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Margaret Bender (Ph.D., University of Chicago). Margaret Bender received her A.B. degree in English from Cornell University, her A.M. in the social sciences from the University of Chicago, and her Ph.D. in Anthropology also from the University of Chicago. Bender believes strongly that the study of language is essential to our understanding of cultures, persons, and events. She has studied the relationship between language and culture in a variety of contexts—from political rhetoric in Iran to family literacy education in Chicago. Most of her work, however, has centered around the Cherokee language and been based in North Carolina’s Eastern Cherokee community. Focal areas have included literacy, language ideologies, linguistic sovereignty, and language revitalization. Bender is currently involved in two major research projects: 1) studying changes in Cherokee sacred language between 1800 and the early 20th century, and 2) working with Cherokee elders to develop a local Cherokee language and culture-based pregnancy and childbirth support program. The latter project is known as Ulilohi, ‘how it should be,’ and it is being undertaken by the Center for Native Health in collaboration with community members and health care practitioners. Bender serves on the Executive Board of the Center for Native Health. For more about the CNH, see http://www.centerfornativehealth.org/