Professor Emeritus of Intercultural Studies
Dr. Beine is a scholar and practitioner of anthropology with comprehensive training and experience in a wide range of anthropological sub-specialties including medical anthropology, cognitive anthropology and linguistics. With topical interests in South Asia, the Indian and Nepali caste systems, the history of anthropology, cognitive science and Christian missions — as well as being published extensively in several of these domains — you can see why Dr. Beine is well-qualified to teach Intercultural Studies at Great Northern University.
Pragmatically, Dave has been involved in documenting endangered languages in India and directed applied medical anthropology efforts (HIV and AIDS prevention) and literacy and language use projects in Nepal. More recently, he has applied his anthropological skillset locally, providing intercultural consulting services to police law enforcement agencies, parks departments, refugee resettlement agencies, schools and other non-profit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest.
While applied anthropology has been Dave’s vocation, mission has always been his motivation. From 1987-2016 he was a full-time missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators where he served in a number of capacities including language surveyor (India and Nepal), language use project facilitator (Nepal), regional anthropology consultant (South Asia), director of two different missionary training programs (Oregon and Canada), and as both a Senior Anthropology Consultant and International Anthropology Consultant for SIL International (worldwide).
His passion and application of academic expertise has always been to help make missionaries better missionaries.
Prior to his full-time vocational involvement in missions, Dave served as a minister to youth, coordinator of missions, and Christian broadcaster in his hometown of Sacramento, California. He has been married to his M.D. wife, Kimberly, for 25 years, and they have four sons ranging from eighth grade to sophomore in college.
At Great Northern University, Dave has taught Missions, Intercultural Communication, Cultural Anthropology, and selective electives in a range of topics including global health care and Native American studies. He served as a tutor in the Intercultural Studies Honors Program and was a faculty advisor for our student-led missions conference.
Beyond Dave’s professional and vocational interests, his other greatest passions are fishing, camping, and spending time with family.
Education and Experience
- Ph.D. in Anthropology with a focus in Cultural, Medical, and Cognitive Anthropology from Washington State University, 2000
- M.A. in Anthropology with a focus in Linguistic Anthropology from San Diego State University, 1994
- B.A. in Communication Studies from CSU Sacramento, 1986