Caleb Sabatka
Armchair Anthropologist & Poet
Dr. Caleb Sabatka (he/him) is a Benedictine oblate of the Community of Divine Love and a graduate of Georgetown University, where he completed a Doctor of Liberal Studies with a focus on anthropology of religion and carceral studies. He also holds a M.A. in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law School and a B.A. in Cross-Cultural Relations and Literary Translation from Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
Current Work
Urban College of Boston, April 2021 – PresentAsst. Professor & Program Chair, Human ServicesThe Human Services Administration – Faculty and Program Chair is responsible for teaching, advising a caseload of students, serving on committees in the Office of Academic Affairs, developing curriculum, supervising adjunct faculty, assessing program outcomes, and overseeing internships for students.Dr. Sabatka is researching elder care workforce solutions.
Research Interests
Human Services, Critical Prison Studies, Carceral Studies, Restorative Justice, Prison Abolition, Religious Studies, Anthropology of Religion, Monasticism, Humanistic Anthropology, Mass Incarceration, Theopoetics, Poetry Translation, Memoir.
Contact
Interested in collaborating? Contact me below!
Publications
This chapter outlines how anthropological knowledge can advocate for justice-involved people at various stages of the carceral process: the courtroom, the prison, and when reintegrating to home communities.The anthropologist’s expertise in cross-cultural behavior and appreciation for the power of ritual and artistic expression can help justice-involved people to effectively argue their case in court, serving as expert witnesses to inform of cultural practices. Committed to seek fair treatment/protection of human rights, they can also assist correctional personnel in understanding practices unfamiliar to them and help “offenders” more effectively participate in reintegration programs such as via artistic storytelling practices and circle processes rituals, traditionally used by indigenous communities.