Robert Sitler's first exposure to
the
genius of Maya culture came in 1976 while hiking in the rainforests of
Chiapas. Since then, he has spent as much time as possible in the Maya
world,
visiting regularly among natives from more than a dozen language
groups. He
completed a PhD
from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994 with a dissertation on
Maya-related
literature under the guidance of the late preeminent Mayanist, Dr.
Linda
Schele. Bob is currently a professor at Stetson
University in DeLand, Florida and serves as Director of its Latin
American
Studies Program, teaching courses in Spanish and Maya culture.
His
long-standing relationships with the Maya and their humble wisdom
inform
and inspire
this book. The author's personal experiences with Maya have been
complemented by
formal study
of Maya culture and exploration of its ancient cities. He is a
regular
participant in professional meetings with Maya scholars in Guatemala
and the
United States. Recently he has focused on the significance of year
2012 in the
Maya Long Count and the Guatemalan highland community of Todos Santos
Cuchumatán.
His CV includes
numerous
academic articles and presentations concerning Maya culture and the
year
2012. In particular, he has worked to include more Maya perspectives
in the
discourse on the significance of 2012. He travels frequently to the
most remote corners of
Mexico and
Guatemalan to learn from elders in various Maya language communities.