Since joining UFs Department of Anthropology in 2014 my primary focus has been on exploring the role and politics of models and modeling practices within the fields of development and global health. My first book Village Gone Viral: Understanding the Spread of Policy Models in a Digital Age (Stanford UP 2021) tells the story of how a rural Ethiopian village became a global model for gender equality and sustainable development, and a ‘viral’ phenomenon. It is commonly assumed that policy models – particularly those that gain recognition as ‘best practice’ – can be universally applied to achieve pre-established, desirable outcomes. In Village Gone Viral I show that the impacts of this model paradigm are far more ambivalent and potentially increase social inequalities, reinforce social stratification, and conceal injustices. The book clearly reflects my background in anthropology of development. Yet, given the increased circulation of models in our contemporary world – illustrated in the explosion and popularization of models during the Covid-19 pandemic – the anthropological and theoretical perspectives I offer are of relevance to a broader audience.