the Wašiw people in Nevada. In 1953, d'Azevedo and his family moved to Illinois, where he studied with noted Africanist Melville J. Herskovits. A few years later, they moved to Liberia for his doctoral field work, where d'Azevedo began his lifelong relationship with the Gola people. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1960, d'Azevedo taught at Berkeley, the University of Utah, and the University of Pittsburgh, before the University of Nevada invited him to found an anthropology program in 1963.Under his leadership, the department became an internationally-recognized hub for the Great Basin and other international areas.
d'Azevedo's service work included the University Human Relations Action Council, which worked with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, advising in the formation of UNR Black Student Union, and support for Race Relations Center of Reno, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Nevada Intertribal Council.
