Asian Studies

Dr. David S. Efurd

Associate Professor of Art History

B.F.A., Cornell University
M.A., University of Georgia
Ph.D., Ohio State University

Dr. Efurd teaches courses on Asian art and Islamic art. He holds a B.F.A. degree from Cornell University, an M.A. in art history from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in history of art from the Ohio State University. With South Asia as his field of specialty, Efurd studies early Buddhist monasteries carved directly into the stone cliffs of western India. His research encompasses the interaction of peoples in the ancient western Deccan and the resulting artistic and architectural forms hewn from the living rock. A recipient of the Fulbright-Hays Award, Efurd has lived in India and traveled to many of the archaeological sites he teaches in his classes. His training in the arts informs his understanding of both ancient and contemporary artistic techniques.

Dr. Philip C. Dorroll

Associate Professor of Religion

Philip Dorroll specializes in Islamic and Eastern Christian studies and theology. He is especially interested in the history of Muslim-Christian relations. His latest book, Islamic Theology in the Turkish Republic, was recently published by Edinburgh University Press. He says he appreciates the thoughts that students bring to class discussions surrounding those topics and that their contributions teach him something new every semester. Dorroll earned his B.A. degree from Purdue University, his M.A. degree from Indiana University and his Ph.D. from Emory University.

Dr. Cynthia Fowler

Professor of Sociology and Anthropology

Dr. Cynthia Fowler holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in anthropology from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii. She teaches introduction to cultural anthropology and communications, diversity, global health, ecological anthropology, medical anthropology, ethnography, ethnographic film and cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania. During Interim she has taught courses on water and society, fire ecology of the Southern Appalachians and holistic health, among others. Her main area of study concerns biosocial dynamics on Sumba Island in Eastern Indonesia. Another area of study occurs at the intersections of fire ecology and science and technology studies. She has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Indonesia, Hawaii, Vietnam, Brazil and the U.S. South. Fowler is committed to academic and engaged scholarship, which for her involves teaching undergraduate anthropology courses, performing service for the college, engaging with the community through participation in local and professional organizations, reviewing and editing academic publications and conducting research and writing. Away from Wofford she can usually be found in the garden, forests, rivers, and lakes with a hoe in her hand, on her mountain bike or her paddleboard.

Dr. Yongfang Zhang

Associate Professor of Chinese and Coordinator of Chinese Program

B.A., Henan University
M.A., Beijing Normal University
M.A., Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Dr. Yongfang Zhang’s teaching interests include Chinese language and culture, East Asian culture, language pedagogy, and cross-cultural communication. Her research focuses on second language acquisition (including performance-based instruction, authentic material use and language proficiency development), language testing, intercultural competence and teacher preparation.