HOUGHTON, MI, April 04, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Linda S. Belote, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Belote, a distinguished anthropologist, has dedicated over six decades to her field, achieving the status of professor emerita at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). Her career began in simultaneous part-time faculty roles at Slippery Rock University and Grove City College from 1972-1974. In 1974, she joined Michigan Technological University as an assistant professor of anthropology. She was also the head of the social sciences department for one year. Despite being the only woman in a department of 18, Dr. Belote's commitment to education was evident as she continued teaching one class each term while primarily holding administrative roles.

In 1984, Dr. Belote became the dean of students at Michigan Technological University, a position she held until 1988 when she transitioned to the University of Minnesota Duluth. There, she served as associate vice chancellor until 2002, when she joined the sociology-anthropology department as a professor. She remained in that role until her retirement in 2006 and has since held the title of professor emerita.

Dr. Belote's career is marked by significant contributions to student development and academic excellence. In addition to teaching and publishing articles, Dr. Belote served as an advisor to student organizations at every university where she worked. At Slippery Rock, she led the Women's Rights Group; at Michigan Tech, she helped the students form a leadership group affiliated with the national Omicron Delta Kappa society and advised the undergraduate student government. At UMD, she helped students form several new clubs, including the Hispanic, Latino, Chicano organization, a group called SERVE (Students Engaged in Rewarding Volunteer Experiences) and the Anthropology Club. Dr. Belote's affinity with students and expertise in university administration led her to direct the UMD Study-in-England program. She also organized field schools in Ecuador, further cementing her influence.

Dr. Belote's academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in German from Thiel College in 1962, followed by two years of service as a Peace Corps Volunteer, engaging in rural community development in Ecuador from 1962 to 1964. She and fellow Peace Corps volunteer James Belote married in 1963 while serving in the Andean indigenous community of Saraguro. This international experience led them both to pursue their doctorates at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, beginning their studies in 1966. From 1970 to 1972, the Belotes conducted field research in Ecuador for their dissertations. During that time, their daughter Karen was born in Saraguro. Dr. Belote was awarded a PhD in anthropology in 1978.

Dr. Belote's positive attitude and determination have been pivotal in her success, enabling her to improve lives and inspire others with her energy and commitment. She has made substantial contributions to her field as a Society for Applied Anthropology fellow and a Latin American Studies Association officer.

Beyond academia, Dr. Belote has been active in civic organizations and projects that reflect her dedication to cultural preservation and diversity. From 2006 to 2014, she helped Saraguro bead-weaving artisans—primarily women—form La Mega Cooperativa Artesanal de los Saraguros. This cooperative combined five smaller organizations the artisans had established to sell their beadwork internationally and generate money to benefit their communities. Dr. Belote served as their advisor during those years.

In the years since Dr. Belote's retirement, she and her family have reaffirmed their love for snow and the life they enjoyed in the snowy Upper Peninsula of Michigan by moving back to the Houghton-Hancock area. She has continued her community service there, serving on the boards of the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Copper Country Community Arts Council, the Keweenaw Community Foundation, the Copper Country Guatemala Accompaniment Program, and the League of Women Voters of Copper Country, among others.

Dr. Belote's scholarly work, much of which she wrote in collaboration with her husband, has been widely utilized in research, particularly that focusing on Saraguro communities. During the 1992 to 1993 academic year, her efforts were recognized by the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Certificate of Outstanding Support Towards Diversity, highlighting her dedication to fostering inclusive environments.

Born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, Dr. Belote cherishes her personal life, which is filled with outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and snowshoeing with family and friends, and indoor activities like reading, participating in book groups and assembling jigsaw puzzles. Her husband, James, passed away in 2024. Since the two traveled extensively together, Dr. Belote plans to honor his memory by resuming visits to family members across the United States and reconnecting with friends and places significant to her past. These endeavors reflect her enduring passion for exploration and connection with nature and loved ones.

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