Philip Leis received his B.A. from Antioch College in 1954 and his PhD. From Northwestern University in 1962. He joined the department of anthropology at Brown University in 1962 and became director of the department in 1967. His research interests focused on the history of anthropological theory, cultural change, associations, and identity. He conducted his research primarily in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe. Leis is now Professor Emeritus of anthropology since retiring in 2012.