Lawrence W. Gross
Education
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Ph.D., Religious Studies, Stanford University
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M.A., Religious Studies, Stanford University
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A.M., Regional Studies East Asia, Harvard University,
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B.A. Japanese, University of Minnesota
Professional Background
- 2015—Present Associate Professor and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Endowed Chair of Native American Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies Program, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA
- 2011—2014 Assistant Professor and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Endowed Chair of Native American Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies Program, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA
- 2007—2011 Assistant Professor, Department of Native American Studies, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Presentations
2015 “No Laughing Matter: The Real World Consequences of the Comic Vision of the Anishinaabeg.”
Social Justice Initiative Mellon Project Address. University of California—Davis, Davis, CA, May, 2015.
Anishinaabe Ways of Knowing and Being Book Reading.
Pitzer College, Claremont, CA, February, 2015.
2014 “How Traditional Storytelling and Activities Help Make the Anishinaabeg Defenders of the Earth: A Case Study in Making Maple Syrup.”
American Academy of Religion. San Diego, November, 2014.
“Building a Native American Studies Program at a Liberal Arts University.”
18th Annual New American Colleges and Universities Summer Institute. University of Redlands, Redlands, CA, June, 2014.
“The Conventions of Anishinaabe Rhetoric: Claiming Native Forms of Speech to Empower Native People.”
15th Annual American Indian Studies Association Conference. Arizona State University, February, 2014.
2013 Chair, “Applying the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” panel.
American Academy of Religion Conference. Baltimore, November, 2013.
2012 “The Connection between Anishinaabe Language, Worldview, Morality, and Processes of Conflict Resolution.”
American Academy of Religion Conference. Chicago, November, 2012.
“Native American Veterans and the Healing Tradition of the Comic Vision of Native American Traditions.”
Keynote address. Native American Heritage Month Celebration: Wisdom through the Ages Conference. University of Redlands, Redlands, CA, November, 2012.
Chair, “Applying the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” panel
13th Annual American Indian Studies Association Conference. Arizona State University, February, 2012.
2011 Chair, "What Do We Do Now to Facilitate Healing between Mainstream Society and Indian Country?" panel.
12th Annual American Indian Studies Association Conference. Arizona State University, February, 2011.
2010 “Storytelling in the Anishinaabe Context: Listening, Speaking, Learning, Living.”
Earth Rights: Learning the Languages of Indigenous Environmentalism Conference. Montana State University—Bozeman, April, 2010.
2009 “Storytelling in the Anishinaabe Context: Listening, Speaking, Learning, Living.”
Native American and Indigenous Studies Conference. University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, May, 2009.
“Some Elements of American Indian Pedagogy from an Anishinaabe Perspective.”
10th Annual American Indian Studies Association Conference. Arizona State University, February, 2009.
2008 “The Rhetoric of Anishinaabe Sovereignty: The Struggle for Treaty Rights as Documented in Jim Northrup’s Newspaper Column ‘The Fond du Lac Follies.’”
40th Algonquian Conference. University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, October, 2008.
“The Rhetoric of Anishinaabe Sovereignty: The Struggle for Treaty Rights as Documented in Jim Northrup’s Newspaper Column ‘The Fond du Lac Follies.’”
Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference. Montana State University—Bozeman, October, 2008.
“Using Traditional Activities to Help Anishinaabe Veterans Cope with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Preliminary Hypothesis and Report on Future Research Plans.”
Native American and Indigenous Studies Conference. University of Georgia, April, 2008.
“A Modest Proposal for Developing Classes to Teach the Art of Storytelling.”
Fourth Annual Storytellers of the Americas Conference: Honoring John Mohawk’s Life and Work. University of Buffalo, March, 2008.
2007 “Using Traditional Knowledge from Native Cultures to Promote Healing: A Case Study of the Anishinaabe.”
American Academy of Religion Conference. San Diego, November, 2007.
“Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Veteran.”
Keynote address. Veteran’s Health and Wellness Day. Seven Clans Casino, Thief River Falls, MN, May, 2007.
“Assisting Veterans Cope with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Religious Rituals: Lessons from American Indian Societies.”
First Annual A. C. Clark Library Lecture Series. Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN, March, 2007.
2006 “Storytelling and Cultural Survival in the Wake of an Apocalypse: The Case of the Anishinaabe.”
Public Lecture. University of California—Davis, May, 2006.
“The History of the Oral Tradition of the Anishinaabe in the 20th Century.”
American Literature Association Conference. San Francisco, May, 2006.
“Silence as the Root of American Indian Humor.”
Indigenous Professors Association Conference. University of Kansas, March, 2006.
2005 “Silence as the Root of American Indian Humor in Practice and Theory.”
Art Gliner Center for the Study of Humor public lecture. University of Maryland, November, 2005.
“Doing Theory Indian Style: The Development of the Idea of Postapocalypse Stress Syndrome.”
Indigenous Professors Association Conference. University of Kansas, March, 2005.
“Postapocalypse Stress Syndrome and the Anishinaabe.”
All Ivy Native American Student Conference. Brown University, February, 2005.
2004 “Postapocalypse Stress Syndrome and Rebuilding American Indian Communities.”
The Role of Research in Building Communities: The African American and First Nations Experience Conference. University of Kansas, November, 2004.
2001 “The Liberating and Healing Power of the Trickster: A Case Study of Nanabush in the Anishinaabe Tradition.”
International Society for Humor Studies Conference. University of Maryland, July, 2001.
“The Liberating and Healing Power of the Trickster: A Case Study of Nanabush in the Anishinaabe Tradition.”
Midwest Regional American Academy of Religion Conference. Chicago, March, 2001.
Participant, “Humor and Religion” panel.
Midwest Regional American Academy of Religion Conference. Chicago, March, 2001.
1999 “Legitimate versus Illegitimate: Towards a Hermeneutics of Transmission in Zen Buddhism.”
American Academy of Religion Conference. Boston, November, 1999.
“Minnesota in the Myths of the Midewiwin: Establishing a Sense of Place in a New Homeland.”
American Studies Association Conference. Montreal, October, 1999.
“Manzan Dôhaku on Lineage Transmission: An Analysis of the Manzan Oshô Tômon Ejo Shû.”
“Dôgen and Sôtô Zen” Symposium. Center for Buddhist Studies. Stanford University, October, 1999.
“Myth and Meaning in the Earth Diver Story of the Minnesota Ojibwe.”
Who Will Listen and Remember: Anishinaabeg of the Great Lakes Region Symposium on History, Culture, and Contemporary Issues. University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire, September, 1999.
“Ojibwe Views of Ecology: Yesterday and Today.”
Celebrate Diversity Series. Iowa State University, February, 1999.
1996 Respondent, “American Buddhism and Ecology” panel.
Consultation on Buddhism and Ecology. Center for the Study of World Religions. Harvard University, May, 1996.
“Manzan Dôhaku on Lineage Transmission: An Analysis of the Manzan Oshô Tômon Ejo Shû.”
Association for Asian Studies Conference. Honolulu, April, 1996.
“Making the World Sacred, Quietly, Carefully: Silence and Concentration in the Sôtô Zen and Ojibwa Indian Experience.”
New England—Maritime Regional American Academy of Religion Conference. Harvard University, March, 1996.
1995 “Silence and Concentration in the Sôtô Zen and Ojibwa Indian Experience.”
“Crossing Boundaries: Perspectives on Ojibwa Religion” Symposium. University of Vermont, November, 1995.
“Chippewa Views of Ecology: Yesterday and Today.”
2nd Annual Bay Area Native American Graduate Student Conference. Stanford University, April, 1995.
“Manzan Dôhaku and Lineage Transmission.”
Public lecture. Smith College, April, 1995.
1994 “Silence and Concentration in the Sôtô Zen and Ojibwa Indian Experience.”
1st Annual Bay Area Native American Graduate Student Conference. Stanford University, April, 1994.
“From Hagiography to History in the Case of Manzan Dôhaku.”
Western Regional American Academy of Religion Conference. Santa Clara University, March, 1994.
Media Appearances
2014 Tanya H. Lee. “50 Years Later Native American Studies Still Evolving: 6 New Programs.” Indian Country Today Media Network. May 21, 2014.
2013 Scott, Cynthia. “Making Peace with War.” Minnesota Magazine. Fall, 2013.
2012 Interview on “Plugged Inland,” KVCR television, San Bernardino, CA, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012.
Interview topic: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians initiative at the University of Redlands.
2011 "Professor Launches Website for Veterans." This Week from Indian Country Today. Vol. 1, issue 18 (May 25, 2011), 19.
MSU News Service. "MSU Professor Launches Web Site to Aid Veterans with PTSD." Bozeman Chronicle, April 17, 2010, C5,
Interview on KBZK television, Bozeman, Montana, Monday, April 14, 2011.
Interview topic: Veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious rituals.
MSU News Service. "MSU Professor Launches Web Site to Aid Veterans with PTSD." Montana State University. April 11, 2011.
ICTMN Staff. "Montana State University Professor Launches Website to Help Veterans With PTSD." Indian Country Today Media Network. April 11, 2011.
Interview on KTVM television, Bozeman, Montana, Monday, April 11, 2011.
Interview topic: Veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious rituals.
2010 Lauren Russell. “American Indians Have a Unique Take on Environmental Issues, Presenters Say.” Bozeman Chronicle, April 3, 2010, A1,
2009 Interviewed for newspaper article, Krista J. Kapralos, “Warriors and Patriots: Many American Indians Served before Getting Full Citizenship Rights,” The Herald, Everett, WA, July 3, 2009, A1,
2007 Interview on KRFP radio, Moscow, Idaho, Sunday, April 1, 2007.
Interview topic: Veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious rituals.
Interview on KAXE radio, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, March 21, 2007.
Interview topic: Veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious rituals.
Affiliations
- American Academy of Religion
- American Studies Association
- American Indian Studies Association
- Native American and Indigenous Studies Association
Areas of Expertise
- Native American Studies
- Race & Ethnic Studies
Publications
Book
Anishinaabe Ways of Knowing and Being. Farnham, Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing, 2014.
Referred Articles
“Some Elements of American Indian Pedagogy from an Anishinaabe Perspective.” American Indian Culture and Research Journal 34, no. 2 (2010): 11-26.
“Healing and Humor in the Non-Fiction Works of Jim Northrup.” Wicazo Sa Review 24, no. 1 (Spring, 2009): 65-87.
“Assisting American Indian Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Cope with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Lessons from Vietnam Veterans and the Writings of Jim Northrup.” American Indian Quarterly 31, no. 3 (Summer, 2007): 373-409.
“Silence as the Root of American Indian Humor: Further Meditations on the Comic Vision of Anishinaabe Culture and Religion.” American Indian Culture and Research Journal 31, no. 2 (2007): 69-85.
“Teaching American Indian Studies to Reflect American Indian Ways of Knowing and to Interrupt Cycles of Genocide.” Wicazo Sa Review 20, no. 2 (Fall, 2005): 187-234.
“The Trickster and World Maintenance: An Anishinaabe Reading of Louise Erdrich’s Tracks.” Studies in American Indian Literatures 17, no. 3 (Fall, 2005): 48-66.
“Cultural Sovereignty and Native American Hermeneutics in the Interpretation of the Sacred Stories of the Anishinaabe.” Wicazo Sa Review 18, no. 2 (Fall, 2003): 127-34.
“The Comic Vision of Anishinaabe Culture and Religion.” American Indian Quarterly 26, no. 3 (Summer, 2003): 436-59.
“Bimaadiziwin, or the ‘Good Life,’ as a Unifying Concept of Anishinaabe Religion.” American Indian Culture and Research Journal 26, no. 1 (2002): 15-32.
Invited Articles
“American Indian Cultures, Humor in.” In Encyclopedia of Humor Studies. Edited by Salvatore Attardo. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Reference, 2014.
“Anishinaabe Religious Traditions.” In Encyclopedia of Religion. Edited by Lindsay Jones. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan, 2004.
“The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978.” In Native Americans, edited by Donald Grinde, 117-23. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2002.
Review Articles
Review of Anishinaabe Syndicated: A View from the Rez, by Jim Northrup. Wicazo Sa Review 29, no. 1 (2014): 102-105.
Review of Losing Ground: The Displacement of San Gorgonio Pass Cahuilla People in the 19th Century, by Louis Doody and Betty Kikumi Meltzer. Southern California Quarterly 96, no. 1 (2014): 117-19.
Current Research Projects
Book Manuscript: Native American Conservative Political Philosophy.
Awards and service
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2013 Nominated for Innovative Teaching Award, University of Redlands, March, 2013.
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2012 Recipient, Golden Eagle Award, Sherman Indian High School, Riverside, CA, September, 2012. For volunteer service to the school.
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2010 Nominated for the Anna K. Fridley Distinguished Teaching Award, Montana State University, November, 2010.
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Nominated for the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, Montana State University, November, 2010.
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Nominated for the Anna K. Fridley Distinguished Teaching Award, Montana State University, March, 2010.
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Nominated for the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, Montana State University, February, 2010.
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2009 Nominated for the Mortar Board Professor of the Month Award, Montana State University, December, 2009.
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Nominated for the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, Montana State University, February, 2009.
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2008 Journal article, “Assisting American Indian Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Cope with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Lessons from Vietnam Veterans and the Writings of Jim Northrup,” presented the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers Writer of the Year, Academic Article 2006-2007 award.
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2005 Iowa State University American Indian Studies Academic Achievement Award.
For publishing five articles in peer-reviewed journals in a four year time span. -
1996 Conference paper, “Making the World Sacred, Quietly, Carefully: Silence and Concentration in the Sôtô Zen and Ojibwa Indian Experience,” presented the Allyn Russell Prize for best graduate student paper at the New England—Maritime Regional American Academy of Religion meeting.
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1988 Harvard master’s essay, “Seeing the Everyday World as Sacred: Japanese Approaches to the Religious Experience,” presented the Joseph Fletcher Award for excellence in the master’s essay by the Regional Studies—East Asia program faculty.
University Service
University of Redlands
- Member, Curriculum Committee, School of Business
- Department Chairs and Directors Meetings
- College of Arts and Sciences Assembly Meetings
- University Assembly Meetings
- Liaison work with Sherman Indian Boarding School, Riverside, CA
- Liaison work with Noli Indian School, San Jacinto, CA
- Liaison work with Morongo Band of Mission Indians School, Banning, CA.
- Other service work as required by the Endowed Chair position.
Montana State University—Bozeman
- Library liaison, Department of Native American Studies
Bemidji State University
- Volunteer grant writing work for the American Indian Resource Center
Iowa State University
- Panel Organizer, “American Indians in the Academy: Challenges and Responses,” Iowa State University Conference on Race and Ethnicity
- Religious Studies Club faculty advisor
- American Indian Studies Program liaison work with the Mesquakie Indians
- American Indian Studies Program Advisory Committee
University of Vermont
- Co-organizer, “Crossing Boundaries: Perspectives on Ojibwa Religion” symposium
Professional Service
2014—Present Member, Board of Directors, American Indian Studies Association
2012--Present Member, Steering Committee, Native Traditions of the Americas Group, American Academy of Religion
2011--Present Contributing Editor, Wicazo Sa Review
2009—2010 Member, Steering Committee, Native Traditions of the Americas Group, American Academy of Religion
Community Service
2007 Naytahwaush Community Charter School, Naytahwaush, MN
Volunteer tutoring for combined 5th and 6th grade class. Naytahwaush Community Charter School is located on the White Earth reservation.
2005—2006 White Earth Tribal and Community College:
Tribal Colleges and Universities Program student tutoring in English and Mathematics and other volunteer work.
2006—2007 A.C. Clark Library Guest Researcher, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
2005—2006 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Diversity Fellow, Department of Religious Studies, University of California—Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
1998—2005 Assistant Professor, Joint appointment: Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, and American Indian Studies Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
1996—1998 Lecturer, Department of Religion, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Current Outside Doctor Of Philosophy Reading Committee
Emerson Bull Chief. “Apsaalooke Ways of Knowing: Bridging Academia and Traditional Knowledge.” Doctor of Philosophy candidate. American Studies. Montana State University—Bozeman.
Doctor Of Philosophy Reading Committee
2008 Burgess, Benjamin. “Clan-Destined Communities: Clan Identity in Ojibwe Literature.” Doctor of Philosophy. Native American Studies. University of California—Davis.
2004 Sample, Joseph. “Rhetoric in Cross-Cultural Appropriation: A Case Study of Chinese and European ‘Enlightenment’ Periods.” Doctor of Philosophy. Rhetoric and Professional Communication. Department of English. Iowa State University.
2001 Noori, Margaret. “Native American Literature in Tribal Context: Anishinaabe Aadisokaanag Noongom.” Doctor of Philosophy. Department of English. University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.
Current Outside Master Of Arts Reading Committee
Lynn Doyle, Thesis topic to be determined. Master of Arts. Department of Native American Studies. Montana State University.
Master Of Arts Reading Committee
2011 Miller, Colin. "An Examination of Native American Studies at Montana State University and Its Relationship to Montana's Tribal Colleges." Master of Arts. Department of Native American Studies. Montana State University.
2009 Gorelova, Elena. “Native American Sovereignty and Literature.” Master of Arts. Department of Native American Studies. Montana State University.
Wingo, Rebecca. “Indian Gaming: The Montana Stalemate.” Master of Arts. Department of Native American Studies. Montana State University.
2004 Coppoc, Jim. “The Ethos of Slam Poetry.” Master of Arts. Literature and Creative Writing. Department of English. Iowa State University.
2002 Rodriguez, Ryan. “Cycles of Love and Confusion.” Master of Arts. Creative Writing. Department of English. Iowa State University.
2001 Yuan, Yuan. “Waterway House: An Experiment in Daoist Design.” Master of Architecture. Department of Architecture. Iowa State University.
2000 Bhutipunthu, Danaya. “Insight Meditation and Its Relationship to Graphic Design.” Master of Fine Arts. Graphic Design. Department of Art and Design. Iowa State University.