About Me

I am an applied anthropologist and researcher with a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies and over a decade of experience working at the intersection of human behavior, organizational systems, and design. My work spans enterprise UX research, humanitarian fieldwork, program design, and organizational development. In every context, my driving question is the same: what do the people inside this system actually need, and how do we build something that serves them better?

​

My approach is rooted in anthropological theory and ethnographic practice. I blend qualitative and quantitative research with social theory to create rich, rigorous understandings of the contexts that shape human experience, and to help organizations use those understandings to communicate better, serve more effectively, and change more thoughtfully.

​

That orientation came from the field. My doctoral research centered the experiences of Syrian refugees in Izmir, Turkey, examining how people navigate structures of care and governance in moments of profound crisis. That work taught me to listen carefully, sit with complexity, and advocate for people who have no seat at the table, and it is the foundation everything else is built on.

​

I have carried that same commitment into enterprise tech, humanitarian organizations, government programs, and educational settings. Whether I am conducting usability research for a Fortune 500 company, facilitating organizational change across a multilingual team, or coaching staff through a difficult transition, I bring the same depth of curiosity and care for the humans involved.

​

Today, through Mija Sanders Consulting, I bring this work to public agencies and nonprofits in the Portland area, practicing applied anthropology for better public decisions. I support needs assessments, program evaluation, and community engagement on public projects, working directly with agencies and as a subconsultant on larger teams.