Social & Behavioral Sciences

Mark Taff

Professor of Anthropology

After spending eight years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as an air traffic controller, I returned to college with the goal of making a career in the field of Anthropology. For 18 years I thought the research on primate behavior would be my life’s career. In early 2000, I decided that teaching was were I wanted to be. I was hired to begin teaching at CBC in the Fall of 2000 and since that time my professional goals have been to become the best teacher I can be. Professionally, for me, it was the right choice. I have found teaching to be much more rewarding and I believe, makes a more important contribution to society.

Ph.D., M.A., B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Sigma Xi Honor Society

Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society's Outstanding Instructor Award, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006

Behavior Observer, Primate Project, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley.   Observe and record the behavior of the Indian langur, Presbytis entellus. (7/79-6/98)

Langur Sleep Project, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley.  Assisted Professor Phyllis Dolhinow in the development and implementation of a short term research project on the sleep patterns of Indian langurs (Presbytis entellus). (4/92-8/92)

Research Associate, Primate Project, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley. Assisted in the development and implementation of research projects. (10/91-6/93)

Social Dynamics of Langur (Presbytis entellus) All-Male Groups: A Captive Study. Ph.D. Research. (1984-1989)

Research Assistant, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley. Assisted Professor Sherwood Washburn in research on scavenging (7/85-7/86)

Biological Sample Collection, California Regional Primate Center, Davis, CA. Learned the procedures for the collection of blood and semen samples, preparation of blood samples for RIA and semen for sperm counts. (6/85-5/86)

Dolhinow, P.J. and M.A. Taff, 1993. Immature and adult langur monkey (Presbytis entellus) males: Infant initiated adoption in a colony group. International Journal of Primatology 14:919-926.

Dolhinow, P.J. and M.A. Taff, 1993. Rivalry, resolution, and the individual: Cooperation among male langur monkeys.  In: Milestones in Human Evolution. A.J. Almquist and A. Manyak (Eds.), Waveland Press, Prospect Heights, Ill., pp. 75-92.

Taff, M.A. and P.J. Dolhinow, 1989. Langur monkeys in captivity. In: Housing, Care and Psychological Wellbeing of Captive and Laboratory Primates. E.F. Segal (Ed.), Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, N.J., pp. 291-303.

Taff, M.A., 1980. Development of a dental casting technique for use on live langurs. Unpublished Senior Honors Thesis, University of California, Berkeley.