2025 SHA and ACUA Elections Candidate Statements

Present Position: Professor, University of Michigan-Dearborn

 

Education: Postdoc, Stanford University, 2011–2013; Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, 2011; M.A., University of Pennsylvania, 2006

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Conference Co-Chair, SHA Detroit, January 2026; Member, Nominations and Elections Committee, 2013–2015; Guest Editor, Historical Archaeology, 2021; Chair, Development Committee, 2007–2015; Member, Conference Committee, 2019–present; Member, Development Committee, 2006–present; Editor, the Historical Archaeology Laboratory Handbook, 3 vols., 2015–2016; 2019 John L. Cotter Awardee

Other societies and organizations: Conference on Michigan Archaeology (the professional organization for archaeologists in Michigan): President, 2022, 2023, and 2024, Member, Board of Trustees, 2019–2021; 2023 Conference on French Colonial Studies: Conference Co-organizer; 2016 Midwest Historical Archaeology Conference: Conference Co-organizer; Midwest Historical Archaeology Steering Group: Member.

University of Michigan-Dearborn: Faculty Senator, 2021–2024; Curriculum Committee, 2016–2019; Member, task forces on Undecided Majors, 2025; First Year Seminars, 2018–2020; COVID Research Resumption, 2020–2021; General Education Program Evaluation, 2018–2019; Credit Hour Conversion, 2022–2023; Sustainability, 2022–2023; multiple faculty and administrative search committees and terms on Department Executive Committee

 

Research Interests: historical archaeology of colonialism, religion and Quakerism, plantation archaeology and the Caribbean, Michigan, contemporary archaeology, materials science, GIS and new technologies

 

Biographical Statement: As an archaeologist, I focus on the material aspects of identity, particularly the interaction of religion and race under colonialism. As colonialism is varied and wide-reaching, I have worked in different regions and on different kinds of sites, particularly in the Caribbean, especially the British Virgin Islands. I have also led projects in New England and Michigan, as well as applying archaeological approaches to the present with contemporary archaeology.

 

I have a broad view of the field having lived and worked as an archaeologist on the east coast, west coast, and in the Midwest, as well as running projects in a wide range of places. I have worked closely with colleagues working for state and federal government, especially the National Park Service, professionals in CRM, as well as academics and students. Throughout, I have worked collaboratively, for instance partnering with the city and county as well as NPS in my Michigan-based project. I have just finished my third term as president of the Conference on Michigan Archaeology, which has deepened my understanding of both the experiences and the challenges of archaeologists working in the government and CRM sectors.

 

I have experience managing the finances of large grants, and at my university have taken on leadership in the anthropology program, as faculty senator, and coordinating research under COVID-19, including serving as the campus lead for fieldwork. I am the first archaeologist on my campus, and this has necessitated that I become a forceful advocate for the field and for my students. One of my proudest (and perhaps most hard-fought) successes has been the creation of an in-semester field school, broadening access to the field for those unable to afford the time or money to travel—most of my students. I have a successful track record of fundraising to support student participation (travel, stipends, paid lab work) as well, making the program more inclusive to those on tighter budgets.

 

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

I have volunteered with SHA for more than two decades, and I have been glad to be able to serve in multiple roles that have prepared me to take on the responsibilities of SHA president—and to understand the commitment that is. I have attended nearly every SHA meeting since I entered the field, and I have gained a deep understanding of SHA operations. I have worked closely with headquarters, particularly in my current role co-chairing the annual meeting planned for Detroit in January 2026. I have also been a member of the SHA development committee for decades, including nearly 10 years as chair, successfully leading the “50 for 50” and planned giving campaigns. This has given me insight into SHA’s financial wellbeing, the foundation for all our work.

 

My collaborative research projects have often stretched to those outside archaeology, such as geology, computer science, and mathematics, and this prepares me to be an effective coalition builder. As PI, I have worked with private, National Park, and government landowners, as well as internationally, which has required me to build a network of government, private, and NGO collaborators. I have experience working across these boundaries and sometimes conflicting interests to find and accomplish shared goals. I have also formed partnerships with nonprofits in related fields, and across disciplines.

 

The minutiae of agendas, follow-ups, procedures, and logistics are the lifeblood of any organization. My fieldwork and research projects, academic service, as well as experience managing a lab and academic program, have given me broad and varied experience in logistics and project management. Even at the start of my career I managed a multi-year field project on an uninhabited island in an expensive part of the world on a shoestring budget, creating partnerships to ensure the safety of the participants and success of the research. Since then, I have coordinated multiple complex multi-person publications, organized and chaired conferences and committees, and led a regional organization, all presenting different challenges and experiences that have prepared me to take on a leadership role at SHA.

 

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

Advocacy: the value, independence, and even existence of the field of archaeology is under threat, and the SHA must be a leading advocate for its protection. Political and ideological forces threaten to suppress vital scholarship and expel seasoned practitioners, while development and climate change threaten sites themselves. The pace of change is rapid, and new threats could emerge at any moment. As the largest global voice advocating the preservation and study of historic sites through archaeology, the SHA must take the lead in speaking out to government and the public in defense of our work.

 

Collaboration and Outreach: the SHA cannot and need not stand alone. We must pursue coalition-building with aligned organizations such as American Cultural Resources Association and Society for American Archaeology and international partnerships with groups like the Society for Postmedieval Archaeology and Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology. Partnering with state-level societies and responsible avocational groups provides important local insights and educates the public on the indispensable value of our work. Although national politics and global changes present uncertainties and concerns, preserving and studying historic sites can has potential to garner bipartisan support. Our field can illuminate current global challenges and bridge differences while staying true to our principles and ethics.

 

Membership and Financial Stability: The strength and activity of the SHA membership base are foundational to achieving these aims. Looming federal budget cuts threaten to ripple through the NPS, state, and university archaeological and preservation efforts, posing significant challenges to membership retention and growth. Keeping current members while attracting new ones—particularly students—is vital to expansion and growth. A robust membership amplifies our voice in advocating for the field. The SHA has played a pivotal role in my own career growth, facilitating access to key professional networks that I am committed to sharing with new members. While our meetings will always be central, new technologies allow these networks to extend beyond the confines of the annual meetings. I will capitalize on recent donations to support student members, expanding SHA’s reach to more early-career professionals and demonstrating the great value of belonging to this community.

 

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

 

Historical archaeology fundamentally deals with these issues. The past five centuries have produced the modern inequities that DEI programs aim to upset, and we have unique knowledge and evidence of the entrenched and stubborn nature of exclusive policies and patterns, their development, and how they work through the material world. As such, we have a responsibility as scholars to educate about these processes as well shape a representative community of scholars to understand them.

 

I come from a multi-racial family, and my siblings, family, and multi-decade best friends reflect the diversity of the US in terms of race, religion, national, and sexual identities. That said, I have always experienced the privilege of being seen as a straight, white, cisgendered male, and have long worked to reconcile these experiences. This has led me to believe that my work must include listening to and amplifying the voices of those who have been traditionally harder to hear. It is common knowledge that any endeavor is enhanced by diverse viewpoints and backgrounds, and that is doubly true for a field such as ours which often aims to represent those in the past who were unable to write their own histories. Including voices of different backgrounds, races, genders, sexual identities, and political perspectives strengthens the data produced by our studies, their reach, and their meaning to audiences inside and outside of the field.

 

Belonging and mattering are not only key to the success of these ideals—who could feel as if they did not belong and yet that their voice was valued and understood?—but are key to the success of the organization. Only if prospective members feel that there is a place for them, whoever they are and however they identify, will they join and maintain an SHA membership, attend the conference, and contribute their research and ideas to the ongoing discussion that aims to understand the past five centuries and their impact on the present and future. That strengthens the organization, its mission, and our work.

Present Position: Maritime Archaeology Practice Leader and Co-Owner, Gray & Pape, Inc.

 

Education: Ph.D., Geography (Anthropology concentration), Louisiana State University; M.A., Anthropology, Florida State University; B.A., Anthropology, Indiana University

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Member, Board of Directors, 2014–2016; Program Chair, 2010 Conference Amelia Island; Underwater Program Co-chair, 2018 Conference New Orleans; Member, Government Affairs Committee; Member, UNESCO Committee; RPA: Member, Board of Directors (SHA Appointed), 2009–2015; ACUA: Member, Board of Directors, 2008–2011, 2012–2015; Individual Associate, 2016–2019, Emeritus, 2020–current; Society for Underwater Technology-US: Full Member, 2015–2018, 2024–present, Associate Member, 2019–2024, Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Committee; Louisiana Archaeological Society: Vice President, 2019–2020; President, 2021–2023

 

Research Interests: maritime archaeology, marine geophysics, submerged paleolandscapes, shipwreck archaeology, cultural resources and historic preservation legislation, and the development of best practices regarding underwater cultural heritage

 

 Biographical Statement: I have been working in cultural resource management for over 20 years. I have participated in or directed all phases of archaeological projects, primarily in the United States, including the Southeast, Great Lakes, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic coast regions. I have also conducted research, regulatory, and volunteer work in the Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, and Mediterranean.

 

My professional work includes designing best practice survey plans in compliance with regulations and policies, executing complex and interconnected operations and investigations, coordinating archaeological investigations with biological, geological, and unexploded ordnance (UXO) objectives, coordinating with internal and external project team members, managing multiple projects with overlapping deadlines, and identifying and evaluating submerged cultural resources according to NHPA and National Register eligibility criteria. I have a background in terrestrial archaeology, but my current research specialties focus on underwater archaeology, with concentrations in submerged paleolandscapes and marine geophysics and shipwreck archaeology. My maritime experience includes geophysical remote sensing data acquisition, processing, and interpretation, working with remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), and conducting diver investigations.

 

Outside of my position with Gray & Pape, I strive to stay connected to the field by regularly participating in conferences, mentoring students through the ACUA’s Mentorship program, and giving talks at universities where I get the opportunity to meet my future colleagues.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

I think that the most effective leaders have a solid understanding of how their organization operates. That knowledge will be critical for the incoming Officers because of the pending retirement of SHA’s long-serving Executive Director, Karen Hutchison. The next President won’t have an established Executive Director or be able to rely on their institutional knowledge. Instead, the President will have to work closely to ensure a smooth transition in the day-to-day operations of the Society and will have to be proactive in monitoring deadlines and tasks as the new Executive Director learns their role and how it integrates with the Society’s leadership.

 

I believe that my prior service to SHA and the diversity of roles that I’ve served provides me with a solid foundation for how the Society operates. I’ve also seen firsthand that the President doesn’t run the Society but instead works with the Board to support priorities and initiatives brought forward by the Committees and the members. This will require transparency and diplomacy so that decisions are justifiable and communicated back to members.

 

Finally, my experience includes leading teams that include a wide range of specialties assembled to effectively and successfully execute complex, interconnected projects.

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

The two priorities that will demand the next President’s attention are the fiscal health of the organization and advocating for historic preservation against increasingly hostile regulatory and academic environments.

 

Since the pandemic, many organizations have experienced decreases in membership and conference attendance, including SHA. While our Treasurers have done an excellent job of investing and protecting SHA’s reserves, the Society depends on membership dues to fund the work of its committees. The Society is a volunteer organization and benefits enormously from the time invested by members to initiatives like student mentoring, conference accessibility, publication opportunities, and government affairs advocacy. Time, however, can only go so far and SHA needs a healthy budget to support the activities of our members as they work to protect historic preservation and enhance the visibility and relevance of archaeology to the public. The next President will have to continue working with the Board, Treasurer, and Committees to ensure that the Society has a robust budget to support its priorities, while ensuring that those priorities are in alignment with member needs.

 

The selected candidate from this election will have to fight to protect historical archaeology against regulatory rollbacks, funding cuts, and attacks on academic freedom. This will have to be a priority not just for the President, but every member of the Society. We cannot expect the public at large to appreciate the relevance of historical archaeology if we as a professional organization are not among its loudest champions. The President will have to work with our Preservation Partners and identify supporters outside of our own community willing to speak to the value of historical archaeology.

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

 

As archaeologists we understand the role that historic preservation plays in ensuring a complete and honest accounting of our collective history. Historical archaeology informs the stories that aren’t taught in classrooms, or that make us uncomfortable. We need Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering initiatives to make the field a welcoming place and viable field of study for a truly diverse community of scholars. If we back away from these initiatives for fear of political or economic consequences, how can we ever rebuild that trust? I’m committed to these ideals and initiatives, not just as a candidate for President, but as a person that acknowledges that my opinion, my story, and my voice are not the only ones that matter. I benefitted from mentors who encouraged me to use my voice and made space for me, and I’ll continue doing that for others.

Present Position: Professor of Anthropology, St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM)

Education: Ph.D. Anthropology, Syracuse University; M.A., Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, University College London; B.A., Anthropology and History, Rutgers University

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Managing Editor, Historical Archaeology, 2024–present; Associate Editor for Africa, Historical Archaeology, 2018–present; Member, Nominations Committee, 2018; Member, Curation Committee; Member, Gender and Minority Affairs; Coordinator, Harriet Tubman Travel Award, 2014–2019; Calvert County MD Heritage Committee: Member, 2016–2021; Society for Africanist Archaeology: Co-editor,  Nyame Akuma bulletin, 2019–present

Research Interests: African Atlantic, ceramics, foodways, Atlantic trade, beads, identity formation, colonial Chesapeake, public archaeology, post-emancipation America, abolition in West Africa

Biographical Statement: I am an anthropological archaeologist who has specialized in historical archaeology with a focus on West Africa and the Atlantic world. My research spans both sides of the Atlantic with an emphasis on the social, economic, and material impacts of European expansion and trade during the era of the transatlantic slave trade. I have conducted extensive fieldwork in The Gambia, examining the dynamics of cultural entanglement and the development of creolized identities through archaeological evidence. In the United States, I have worked at early colonial sites, private estates, and plantations. My recent projects focus on the post-emancipation experience in southern Maryland examining domestic sites and cemeteries working with descendant communities.

As an undergraduate at Rutgers University I was fortunate enough to attend two field schools–one in Kenya focused on paleoanthropolgy and one at Jamestown. These experiences enabled me to gain experience in various aspects of archaeology. After attending the Jamestown field school I spent a year working in CRM and as a staff member for the Feltville Archaeological Field School in NJ. Through these positions I learned how to run an archaeological excavation and the nuances of mentoring and field instruction. I was fortunate enough to work under great mentors in both CRM and academia which enabled me to pursue an eclectic array of field projects in the United States and The Gambia. Throughout my academic career I have sought to emulate these individuals in my work with students, colleagues and the local communities with whom I have worked.

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

If elected, I would bring two decades of experience in field archaeology, academic leadership, and international collaboration to the role of secretary. My background positions me to advocate for greater global engagement in historical archaeology and to strengthen the Society’s efforts to be more inclusive in its scope and membership. I would build upon the strong communication in place with the membership and continue to look for new ways to promote the society and our mission to the broader archaeological community.

I also bring administrative experience from my position at St. Mary’s College. I have been a member of various college-wide committees, served as the Faculty liaison to the Board of Trustees Finance Committee, faculty advisor for the Office of Accessibility Services and managed curricular programing. I also have experience serving on the Executive Board of the Society of Africanist Archaeology. Throughout my career I have sought opportunities to increase accessibility and would continue to do so as a member of the society’s executive board.

Finally, I am committed to mentoring students and early career professionals and would support programs that increase access to SHA for these individuals as well as increase our current mentoring and accessibility initiatives.

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

My key priorities would include expanding the Society’s international focus, strengthening DEIB&M initiatives, and ensuring SHA remains accessible and responsive to the needs of early-career scholars and practitioners. Equally important is raising the profile of the society in order to have a stronger voice in supporting legislation that protects and recognizes the importance of archaeological resources and the work we do. In our current political climate, it is more important than ever to be able to clearly communicate the value of our field and the knowledge we generate for the public good.

First, I would support the continued outreach to scholars outside the global north. As a managing editor for Historical Archaeology I have become more aware of the academic practices and requirements for scholars outside of North America and Europe. As these scholars seek to publish in our journal, their involvement in the society would provide them with a deeper understanding of how historical archaeology is defined and practiced on a global scale as well as enable them to foster professional connections outside of their home country.

Second, I would support existing and new programs that enhance diversity and equity in SHA’s leadership, publications, and membership. As someone engaged in community-based archaeology, I would advocate for increased support of collaborative research models that include and respect the voices of descendant and local communities.

Third, I would work to improve access to SHA resources for students and early career professionals, particularly those in underfunded institutions.

Statement on Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M)

I view DEIB&M not as a discrete initiative but as central to the discipline of archaeology. My scholarship, teaching, and service are grounded in a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and challenging the structural inequities that shape both the past and our understanding of it.

My archaeological research in The Gambia centers the experiences of African communities and addresses the long-standing silences in Atlantic world narratives. This work involves collaboration with local scholars, heritage professionals, and community members to ensure mutual benefit and the respectful interpretation of the past. In my current work with descendants of enslaved and post-emancipation communities, my work is guided by their vision of what should be researched, preserved, or commemorated. I seek to serve in the role of facilitator rather than driving the research agenda.

In my academic role, I have developed field programs including a NSF-REU geared toward mentoring students from underrepresented groups and underclassmen, encouraging early access to archaeological field training.

If elected to serve SHA, I would advocate for sustained, accountable DEIB&M efforts across all levels of the Society—from conference programming and publication practices to governance and outreach. Ensuring all members feel seen, valued, and heard is of the utmost importance. I am committed to building an SHA where every archaeologist, regardless of background, can thrive and contribute fully.

Present Positions: Senior Archaeologist/Geophysics Manager, AECOM; Part-time faculty, Historic Preservation Program, Bucks County Community College

 

Education: M.A., Historical Archaeology, University of Massachusetts Boston; B.A., Anthropology and English, Rutgers University

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: 2022 conference: Volunteer Coordinator and Committee Member, 2018–2022; Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology: US Executive Vice Chair, 2022–present; Board Member, 2019–present; Member, 2025 conference committee, 2023–present; Member, 2020 online conference committee

 

Research Interests: landscapes, cemeteries, archaeogeophysics, GIS, public and community archaeology, historic preservation, urban archaeology

 

Biographical Statement: My experience in archaeological investigations has included projects across the eastern US as a blend of traditional dirt archaeology, geophysical surveys, geospatial and collections database projects, and laboratory analyses. I specialize in combining traditional archaeological methodology, archaeological geophysics, and GIS to attempt to create fuller understandings of the past. For over thirteen years, I’ve worked extensively in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US and have served as Principal Investigator for Phase I and II archaeological investigations, geophysical surveys, and construction monitoring on sites ranging in date from the Archaic Period to the 1950s. I’ve also performed analysis for data recovery projects, both historic and precontact. Geophysical projects I have conducted and supervised have delineated numerous historic-period cemeteries and have identified potentially National Register-eligible archaeological features for federal and state agencies, museums, and private clients.

 

Prior to archaeology, I worked in history and science museums and with organizations that supported heritage preservation. This gave me a nuanced understanding of public interpretation, informal education, community-led exhibits, and both tangible and intangible heritage. These experiences also exposed me to techniques for preserving heritage at different scales and in different contexts.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

I believe that my multifaceted experience with archaeological techniques has given me a measured and practical approach to adopting and using new technologies that considers human factors related to use and maintenance. Having worked with many large data sets, I am skilled in organizing and maintaining accurate information while taking into account how different presentations of the same information might be perceived and understood by different audiences. I am also a keen listener with practice accurately and efficiently recording information from meetings.

 

My experience with coordinating and volunteering for large scale events, as well as having served in a variety of positions and levels within archaeology, provides background in executing complicated tasks while being able to relate to the work experience that many of our members share. Additionally, I have grown as a professional by serving on the executive board of CNEHA, and I am eager to take on a role in a larger organization like SHA where I can further advocate for and support the field.

 

Most importantly, I have always been a strong advocate for the causes I believe in. At this crucial point in our field, I am ready to support the SHA and its members as the circumstances surrounding our work change. The SHA is well-positioned to affect the outcomes for the field of archaeology and I am eager to play a role in this important work.

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

Given the new and emboldened threats to the discipline and to practitioners of archaeology in the US, and the pressures to the communities we work with and in, SHA must continue to be an advocate for human history and the places that tell our stories. This may require a combination of short-term creative solutions as bridging support for smaller organizations and longer-range and broader planning like supporting legislation at lower levels of government. The current climate requires flexibility, grit, and ensuring a multitude of voices are heard. I would emphasize making sure the board understands the membership’s priorities and takes actions to those ends.

 

SHA exists to serve its members and in a time of extreme uncertainty, it should provide a measure of stability. I think it’s equally important while dealing with crises related to the legislative and financial future of the field that we continue to advance the discipline and not lose sight of the organization’s commitment to antiracism and other efforts to lower the barriers to the discipline. Working with its large member base of archaeologists who have truly diverse research interests, backgrounds, and goals, SHA should prioritize drawing on the varied strengths of its membership in order to continue to create a feedback loop that provides for those members.

 

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

I do not believe that we can call ourselves modern anthropologists without working with, around, under, and for people from all backgrounds. This extends from how we plan and coordinate projects to support we provide for students and people coming to the field from non-traditional paths or who contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage outside of formal contexts. In the context of SHA, I believe we need to create and protect space where current and would-be members can feel heard and can have their concerns included in the priorities and efforts of the organization. I believe the board should be tasked with doing the most legwork in this regard. As many before me have discussed at length, we need to be alert for bias and discrimination and ensure that organizational anti-discrimination policies are not only followed but evolve with the organization and the concerns of its membership. I am strongly supportive of calling out instances when professionals’ and students’ efforts are undermined by individuals and groups, and when communities are prevented from having ownership over their cultural sites and artifacts, research, and data. I am happy to continue the movement that SHA has begun in this regard.

 

While I was privileged to come into archaeology through a traditional academic path, throughout my career I have attempted to strengthen avenues for non-traditional students and to be a part of creating spaces in preservation that empower underrepresented communities and those who have been left out to take a lead. We know that the way that things have been done in the past was not always in the best interest of the communities we work within. I am committed to listening, following, and finding ways to for the organization to continue to improve.

 

 

Present Position: Chief Executive, Re-form Heritage, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

Education: DPhil, Archaeology, University of York, UK; MA, Archaeology, University of York, UK; B.A., Sociology and Anthropology, St.Mary’s College of Maryland

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Journal Editor, 2025–present; Newsletter Editor, 2008–2019; Member, Board of Directors 2008–2019; Carol V. Ruppé Distinguished Service Award, 2018; Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology: President, 2021–2023; Journal Editor, 2013–2017; Member, Council, 2013–2021

Research Interests: 18th–20th-century British ceramics, nationalism and national identity, 19th-century globalization, trans-continental material culture comparisons, building international links in historical archaeology

Biographical Statement: Across a wide-ranging international career, I’ve been fortunate enough to work across the charity, academic, and museum sectors, and on every continent except Antarctica. A small selection of past roles includes Archaeology Lab Supervisor at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Virginia; Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Teaching Fellow at Leicester University, U.K.; Freelance Heritage Consultant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (also working on sites in Qatar and Oman); Heritage Manager at the British Red Cross; Artefacts Coordinator with Hill International on the Grand Egyptian Museum project in Cairo; and that interspersed with supporting projects in Venezuela, Chile, and Paraguay. I’m currently the Chief Executive of Reform Heritage, Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage development trust. The charity leads on identifying heritage sites to regenerate in the traditional home of the British ceramics industry, combining the regeneration of at-risk built heritage with economic and social regeneration.

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

My priorities would include: ensuring a robust and diverse publication program for the SHA journal and the society’s other research initiatives; supporting a global perspective on our international discipline – though without losing sight of the fact that most members are based in North America; building stronger links with SPMA in Europe and ASHA in Australasia, to the benefit of all three societies – we are stronger working together; considering how to expand research and publication opportunities outside of English (particularly with the core Western Hemisphere languages of French, Spanish, and Portuguese); opposing the growing impact of the hard right and neo-fascism on institutional structures in the US and Europe.

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

Well, this has rather taken on a different shade of significance since Trump’s inauguration, particularly in light of his full-on assault on DEI, and his deliberate use of the tactics of established hard-right leaders (like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán) to undermine constitutional norms. By embracing DEI, by rightly continuing to stress its significance to our society and our discipline, SHA has clearly set itself as part of the opposition to the anti-constitutional caudillo in the White House, and his fascist sympathizing co-president Elon Musk. Good. The next four years are going to be challenging for any US-based organization that embraces DEI as a key part of its identity, but that makes it all the more important that SHA continues its commitment to expanding diversity across its institutions, programs, and initiatives, whether in North America or elsewhere. I stand ready to support SHA president Veit, president-elect Horning, and other directors and officers of the society over this critical issue; the SHA journal will play an important part in this process. Negotiating with the hard right is point- less; the time for political neutrality has passed. We need to make a firm stand on the values that we, as a society, hold dear. Hier stehe Ich, Ich kann nicht anders.

Present Position: Maritime Archaeologist at Gray & Pape, Inc., United States (position ending October 10, 2025), and Senior Maritime Archaeologist, Maritime Archaeology Trust, England (position beginning October 20, 2025)

 

Education: PhD, Maritime Archaeology, University of Southampton, UK; MSc, Maritime Archaeology, University of Southampton, UK; BA, History/Anthropology (Archaeology)/Honors Studies, Northern Kentucky University, Kentucky, US

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (elected member 2018–2026); Society for Historical Archaeology (2002–2011, 2013–present); Register of Professional Archaeologists (2015–present); Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology, Editorial Board Member (2014–Present); Nautical Archaeology Society (2002–2011 most years, 2013–present); Kentucky Organization of Professional Archaeologists (2016–2025)

 

Research Interests: maritime archaeology, site formation processes, management of underwater cultural heritage, ship/shipwreck biography, shipwreck archaeology, public engagement and outreach, mentoring, publishing, graphic design

 

Biographical Statement:

With more than 20 years of experience in history, archaeology, maritime archaeology, and heritage management roles in the United States and England, I am passionate about uncovering and preserving the history and cultural heritage of the maritime world. My work has included research and data analysis, project management, proposal and report writing, and a dedication to detailed communication about, and advocacy for, the field of archaeology. Many of my roles have included publishing and editorial positions, working with clients, authors, and reviewers at an international scale; that is why I applied for the Co-Publications Editor position for the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA), which I will take up in January 2026. I have completed documentary research in various archives associated with maritime topics and histories in both the United States and England. During my career, I have worked in consultation with multiple State Historic Preservation Offices, as well as numerous federal agencies in the United States, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the Maritime Administration. In England, I have worked with site management bodies, such as English Heritage, maritime archaeology educational and advisory bodies, and site licensees on protected shipwreck sites of the English Channel. I am an active member of the SHA and an elected member of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (ACUA) Board of Directors. In my ongoing work as an active member of the ACUA Board, I have worked closely with other Board members on a variety of committees, including the Graduate Student Associate/Social Media Committee and the Mentoring Committee. I am currently the Series Editor of the ACUA Annual Proceedings, as well as the graphic designer for the series.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

It is no exaggeration to say that I have been fascinated by underwater and maritime archaeology since high school. I believe that one of the ways that I can contribute to the SHA is by channeling that passion and using my communication skills to share that excitement with others. My past work with the ACUA, the Nautical Archaeology Society, avocational dive groups, and site management organizations (such as State Historic Preservation Offices and English Heritage) among others, has given me the opportunity to work with numerous and varied groups across the world interested in the preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of information regarding underwater and maritime cultural heritage sites. My previous experience with these organizations has focused on working collaboratively for the benefit of our wider community, a skillset I would bring to my service on the SHA Board. Channeling this passion for all types of cultural heritage sites into a significant role within the SHA has long been a personal and professional goal.

 

Additionally, having worked for many years in cultural resource management, and a variety of outreach and public engagement roles in the US and England, I believe that one of my greatest assets is my understanding of the requirements for disseminating research results and analysis to a wider audience through a variety of venues and for a range of stakeholders and interested parties. Accurate narrative in clear language is important to any publication, in any medium. This can be particularly important for audiences in related disciplines or outside the profession, including the general public. It is important to strike a balance between presenting technical results and writing/presenting for non-technical audiences when seeking innovative ways to engage with the wider public, another one of my key interests. Public engagement and outreach are the natural extension of this dissemination and at the core of how I can contribute to the SHA.

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

In addition to my interest in outreach and engagement with the public—including divers, avocational archaeologists, and interested members of the public—I am committed to programs and processes that help students and early career professionals thrive within the profession and along their chosen path into the broader professional archaeology world, whether their interest is maritime or terrestrial archaeology. For several consecutive years, I was the chair of the Mentoring Committee of the ACUA, and it was always a delight to speak to mentees and find ways that I could be of assistance, however small that input might be. Recent work with the Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs) of the ACUA has allowed me to transition into a more long-term relationship with the GSAs, being present for them throughout their 2-year terms. If elected, I would make it a priority to develop similar opportunities within the broader SHA community and would happily work with the SHA Board and related committees to strengthen the SHA’s commitment to students and early career professionals within the membership.

 

Additionally, I believe that it is through engagement with members of local communities outside of the professional and academic archaeological spheres, that archaeologists can find their strongest advocates for the ongoing preservation and interpretation of archaeological sites. Creating champions and protectors of cultural heritage through active engagement and education would be of significant interest. Of course, outreach and engagement with the various stakeholders interested in a site relies upon the physical preservation, documentation, and ongoing management of these archaeological sites. The need to disseminate research outcomes in broad ways to multiple audiences would be a priority. My previous experience both in cultural resource management report publication, and academic textbook and Proceedings publishing, has given me solid experience in the challenges of timetables and budgets. Professional societies come with their own set of budgetary and administrative constraints, something learned during my time working in any number of previous roles. Understanding these constraints and working as a team member to produce the highest quality publications, outreach programs, and innovative means of public engagement would be a priority.

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M)

As a US citizen trained in archaeology in both the US and England, I am hyper-aware of current ongoing challenges to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M) programs at multiple levels, both professionally and politically, across the world. The limits being placed on DEIB&M programs in some countries (and organizations within those countries) often because of outside political pressure makes it even more important for our profession to be united in our support for increasing the diversity of our membership and providing the membership with a commitment to everyone’s sense of safety and wellbeing. During my time on the ACUA Board, I have participated in several discussions about our own commitment to diversity within the maritime archaeology profession, including serving on the ACUA & RECON Offshore DEI Student Travel Award committee. If given the opportunity to serve on the SHA Board, I would bring the same level of commitment to furthering DEIB&M goals. Recognizing that the SHA is a US-based organization, and the US is witnessing serious threats to DEIB&M programs, I am even more committed to helping the SHA and its membership to hold the line as we navigate these increasingly treacherous waters. I would welcome the opportunity to be involved in the development of additional support programs, further coordination with and commitment to GMAC, and finding new avenues of support and collaboration with relevant organizations, such as the Society of Black Archaeologists and Diving With A Purpose. As a professional society, and as a human society, we are stronger together, and we are stronger when we include everyone in our commitment to DEIB&M in all its forms.

Present Position: Doctoral candidate, University of Maryland College Park

 

Education: M.A., Anthropology and Archaeology, llinois State University; B.S., Education, The Pennsylvania State University

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Member, Heritage at Risk Committee, 2018–present (Social Media Liaison, Heritage at Risk Committee, 2018); North American Heritage at Risk Coalition: 2021–present; Council for Maryland Archaeology: Member, Native American Liaison Committee, 2023–present; Scouts BSA Girl Troop 422, BSA River Hawk District: Assistant Scoutmaster, 2019–2024; National History Day: Judge, 2018; University of Maryland (UMD): Member, Graduate Student Advisory Group, Anthropology Department, 2024–present; Member, Dean’s Graduate Student Advisory Council, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, 2023–present; University Senate: Graduate Student Senator, 2021–2022; Ex-Officio Member, University Senate Educational Affairs Committee, 2020–2021; Graduate Member, Student Grievance Committee, Anthropology Department, 2018–2021; Anthropology Department Representative, Graduate Student Government (GSG), 2018–2021; Member, GSG Legislative Action Committee, 2018–2021 (Vice-Chair; Outstanding Committee Member Award, 2020–2021); Member, GSG Academic Affairs Committee, 2020–2021 (Outstanding Committee Member Award, 2020–2021); Graduate Representative, Provost Student Advisory Council (ProvSAC), 2019–2020; Member, Graduate Student Advisory Group, Anthropology Department, 2024–present; Member, Dean’s Graduate Student Advisory Council, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, 2023–present

 

Research Interests: zooarchaeology, stable isotope analysis, geometric morphometrics, archaeology of 15th–18th century with a focus on animal-human-environmental relationships, environmental archaeology, archaeology of gender, public outreach and education

 

Biographical Statement: Valerie Hall is finishing a PhD in Anthropology at the University of Maryland College Park. Her research interests include exploring human-animal relationships and landscape change in the Chesapeake region through analysis of archaeofaunal remains and other proxy data. She is specifically interested in the use of stable isotope analysis and geometric morphometrics as tools to elucidate cultural and environmental shifts. Valerie received a Summer Research Fellowship from UMD’s Graduate School in 2019 to fund training at the University of Georgia’s Center for Applied Isotope Studies. She received an International Graduate Research Fellowship, jointly awarded by UMD’s Graduate School and the University of Exeter in 2022, to study geometric morphometrics with the Centre for Human-Animal-Environmental (HumAnE) Bioarchaeology, Department of Archaeology and History, at the University of Exeter, UK. Valerie also was awarded an Ark and Dove Scholar in Residence Research Fellowship from Historic St. Mary’s City in collaboration with the Society of the Ark and Dove in 2019. Valerie is a three-time recipient of the Gloria S. King Fellowship in Archaeology, awarded through The Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory.

 

Originally an elementary teacher, Valerie became interested in archaeology through volunteering for fieldwork with the Archeological Society of Maryland. Prior to pursuing a PhD, she explored her interests in archaeological outreach, public education, and collections management as Curator at the Museum of the Grand Prairie in Mahomet, Illinois. Upon returning to Maryland, she served as Artifact Laboratory Manager at the Veterans Curation Program (VCP), teaching unemployed veterans to rehabilitate deteriorating archaeological collections while offering career coaching and networking opportunities. Her field experience includes work with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, as well as excavations at a 16th-century Cherokee site in eastern Tennessee, Historic Jamestowne, and locations across Maryland. She also served as co-director of the Outer Hebrides Archaeological Project in South Uist, Scotland.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

I have broad experience across a variety of jobs in archaeology, including CRM, collections management, museum and archival curation, public outreach and education, and academia. This experience gives me insight into the needs and priorities of our membership. I also have built a network of Indigenous, national, and international collaborators who have helped me broaden my perspectives and rethink priorities within the field. I bring further perspective as a current student and parent, with awareness of the particular financial limitations and needs for support inherent to each role. I have a unique perspective on the challenge of balancing career demands against personal and family schedules.

 

A key aspect of this balancing act is the ability to listen closely to better support the needs of others. As a lab manager at the VCP, I worked closely with veterans, many of whom returned home with physical disabilities and/or mental health challenges. Actively listening to their concerns and needs allowed us to move forward as members of the same team, collaborating to meet individual needs while working towards a shared goal. I plan to put these perspectives and skills to use in listening to the concerns and needs of the membership while working to build a strong leadership team.

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

In this fraught historical moment, I feel it is especially important to stand firm and commit to the importance of telling complicated and complete histories. Our current national situation requires us to carefully navigate the relationship between politically-motivated funding decisions and the important work we do in collaborating with communities to amplify voices and stories that have previously been erased from the historical record. It is important that we stay resolute in the investigation and interpretation of all of history – not just the sanitized version or dominant national narrative. We must emphasize collaboration with community members, leaders, and elders, as well as researchers in other fields to address the many modern challenges we face. In doing so, I feel it is important to find creative ways to make conferences more accessible to collaborators who may not be able to hold membership in SHA. It is critical that we invite other collaborators with significant and valuable input to share their knowledge, perspectives, and ideas.

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

 

As I noted above, I feel that now more than ever it is important to collaborate with and amplify the voices of those communities whose histories have previously been overwritten. I am very aware of my positionality as a cisgender white woman, and my experiences with friends and colleagues have given me a better lens to understand how others navigate the world. I understand the significance of collaborating and empathizing with others. Most importantly, I have learned the importance of listening to the experiences, needs, and concerns of others in working to build a safe and inclusive organization for all members.

Present Position: Cultural Resources Professional, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

 

Education: M.A., Anthropology, East Carolina University; B.A., History and Archaeology, Lycoming College

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Membership Committee, 2008–2014; Newsletter and Website Editorial Advisory Committee, 2011–2022

 

Research Interests: military sites archaeology, public archaeology, public history, National Register of Historic Places, architectural history, agricultural history

 

Biographical Statement: After graduating with a B.A. in History ad Archaeology, I decided to work in the field to figure out if this archaeology thing was something I wanted to spend my life doing. I sent out piles of resumes but got the same response each time: “Sorry, we’re looking for someone with more experience.” Leading me to the inevitable, “but how do I get experience” question. Luckily a friend had a friend doing archaeology for the State of Maryland; I got in touch and found out that the state needed field crew. I found not only a job, but also a mentor. From there I worked as a field archaeologist for a string of CRM firms throughout the mid-Atlantic, southeast, and Midwest on a variety of surveys and excavations spanning the pre-contact period to the 20th century. I reached out to my mentor for graduate school suggestions and ended up at ECU, where I worked at small CRM firm doing everything from field archaeology to lab work to running crews to graphics to GIS to architectural survey to report preparation. From there it was on to the PA SHPO for 13 years where I worked up to be a National Register reviewer. After a short stint in the consulting world as an architectural historian, I ended up as an architectural historian at PennDOT.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

My career in archaeology, historic preservation, and architectural history has given me a diversity of experience for a diversity of organizations: from archaeological survey and excavations on Federal land under Section 110 to grant-funded archaeological survey to locate battlefields associated with the War of 1812 to private sector CRM survey and excavation as part of Section 106 compliance and transportation enhancement-funded excavation of a French and Indian War period fort to everything from graphics to GIS to archaeological survey and excavation to architectural survey to lab work to report production for a small family-owned CRM firm to National Register evaluation and form preparation for a State Historic Preservation Office to architectural survey, planning, and report writing at a private sector CRM firm to Section 106 compliance for a state transportation agency. In that time, I have amassed a large group of contacts and colleagues representing a variety of disciplines within the historic preservation and archaeological space. I have also had the great fortune of being mentored by people who recognized something in me that I didn’t see. I believe I can contribute a wide range of contacts who I can reach out to in order to identify those individuals who might have the leadership ability and desire to make a positive impact on the SHA, whether they think they can or not. In addition, having felt the sting of constant rejection in my early career, I know that sometimes all it takes is for someone to give you a chance; you may surprise yourself and others with how far you can get. Having had several strong mentors who got me where I am today, I also know the importance in showing people you believe in them. I believe these experiences put me in a position to encourage those, especially younger practitioners, to give leadership a try and lead the SHA into the future.

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

If chosen to serve SHA as a member of the Nominations and Elections Committee, I would prioritize finding and recruiting younger members of the society and members of those groups that are underrepresented in SHA leadership to stand for election to leadership roles in SHA. As an organization, SHA has an immense amount of talent serving as committee chairs, higher-level managers in CRM firms, managers in Federal and state historic preservation work groups and agencies, and professors and advisors within the academy. In these roles, we come across people who may have never held a leadership role or even thought about holding one, people who may have never been asked if they wanted to take on a leadership role, but people who we know would make great leaders if given the opportunity. Having been the beneficiary of mentors who have seen something in me and encouraged me to try new things even when I was tentative or didn’t think I could do it I know the power of being asked and encouraged. With that having been said, as a member of the Nominations and Elections committee, I would prioritize reaching out to these different leaders in the field and asking them to suggest younger people and people from underrepresented groups in historic archaeology who would make great leaders, if only given the chance. I would also prioritize convincing these new voices that they can and should take the reins.

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

 

I believe that the strength of any organization lies in diversity in all its forms; however, diversity in membership is not enough. We must strive to create an organization where the leadership reflects the diversity we want to see in our membership. This diversity should extend to include those working in all areas of historical archaeology, from the academy to the non-profit sector to private sector CRM to museums and local historical organizations, and so on. Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering comes when we approach representatives of all of these diverse groups and ask them to serve as leadership, when we show that we trust them to take the reins and move the organization forward. I would bet that many members of diverse communities would take on a leadership role and wow all of us, if we just asked them and encouraged them to be the next generation of SHA leadership.

 

 

Present Positions: Director, Center for Archaeological Studies and Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Anthropology, Texas State University

 

Education: Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Tennessee; M.A., Anthropology, University of Tennessee; B.A., Anthropology, University of Nebraska

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Coordinator, Conference Committee, 2021–present; Chair, 2017 Conference Program; Member, Kathleen Kirk Gilmore Dissertation Committee, 2020–2023; Member, PEIC Committee; Member, Gender and Minority Affairs Committee; Other Societies: SAA: Design Committee, 2021–2022; Editor, The SAA Archaeological Record, 2025–present; Council of Texas Archeologists: President, 2020–2024, Past President, 2024–present, Public Education Committee Chair, 2018–present

 

Research Interests: cultural resources management, Caribbean archaeology, 19th and 20th century farmsteads, military sites archaeology, GIS and geospatial analyses, liberation archaeology, geophysics

 

Biographical Statement: I am the Director of Texas State University’s (Texas State) Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) and am Associate Professor of Practice in Texas State Department of Anthropology. As CAS Director, I am responsible for acquiring grants and contracts to provide students and recent graduates with paying field and laboratory research and curation opportunities that prepare them for careers in cultural resources management (CRM). As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Texas State has a diverse student body who are often excluded from traditional pathways to a career in archaeology and CAS gives students paid opportunities that make meaningful connections and serve as a strong pathway to career placement. Our program has a very high rate of success in private and public sector placements. In addition, I have taught courses in Texas State’s Anthropology Department (Historical Archaeology and GIS in Anthropology) and Public History Program (Cultural Resources Management [focusing on non-archaeology segments]).

 

Prior to joining Texas State, I was part-owner of Historical Research Associates, Inc. and Senior Archaeologist with The Louis Berger Group, Inc. In these positions, I learned much about the business of CRM and the needs of the CRM industry. From 2005-2013, I occasionally taught courses at the University of Montana, including Public Archaeology and GIS in Anthropology. The latter was a popular course that became part of the University’s GIS certificate program.

 

I have published research on historic farmsteads, Caribbean military and plantation sites, the trade of Afro-Caribbean ware in the eastern Caribbean, and housing choices in post-emancipation Caribbean.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

As someone who currently works in the CRM and academic spheres, I understand the divergent and convergent needs of these industries and offer the SHA Board and membership a unique view from someone who spans the gap between CRM and academia. As the CRM industry and colleges and universities in the United States face unprecedented challenges, I can contribute a broad range of perspectives that can help guide our discipline into the future. Additionally, I understand how to advocate within the private and public sectors for our discipline.

 

Working in a university-based CRM operation, I have seen firsthand how effective public-private partnerships can be in offering students and recent graduates field and laboratory opportunities. In addition, they provide private sector CRM firms a pathway to employee recruit and training. As an SHA Board member, I would try to work within the SHA structure to advocate for and develop these partnerships that are beneficial to the private and public sectors. Through these partnerships, private sector firms can also work with anthropology departments to develop a course of study that prepares students for careers in CRM. In addition, these partnerships can help bolster the position of anthropology departments who face challenges in funding and decreasing major enrollment. By demonstrating the need for anthropology majors in a growing job field, departments and their partners can advocate for adequate funding.

 

As someone with a business background, I can contribute my expertise to the business side of the SHA. While the SHA is on a strong financial footing, the uncertainty of the future and raising costs place our financial stability in a precarious situation. For instance, as Conference Committee Coordinator I see firsthand the rising costs for hosting our annual meeting and the declining interest among our membership in volunteering to host the annual meeting. It is becoming more and more difficult to make the annual meeting reasonably priced and the SHA Board and membership may need to make difficult choices about locations and amenities for our meetings and if having a dedicated conference organizer is fiscally appropriate.

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

As I write this statement, federal, state, and local governments in the United States are examining historic preservation laws, regulations, and funding and the CRM industry and universities are being impacted by these efforts. The SHA’s partnerships with SAA, ACRA, and RPA are vital relationships that help advance our causes. If elected to the SHA Board of Directors, I will work with the SHA President and Board to expand our efforts to protect historic preservation laws, regulations, and funding as all levels of government. State and local governments need to be included in our efforts as the laws, regulations, and funding coming from these entities are significant in many areas of the country and they are more likely to survive expansive cuts at the federal level.

 

Colleges and universities in the United States are facing funding and freedoms challenges and it is vital that groups like the SHA become advocates for faculty, students, and programs that teach and train future archaeologists. The SHA and other societies are already advocating for these programs and if elected to the SHA Board I would continue to prioritize this advocacy. As anthropology departments and specialized programs face cuts, we as an industry must seek ways to advocate for these programs in new and inventive ways.

 

As our industry faces continued and new challenges, training opportunities and mentoring for students and early career researchers becomes even more critical. It is vital that our students and early career researchers feel accepted as SHA members and understand the physical and mental rigors of CRM. At the same time, when they pursue a career in archaeology they need to feel the joy of discovery, able to see places around the world that most people will never see, and building friendships that last a lifetime. If elected to the SHA Board, I would advocate for SHA to partner with universities and colleges to offer training and continuing education opportunities. These efforts could be in partnership with SAA, ACRA, and RPA to ensure that future archaeologists are prepared for their career.

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

 

As a low-income, first-generation college student who grew up in rural United States and now deals with several invisible disabilities, I have learned to embrace the things that make me who I am and impact my ability to be an archaeologist. I understand the difficulties that first-gen students face and share my experiences with students to help them on their career pathway. As a CRM practitioner and academic at a minority serving institution with a student body that includes BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, international, non-traditional, low-income, veteran, and first-generation students that face numerous challenges in developing skills and gaining experience, I have found that the most effective pathway to an archaeological career is to lower these barriers by offering paid training opportunities. I like to think that our lab is a safe place for our students and employees where they can be comfortable in being themselves while preparing for their career as an archaeologist. As an SHA Board member, I would advocate to develop effective information to help students prepare for a career and to lower the barriers many archaeologists face in their career aspirations.

 

The SHA membership includes people who have different experiences and needs and I believe it is important to listen and advocate for all our members. A recent SHA survey shows that we are ahead of other groups in our efforts at equity, inclusion, belonging, and mattering; however, we still have a long way to go to become a truly equitable, inclusive, and diverse society. As a member of the Gender and Minority Affairs Committee it was apparent that a small group of SHA members are the strongest advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our society and as an SHA Board member I would advocate further advancing our efforts and broaden the participation in these efforts.

 

As the SHA grows and becomes a truly international society, I would advocate for a society that is inclusive of our international members by occasionally publishing journal articles in more than one language, hosting the meeting outside of the US and Canada, and including international members on our committees.

 

 

Present Positions: Board Chair for the Society of Black Archaeologists; Board Member for Diving With A Purpose; Assistant Professor, Stanford University

 

Education: Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2018; M.A., African and African Diaspora Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2014; B.S., Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2008

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Member, Gender and Minority Affairs, 2010–present; Society of Black Archaeologists: Co-founder, 2011; President, 2020–2022; President-elect, 2018–2020; Board Chair, 2022–present; Diving With A Purpose: Board Member, 2019–present; American Antiquity: Editorial Board, 2023–2026; Journal of African Diaspora Archaeology and Heritage: Editorial Board, 2024–2027

 

Research Interests: terrestrial archaeology research focus: historical archaeology of the African Diaspora, with an emphasis on the circum-Caribbean, public archaeology, gender, identity formation, politics of representation, and heritage; underwater archaeology research historical archaeology of the African Diaspora, with an emphasis on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, memorialization, commemoration, and embodied heritage

 

Biographical Statement: The research I engage in is collaborative, resulting in co-authored publications and projects birthed in collaboration between universities and non-profit and for-profit organizations. Currently, I have four major research programs. The first, currently being expanded into a full-length book project, explores Black women’s identity formations during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Texas and Tennessee by illuminating how quotidian sartorial practices engaged were central to the ways Black women navigated the precarity of life after enslavement. My second research trajectory centers on my current fieldwork on the islands of St. Croix. Since 2017 I have co-directed The Estate Little Princess Archaeology Project (ELPAP), an award-winning project. Through a multiscale analysis of household, community, and society, this research focuses on how Afro-Crucians, from slavery through freedom (1754-1917), interacted with their natural and social environment as processes of self-making. Excavations have centered on the enslaved village at the 18th century Danish sugar plantation, The Estate Little Princess. My third research focus centers on underwater archaeology of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, with an emphasis on divers of African descent that support in the documentation and preservation of these submerged sites of enslavement. I am particularly interested in how the divers relate to the history they uncover and how they relate to themselves underwater. This work has grown from explorations of the divers to critically examining underwater commemoration sites of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as well. Finally, my last research trajectory centers on addressing and combating antiblack racism in the field of archaeology and heritage preservation at large. This work centers on creating multiprong solutions to address the lack of racial and class diversity in terrestrial and maritime archaeology.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

The biggest contribution I can give to SHA is supporting and expanding its ongoing efforts in shaping a future for the field of archaeology where its practitioners are invested in creating a just discipline that fosters space for a wide of people, theoretical frameworks and methodologies. As a scholar of Anthropology and African and African Diaspora Studies, my intellectual genealogy is shaped by critical theory rooted in Black feminist epistemology and pedagogy. This epistemological backdrop not only constructs the way I design, conduct and produce my scholarship but acts as foundational to how I will show up in my role on the SHA board, advocating for greater diversity within the field of archaeology and within the broader scope of academia. My public and professional service directly reflect my commitment to fostering a just discipline. I am the co-founder and current Board Chair of the Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA). This non-profit organization creates avenues of engagement and training that prepare Black and African scholars and communities to be active participants in the documentation, excavation, preservation, and interpretation of Black and African heritage. I also sit on the Board of Diving With A Purpose (DWP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of submerged heritage resources by providing education, training, certification and field experience to adults and youth in the fields of maritime archaeology and ocean conservation. Collectively, both of these organizations are addressing racial and class inequities within the fields of terrestrial and underwater archaeology.

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

I am interested in expanding the reach of SHA and historical archeology more broadly. Through SBA, I aided in the logistics and execution of an 8-month long webinar series – in collaboration with the Wenner Gren Foundation – that featured eight different three-hour productions geared toward an academic and public audience. These webinars included academic, community-based heritage professional and artist panelists that spoke about a wide range of topics, from Black and Indigenous archaeological epistemologies to the repatriation of material culture to Black and Indigenous communities. These webinars collectively were viewed live by over 5000 people internationally and have since been viewed, via their recordings, by an additional 4000 people, making its reach far more expansive than any academic conference within the discipline of anthropology to-date. My desire is to support fostering a learning environment through SHA that is committed to providing educational spaces for practitioners and to the general public. An archaeology that does not find relevance in the present will be lost to the past. I want to support and expand the ongoing work SHA is doing keep our discipline relevant and meaningful to the public.

 

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Mattering (DEIB&M).

 

As a co-founder of SBA, I actively address and combat the lack of diversity within archaeology. Since its inception in 2011, one of SBA’s central goals has been to create greater inclusion of Black archaeologists in the field. One of my primary initiatives is SBA’s ongoing oral history project, which addresses issues of diversity in the field by highlighting how the lived experiences of Black archaeologists shape the scholarship they produce. Published on the SBA website, the oral history collection provides a readily accessible means for junior scholars to learn techniques to thrive in this field and continue to propel it forward. The impetus behind the construction of this collection was my desire, upon entering the discipline of archaeology, for a resource that provided advice from senior scholars regarding how they shaped their careers. Additionally, from 2017 – 2023 I directed a sustainable archaeology project at the Estate Little Princess (ELP), an 18th-century Danish sugar plantation located on St. Croix, USVI. This project worked in collaboration with The Slave Wrecks Project (SWP) – an international network of institutions and individual associates that investigate the global history and enduring legacies of the African Slave Trade, administered by George Washington University and the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture – as well as the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), and the National Park Service, and Stanford University. The project has two intended functions: 1.) the development of a long-term research agenda that employs a landscape approach to the study of slavery and emancipation on the island of St. Croix, and 2.) the training of Crucian youth, and underrepresented college students in terrestrial archaeological methodologies. Our inaugural field school was awarded the Society of Historical Archaeology’s Gender and Minority Affairs Committee Diversity Field School Award in 2018, for its commitment to promoting diversity in the field of archaeology.

Present Position: Senior Marine Project Manager, SEARCH, Inc.

 

Education: Ph.D., Anthropology, Florida State University; M.A., Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio; B.A., Anthropology and Spanish Colonial History, Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University).

 

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: 2025 Co-Conference Chair, New Orleans, Louisiana; Co-Program Chair 2021, Virtual Conference; Co-Underwater Chair 2019, St. Charles, MO; Co-Conference Chair 2018, New Orleans, LA; 2010 Underwater Chair, Amelia Island, FL; Conftool Specialist “Guru”: 2018, 2020–2025; RPA: Board Member, 2016–2020

 

Research Interests: maritime archaeology of Early Spanish Colonialism and Conquest, Latin American and Caribbean 17th–19th centuries, World War II, and in the Southeast and the Gulf of Mexico in both extreme and shallow depths

 

Biographical Statement: With over 30 years of experience, I have worked with submerged sites dating from the 16th century to the early 20th century. Most of my work has been with shipwreck remains, material culture, specifically Spanish Colonial through 19th-century, with much of this work conducted on numerous archaeological projects throughout the Gulf South, Florida, Latin America, and the Caribbean, including St. Vincent, Panama, Colombia, and Mexico. Moreover, I helped establish a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization to aid countries and other archaeologists in documenting and preserving their submerged cultural heritage.

 

In addition to my personal and professional interests, I have extensive experience in Cultural Resource Management. Currently, I am a Senior Marine Project Manager at SEARCH, Inc. I have also worked for the State of Florida’s Bureau of Archaeological Research and then within the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS), which was later reorganized as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). I have served as BSEE’s Federal Historic Preservation Officer and have over two decades of leadership in implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) related to offshore oil and gas development, renewable energy projects, and marine minerals projects. While with BOEM and BSEE, I worked extensively with tribal governments, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Park Service, drafting policy documents that influenced how submerged cultural heritage is viewed and treated during energy development projects. Lastly, I have been a member of the SHA since 1995 and attended all but two conferences in the past 30 years. I have presented and published through SHA and participated as a conference organizer for several conferences. I feel that my experiences and institutional knowledge will help the organization continue to grow.

 

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?

 

If elected, I can offer the SHA various experiences and expertise related to historical and underwater archaeology in an advisory capacity. I have the experience, knowledge, and capabilities as an archaeologist with the state of Florida, the federal government (MMS, BOEM, and BSEE), and as someone who works with a non-profit to aid the Board and present various perspectives on how best to tackle challenges or issues regarding historical and submerged archaeological sites. My experiences abroad are also a benefit to the Board with an understanding of multiple perspectives from countries that face unique problems and issues. Finally, within the organization and based on my years of service to SHA, I can also provide guidance and leadership on how the conference advances in the coming years.

 

 

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?

 

If elected to serve the SHA, I would like to focus on the following three priorities: first, membership retention and growth. While our membership continues to grow, I think it is important to actively seek new people to work with the conference committee to develop new ideas and venues that excite our membership. I believe the SHA Board could work to find ways to encourage our younger members to invest their time and energy in the organization by participating in conference development. This could be accomplished via mentorship or even partnering up seasoned conference veterans with younger members to provide the knowledge and guidance necessary for future successful conferences.

 

Second, I would like to help the Board continue to work with other nations to preserve historic and underwater sites. As a worldwide leader in historical and underwater archaeology, I would like to help the board reach out and work with other nations that want guidance and assistance with their cultural heritage. In doing so, we can continue to advance our objective of promoting scholarly research and disseminating knowledge about historical archaeology while building relationships with other nations.

 

Finally, work with the SHA Board to promote and “market” the value of our shared cultural heritage to non-historical and underwater archaeologists. As cultural resource practitioners, academics, and even avocational archaeologists, we have a lot of information available to us. Advances in public outreach over the last 30 years have made huge strides in getting this information out to the public. Continuing in the vein and working with the Board, perhaps a way to encourage the dissemination of information in the world of YouTube and TikTok would be to provide a series of SHA-sponsored podcasts/channels featuring our membership’s work. There is a lot to think about here. Still, it may be time for the organization to consider sharing what we have learned, our knowledge, and our nation’s cultural heritage through archaeology to the public on a digital platform. These are things that I would like to consider as a member of the SHA Board of Directors.

 

Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).

 

The SHA has an incredible diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and mattering record. As a member of the Board of Directors, I will help to continue and further ensure that the membership experiences no discrimination. Moreover, I would like to work with and encourage the board and membership to engage with Native Americans and Tribal Nations to include their perspectives, knowledge, and wisdom in the organization’s DEIB&M efforts. This can be accomplished by including their perspective and participation at each conference, and perhaps a fund could be established to support this effort. At a minimum, the SHA should strive to include their involvement in all aspects of our organization, and I will do my best to ensure this happens.