children of Mayan descent. (abstract) American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 24: 242-243 (with Sara Tallarovic).
• Spontaneous cleft palate in a newborn gorilla. (abstract) American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 24: 210-211 (with J. Siebert et al.).

1996

• Edited volume: Recent Developments in Hominoid Ontogeny: An Overview and Summation. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 99:1-8. (with R. Anemone).
• Dental Development in the Orangutan During Eruption of the Permanent Dentition. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 99:205-220. (with J. Schwartz and D. Swindler).
• Relationships Between the Appearance of Ossification Centers of the Wrist and Ankle and Dental Development in Immature Orangutans and Chimpanzees. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 99:191-204.
• A Comparison of Radiographic and Anatomical Evidence of Permanent Tooth Development in Infant Apes. Folia Primatologica 65: 1-13.
• Chapter: A Brief Review of Studies of Orangutan Morphology and Development with a Discussion of Their Relevancy to Physical Anthropology. Edited Volume, Neglected Ape. R. Nadler, B. Galdikas, L. Sheeran, and N. Rosen (eds.) Plenum Press.
• Infant development in a human population of Mayan descent. (abstract) American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 22: 246.
• Orangutan life history: resetting the clock. (abstract) American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Supplement 22: 71 ( with M. Bond).

1994

• Variation in Patterns of Orangutan Tooth Formation: Implications for Comparing Hominoids. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, (abstract) Supplement 18, Annual Meeting Issue (with J. Schwartz and D. Swindler).
• The Importance of Studies of Orangutan Development. International Conference on the Orangutan: The Neglected Ape Conference Issue.

1993

• Recent Developments in the Study of Hominoid Ontogeny, A Symposium. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 16, Annual Meeting Issue (with R. Anemone).
• A Connate Tooth in a Neonatal Chimpanzee. Dental Anthropology Newsletter, October Issue (with D. R. Swindler).
• Do the Teeth, Carpal, and Tarsal Bones Tell the Same Story? (abstract). American Journal Of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 16, Annual Meeting Issue.

1992

• An Analysis of Sexual Dimorphism in the Dentition of the Perinatal Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 14, Annual Meeting Issue (with J. Siebert).
• MacPrimate Forensic: A Review, Dental Anthropology Association Newsletter, October.

1991

• An Assessment of Variation in the Dental Development of Known-Age Chimpanzees and Orangutans. (abstract), American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supplement 12:185.
• The Morphology and Variability of the Masticatory Structures of the Orangutan. International Journal of Primatology, 12:45-65.
• Edited Volume, Primate Dental Symposium, American Journal of Physical Anthropology. October (Volume 66[2]) (with D. R. Swindler).
• Aspects of Dental Development in the Orangutan Prior to the Eruption of the Permanent Dentition. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 86:255-272 (with J. H. Schwartz and D. R. Swindler).
• Primate Dental Development: New Trends, Old and New Questions. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 86:107-112 (with D. R. Swindler).
• Recent Dental Anthropology Symposium Publication. Dental Anthropology Newsletter 6:11 (with D. R. Swindler).

1990

• A Comparison of Dental Development in Two Neonatal Orangutans (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 81:318 (with D. R. Swindler).

1989

• Aspects of Dental Development in the Orangutan (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 78:325.
• The Fatty Cheek Pads of the Orangutan and Their Relationship to Facial Musculature. American Journal of Primatology, 17:305-319.

1988

• Variation in the Masticatory Musculature of the Orangutan (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 75:288.
• Variation and Age Related Differences in the Suboccipital Anatomy of the Orang utan. In Orang-utan Biology. J. H. Schwartz (ed.), pp. 191-200. Oxford University Press.
• Sexual Dimorphism in Orangutan Endocranial and Exocranial Morphology. In Orang-utan Biology, J. H. Schwartz (ed.), pp. 225-232. Oxford University Press (with G. Conroy and M. Vannier).

1987

• Sexual Dimorphism in Orangutan Cranial Morphology (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 72:270 (with G. Conroy and M. Vannier).
• Sexual Dimorphism in the Crania of Infant and Juvenile Orangutans. Folia Primatologica, 49:117-126.

1986

• Relationships Between the Fatty Cheek Pads and Facial Anatomy in the Orangutan (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 69:280-281.

1985

• Variation in the Suboccipital Anatomy of the Orangutan (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 66:243.

1984

• Primate Placentation: An Application of Wagner Tree Cladistic Quantitative Procedures to Assess Phylogeny (abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 63(2).

Papers: Invited for Professional Meetings

2005

• Developing Human Physiology Modules for Training Health Professionals. Teaching Excellence Fair, University of Pittsburgh.

• Global Problems, Global Solutions, LaRoche College, Coordinator and presenter of two workshops: Disease, AIDS and poverty in Tanzania, Volunteer and Service Opportunities

2004

• Community Health in Rural Tanzania: Partnering Medical Anthropology, Public Health, and Service Learning (abstract of invited paper), American Anthropological Association

2003

• Symposium on Teaching Evolution and Variation in Physical Anthropology, American Association of Physical Anthropology annual meeting

2001

• New World Monkey Genetics: A look at Nicaragua. Kent State University, Department of Anthropology Seminar speaker.

1998

• Tracking Fission-Fusion Patterns and Movement in a New World Monkey (Alouatta palliata): a Capture – Release Project. Workshop on Investigations of Animal Movements, New Brunswick, Canada

1997

• Growth and Development Among Great Apes: A Focus on Orangutans. Symposium Series, University of Oregon.

1995

• The Morphology and Development of the Orangutan. Seminar Series: Anthropological Institute, University of Zurich and Department of Anthropology and Genetics, University of Munich

1994

• The Importance of Studies of Orangutan Development to Physical Anthropology. International Conference on the Orangutan, sponsored by Atlanta Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and California State, Fullerton.

1991

• An Assessment of Variation in the Dental Development of Known-Age Chimpanzees and Orangutans. Symposium to honor Daris Swindler at the 60th annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Milwaukee, WI.

1985

• Variation in the Suboccipital Anatomy of the Orangutan. Symposium on Aspects of the Biology of the Orang utan. 54th annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Knoxville, TN.

Research Interests

• Maternal Health
• Global HIV/AIDS
• Human Health and Disease
• Human Growth and Development
• Anthropoid Dental and Skeletal Development
• Ecological and Conservation Issues Related to Human and Non-human Primates

Previous Research Sites

• Ometepe Biological Field Station, Nicaragua
• Nyakahanga Hospital, Karagwe, Tanzania and AIDS Control Program, Karagwe, Tanzania
• La Suerte Ecological Research Station, Costa Rica
• Anthropological Institute, University of Zurich
• Koninklijk Museum Voor Midden Afrika (Tervuren)
• American Museum of Natural History
• National Zoological Park (Smithsonian Institution)
• National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution)
• Cleveland Museum of Natural History
• British Museum (Natural History)
• Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie (Leiden)

2013

• Executive Diversity Award: recognition for efforts to support campus diversity at Wilkes University
• Savings Lives at Birth Incubator Award (from USAID, the Government of Norway, the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and DFID) for work in developing maternal health project (research and outreach) with Nyakahanga Hospital in Tanzania

2010

• Alumni Award, Midland College

2009

• University of Pittsburgh Fitness Award, Summer Employee Wellness Competition

2008

• Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Honorary Award for Service Project in Tanzania

2007

• Rotary International grant (with Katie Moran) for development and publication of a children’s book in Swahili for use in Tanzania. ($11,000)

2006

• Research Abroad Grant Program (University Honor’s College and UCIS) Demographic Parameters of HIV/AIDS in rural Tanzania ($15000)

2005

• Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh
• Semester at Sea Students for Service Endowment Grant to publish and support production of Children’s AIDS book series in Tanzania ($4042)

2004

• Developing New Physiology Modules for Health Science Laboratories, Teaching Enhancement Grant $10,436

2003

• Developing a Service Learning Research Course in Tanzania, $2400

2002

• Developing a Community Health Course in Tanzania, Hewett International Grant, $2000
• Research Abroad Program, Undergraduate Research Grant, Public Health and AIDS in Rural Tanzania, $15000

2000

• Primate Behavior and Biology: Developing a Field Ecology Course, Innovative Course Development Fund, University of Pittsburgh, $3000

1996, 1998

• Nominated to Who's Who Among American Teachers

1996

• University of Pittsburgh, Central Research Development Fund Grant. Establishing a Demographic Profile of Alouatta palliata at the La Suerte Tropical Rainforest Conservation Site in Costa Rica, $4829.
• Instructional Development And Technology Committee, Oregon State University. Enhancing Laboratory Usage and Student Learning in Human Anatomy and Physiology with Videodisc Tutorials and Innovative Instructional Software, $14,590.
  

1993

• University of Pittsburgh Provost's Discretionary Grant, travel and research grant, $1100.

1992

• University of Pittsburgh at Titusville Teaching Enhancement Grants, $1000.

1989

• Pennsylvania Department of Education, Title II Grant (with J. Rash, E. Gettig, R. Gardner). Computer Aided Instruction and Simulations in the Science Curriculum, $10,000.

1988

• University of Pittsburgh, Central Research Development Fund Grant. Dental Morphogenesis and Eruption Patterns in the Orangutan, $4458.

1987

• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, travel funds and to support research on orangutan sexual dimorphism, $300.

1985

• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, National Chapter, for support of research on orangutan craniofacial and cervical anatomy, Washington University (St. Louis), $600.
• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, University of Pittsburgh Chapter, Research Enhancement Grant, for support of research on orangutan cheek pad anatomy and relationships, American Museum of Natural History, $343.
• University of Pittsburgh Faculty Development Fund, for support of research on orangutan cheek pad anatomy, $400.
  

1984

• L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, for support of research on craniofacial anatomy of the orangutan and cranio metric and morphological characters in orangutan crania, $1500.

1983 - 1984

• National Science Foundation, Grant for Improving Doctoral Dissertation Research, Age Related Changes in the Craniofacial Anatomy of the Orangutan, $7851.
• Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, for support of research on the craniofacial anatomy of the orangutan, $6000.