Laura Putsche is an assistant professor of anthropology.  Her areas of interest are indigenous peoples of South America (particularly of the Amazon region), indigenous peoples and the state, cultural ecology, and indigenous peoples and international development.  Her research has focused on how reduced access to natural resources has impacted a group of Shipibo in the Peruvian Amazon and efforts by indigenous peoples to organize themselves to protect their land and culture.  She has also worked with mentoring programs on campus to help ensure that they are meeting students' needs.