DIANE PERLOV
Diane served for 20 years …
as the Senior Vice President for Exhibits at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, overseeing exhibit research, design and development. In 2019 she retired to work part-time at the Science Center, serving as Senior Vice President for special projects. Her most recent project has been the world premiere of Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia – a major international traveling exhibition, developed in collaboration with the National Museum of Cambodia, and the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.
Diane’s love for anthropology was inspired at a young age by the international travels of her Grandmother and Aunt. Her love for Africa began with a year in Ghana in 1972, followed by two years among the Samburu in Kenya to complete a doctorate in 1986. While her research on livestock marketing in transitional sectors drew her to Samburuland, it was the warmth and grace of the people that kept her returning and which has nurtured her Samburu friendships for over 40 years. During this period, she witnessed the challenge of collecting water and firewood in this semi-arid zone. It is primarily the responsibility of girls and young women and one which has contributed to keeping them out of school. Diane is proud to be a part of The Samburu Project, not only for the water wells that are dug and maintained, but for all the ripple effects this brings to a people near to her heart.
In addition to overseeing the development of exhibitions and related programs, Diane has curated four major traveling exhibitions, and co-directed four ethnographic films shown in museums, universities, and international film festivals. Diane earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology from UCLA. She has conducted graduate research on livestock marketing and energy conservation among the Samburu, women’s economic enterprises in highland Bolivia, and issues related to river use and restoration among several Indian tribes in Northern California. Her recent book is Driving the Samburu Bride: Fieldwork among Cattle Keepers in Kenya (Waveland Press, Inc. 2021).