Abby Loebenberg
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SAGE HALL SOUTH 169 PO BOX 871612 TEMPE, AZ 85281
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Mail code: 1612Campus: Tempe
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Abby Loebenberg received a doctorate in Social and Cultural Anthropology and a Master's degree in Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Her undergraduate degree was the B. Arch (dist) from the University of Cape Town.
Having a background in architecture and material anthropology, Dr. Loebenberg teaches various classes and seminars on urban spaces and landscapes, architecture, cities, and in her area of interest; play and game studies. These classes involve experiential learning methods such as study abroad, community-engaged and service-learning methods, micro-ethnography, and open-ended curricular pedagogies. Dr. Loebenberg often works with pre-professional students on service-based and creative projects that use participatory community-based research and mentors the ASU Pre-Dental Society’s service program, Operation Toothbrush. Dr. Loebenberg is also the faculty advisor for the Barrett club No Missing Pieces, a board game club.
Dr. Loebenberg’s current research publications and program complement her teaching by focusing on space-making, RPG, and games as material culture. Aspects of this research include phenomenological issues and designer intent. Dr. Loebenberg has also completed publications on inner and external forms of knowledge production regarding space, landscape, and ephemeral micro-scapes such as children’s toys and loose part play.
- D. Phil/Ph.D Social and Cultural anthropology, Oxford University, U.K.
- M.Phil. Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, Oxford University, U.K.
- B.Arch (with distinction), University of Cape Town, South Africa
- B.A.S University of Cape Town, South Africa
Selected Peer-Reviewed Articles, Essays, and Book Chapters.
- 2022 with Mack R. Feeling Clever: Thematic Design in Sid Sackson's Games. Analog Game Studies, Vol IX Iss.3 https://analoggamestudies.org/2022/09/feeling-clever-thematic-design-in…
- 2019 with Mack, R, and Bongiorno, L. Games at College: Furthering Pedagogical and Co-Curricular Goals through Play. In Han and Johnson (eds.) Play and Culture Studies Volume 15: Play and Curriculum. Hamilton Books.
- 2018. Sneak attack Anthropology: Experiences with Games in the College Classroom. Analog Game Studies. Vol V Iss. II http://analoggamestudies.org/2018/06/sneak-attack-anthropology-experien…
- 2018 - What is the State of Play? International Journal of Play. (7) 1. Routledge.
- 2016. The Playful Curriculum: Differentiating Honors education through the use of games as a framework for open-ended course design. In K. O’Flaherty and R. Gee. With Honors? Challenges and Promises in the Future of Honors Education. Rowman and Littlefield.
- 2013. Playing in virtual spaces: An ethnographic approach to developing new areas of research. International Journal of Play. Vol 2. No. 2.
- 2013. Consumption, Collection, Creativity: Micro-local practices within children’s bedroom play in urban Vancouver. Material Culture Review (Objects in Motion special issue). Vol 1. No. 74
- 2013. with Bradford, S. Space and Place in a Disaster Landscape: the phenomenology of Hurricane Katrina recovery in Waveland, Mississippi. In H. Geismar and D. Miller (eds). Material World Occasional Paper Series. Available online: http://www.materialworldblog.com/2013/03/space-and-place-in-a-disaster-…
- 2011. Children’s playful consumption: The hidden negotiations of the playground and the home. Play and Culture Studies, Vol. 12.
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 493 | Honors Thesis |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 370 | History of Ideas |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 493 | Honors Thesis |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 394 | Special Topics |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 380 | Aesthetics and Society |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 370 | History of Ideas |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 272 | The Human Event |
| HON 394 | Special Topics |
2019 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 171 | The Human Event |
| HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
- Devil’s Advocates “Apple Polisher” Award for dedication to ASU 2019
- Barrett Honors College Faculty Service Award 2018
- Devil’s Advocates “Apple Polisher” Award for dedication to ASU 2016
- Salzburg Global Fellow 2015
- HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust Award to attend Salzburg Global Seminar 2015
- Drescher Grant, Arizona State University 2013, 2018
- IPA (International Play Association) Scholarship 2010
- Rhodes Scholarship – ‘South-Africa-at-Large’ 2005
- Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction Africa/Middle East "Selected Entry" for "New HIV/TB Unit for Khayelitsha" 2005/2006.
Advocacy
Editorial Column. “New Recess Law in Place but Some Schools Dodge the Ball”. Arizona Republic. 9/19/2018.
Editorial Column. “Kids Win The Right to a Break”. Arizona Daily Star. 4/17/2018.
Editorial Column. “Giving kids a few minutes to play up for debate (again)”. Arizona Republic. 3/09/2018.
Interviews and notable mentions
Print Interview. “Raising Arizona Kids Magazine, 5 Questions for Dr. Abby Loebenberg”. Heidi Sheri Smith. April 2016.
Interview. “How to Encourage Co-operative Play in Your Child”. Rebecca Defosse. April 17 2015.
Arizona PBS Interview. “Understanding Play”. Aired Fall 2014.
Print Interview. “Why Reducing Recess can have Unexpected Consequences on Student Success”. Rebecca Weber. November 18, 2014.
Citation. “Reckonings: Ferguson and the Politics of Site Definition”. essay by Allen and Aronson. American Culture Studies. Washington University St. Louis. Fall 2014.
Mention. “Play Studies Gather in Martian Landscape”. Scott Eberle. Strong Museum of Play. Rochester, NY. February 2012.
Print Interview. “A Deep Exploration of Children’s Culture”. Lucy Schulz. Oxford Eagle (Mississippi). October 2011.
Play News - Editor
International Journal of Play - Editorial Board
Internation Play Association (current)
The Association for the Study of Play. (TASP) (current member)- Board Member and Newsletter Editor (past)
NAEYC (past)
Advisor to No Missing Pieces
No Missing Pieces is a board game club started by students in my thesis cohort in 2022. It has now become an official Barrett club in 2023. I look forward to helping mentor students as we go forward with this endeavor at Barrett.
Operation Toothbrush Faculty Advisor
Arizona State University Pre-Dental Society / 2017 –
This was initially a group thesis project that I mentored in 2016 with a follow-up 394 class and summer trip. For this project, the ASU Pre-Dental Society has been awarded the Woodbridge Grant twice, among other grants. The project educates Pre-K to 1st grade children on matters of oral health using a play-based curriculum. The group won the ASU Catalyst Prize for Campus Diversity (Student Club) in 2019.
Work in Education Advocacy
For K-8 students recess access, reduction of “test prep” curricula and equitable access to wellness resources in schools has been part of the community advocacy I have done over the last eight years. I was substantially involved in the recess advocacy campaign to change AZ recess law via policy analysis, communication with parent and mobilization groups on social media and authoring op-eds in local media. I have also been interviewed in local and national print and TV media.
- Schwarzman Scholars International (Africa, EU, Canada) selection committee member. Appointed from 2015-2019.
- Operation Toothbrush National Advisor 2016 -.
- Volunteer Child Worker: Vancouver Family Reunification and Preservation Service, 2008/2009.
- Volunteer Child Worker and Fundraising chair. I-CARE Project for migrant children in informal settlements, Cape Town, 2002-2006.
- Design Consultant for Children’s Safe House, Childhood Oncology South Africa, 2005-2006.
- Funding Proposal including a feasibility study on behalf of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town for four health clinics, 2006.
- New HIV/TB Clinic Design 2005/2006 with Medicins Sans Frontiers and the University of Cape Town.
- Delegate for the University of Cape Town to the United Institute of Architects Congress, Istanbul, 2004.