• Member, Board of Directors, Nassip Foundation (Circassian), 2012
  • Member, American Anthropological Association, 2011 – 12
  • Member, Origins Institute, 2007 
  • Mythology Book Review Editor, in collaboration with Dean Miller, Journal of Indo-European Studies, June 7, 2005 – present.
  • Member, Board of Directors, The Atlantic Council of Canada, November 2002 - present (general member from 2000)
  • Member, Central Eurasian Studies Society, October 2000 – present
  • Member, Board of Directors, Central Eurasian Studies Society, January 2001 -January 2003
  • Advisory Board on Central Asia and the Caucasus, The Atlantic Council of the United States, March 1998 - 2000
  • Advisory Board, U.S. - Azerbaijan Council, February 1997 - 2000
  • Editorial Board, Cryptozoology, January 1997 – 2003
  • Honorary member of the Cherkess Cultural Society of Holland (1990)
  • Senior Research Associate, Institute for the Study of Human Issues (ISHI), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1979-1982)