SHA 2016 New Board Members’ Biographic Statements

Elections are over. Below are the bibliographic statements of the candidates.

 

President Elect

markwarner

Mark Warner

Present Position
Professor of Anthropology and Chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Idaho

Education
Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Virginia, 1998
M.A.A., University of Maryland, 1990
B.A., Anthropology and Government, Beloit College, 1984

Professional Service to SHA and Other Relevant Groups
SHA
2015                  Conference Co-Chair (with Robyn Woodward), Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA
2010–2013      Member, Board of Directors
2005–2010      Chair, Academic and Professional Training Committee
2004–2006     Advertising Coordinator for Historical Archaeology
2004–2014      Member, Editorial Advisory Board
2013–present  Member, Curation Committee
1999–2010       Member, Academic and Professional Training Committee
2003–2008     Chair, Student Paper Competition
1999–2008      Judge, Student Paper Competition
2003–2011       Judge, Dissertation Prize Competition

Other Professional Service
2012–present        Co-founder, Consortium on Collections (SHA, SAA, ACRA collaborative working group on collections management issues)
2013–present        Editor, Left Coast Press Material Culture Series
2015                         Organizing Committee, Idaho Heritage Conference, Moscow
2012                         Conference Organizer, Idaho Archaeology Society Annual Meeting, Moscow
2011                         Organized and led fundraising for Roderick Sprague Fund, U. of Idaho
2009–present        Editorial Board Idaho Archaeologist
2004–2006            Member, Society for American Archaeology Publications Committee
1999–2001             Editor, Book Reviews for the African American Archaeology Newsletter

Research Interests
Archaeologies of the disenfranchised; Western U.S.; urban archaeology; public archaeology; zooarchaeology

Biographical Statement
When I discovered anthropology as an undergraduate in college I was both thrilled and concerned. I was thrilled because I found a pursuit that I was passionate about, but I was also concerned about how archaeology could also feed the ‘do-gooder’ side of me. Ultimately I was worried about pursuing a career that focused on minutia that was of interest/relevance to only a small number of people (This perspective may have been skewed by my field school where one of my supervisors was extraordinarily interested in microdebitage!). It took me a few years to sort out how to pursue my passion in archaeology and do something that potentially has some broader social relevance but eventually the answer for me was historical archaeology. As a historical archaeologist I have opportunities to conduct archaeology that is familiar to living communities and a way to explore questions that build connections to those communities, in short to do work that is both for and with a community as well as doing the archaeology of a community.

To that end, much of what I have done over my career has been undertaken with those objectives in mind. I have been part of long-term research projects exploring the histories of African American Annapolis. I have built a nearly 20 -year relationship with the Miami Tribe in Oklahoma and since moving to Idaho in 1998 I have worked on numerous projects in the state that have resulted in outcomes such as museum exhibits, archaeology teaching trunks for elementary-school children, and thousands of visitors to archaeological sites. For me personally, historical archaeology is a vehicle to follow a personal passion and an outlet for contributing to communities.

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected as SHA President-Elect/Board Member?

At this point of my career I would say I have a long track record of experience in several key areas. I have served SHA in multiple capacities and have an extensive understanding of most (but not all) of the workings of the organization. I am a teacher of students, having taught at least a couple thousand undergraduates, and have served on about 60 graduate-student committees (and I have taught internationally, spending a semester teaching in Spain). Finally, for about four years I was a Co–principal Investigator on the largest archaeology project in the state of Idaho’s history (generating almost 600,000 historical artifacts). Taken together, my background has provided me with an extensive understanding of the organization that I would (hopefully) be leading as well as an understanding of the challenges faced by archaeologists working in academia and in the professional world.

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

First of all, I think it is important to acknowledge that the priorities of what I want to emphasize may not be what I would have to emphasize as president. The simple truth is that the leadership of SHA has to be aware of external forces that can impact our organizational priorities and be willing to adjust accordingly. Given that disclaimer, the two areas that I would like to focus on are: collections management and historical archaeology’s position in society writ large.

On collections management: This may strike some as being mundane but this is a vital issue for historical archaeology to address. The underlying bias in most archaeology projects is, “fund the fieldwork and worry about the collections later.” The explosive growth of material culture in the recent past has resulted in an enormous volume of artifacts (such as our 600,000-artifact project in Idaho), but there is very little guidance on supporting and managing collections of that scale. I believe it is tremendously important that SHA takes the lead in rethinking how we manage our uniquely voluminous collections. Failing to tackle this is leading to ad hoc strategies to deal with (or avoid dealing with) historical artifacts and sites.

My second (and much broader) issue is one of the relationship between archaeology and society at large. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the NHPA. This piece of legislation has been transformative for all archaeologists and it should be a time of celebration. Instead, the laws that have helped build our discipline are under attack.

Admittedly some archaeology can be seen as inaccessible, yet historical archaeology is profoundly accessible and more importantly relevant. Every annual meeting has stories of historical archaeology engaging communities in ways that inspire interest and engagement. What I would like to emphasize as president of SHA is for historical archaeology to be at the forefront of this very public debate. Personally, I think historical archaeology is at a crossroads. There are aspects of our field that are being challenged in ways that we never have been challenged before but at the same time we are also in an excellent position to push back. I want to be part of that pushback.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Communications Editor)

That Brooks bloke

Alasdair Brooks

Current Position
Self-Employed Heritage Management Consultant (2013–present)

Education
D.Phil., Archaeology, University of York, 2000
M.A., Archaeological Practice, University of York, 1992
B.A., Anthropology and Sociology, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 1990

Professional Service
SHA: Newsletter Editor (2008–present); Board of Directors (2008–present); Budget Committee Member (2008–present); SHA Communications Editors Advisory Committee Chair/Co-Chair (2008–2012); SHA Communications Editors Advisory Committee Member (2008–present); Program Chair, 2013 SHA Conference; Program Chair, 2021 SHA conference (TBC)
SPMA: Editor, Post-Medieval Archaeology (2013–present); Assistant Editor, Post-Medieval Archaeology (2012–2013); SPMA Council Member (2013–present)

Research Interests
18th- and 19th-century material culture, particularly British ceramics; international comparative material culture studies; ideological interpretations of material culture decoration; 19th-century international trade; nationalism and national identity

Biographical Statement

I have had a geographically varied career, beginning with my undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland (and field school at Historic St. Mary’s City), moving on to early career positions in American CRM with both Garrow & Associates and John Milner Associates (either side of an M.A. at the University of York back in my native UK), a three-year spell as the archaeology lab supervisor at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Virginia, followed by my doctorate at the University of York, a couple of postdoctoral research fellowships at La Trobe University in Australia, a brief spell running the lab for a CRM firm in the UK, a teaching fellowship at the University of Leicester (where I helped organize the 2013 SHA conference), and most recently I have been working as a freelance heritage consultant in the Persian Gulf region, offering heritage and collections management experience to a range of clients based at UNESCO World Heritage sites in the UAE, Qatar, and Oman. I returned to the UK at the end of April for family reasons.

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

I was first elected as the Communications Editors’ representative on the SHA Board in 2012, and was fortunate enough to have already served as one of the two appointed editors on the SHA Board over the preceding four and a half years; I have played a constructive role in both administrative and constitutional issues over the last seven and a half years. One of my most important past and future contributions, however, lies in my international background. My extensive experience of working professionally in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, South America, and the Persian Gulf in academic, contract, and museum archaeology has allowed me to act as a bridge between SHA’s core North American membership and our international members on other continents. I have therefore been uniquely well-placed to consider the impact of SHA Board decisions on current and potential international members while nonetheless remaining sensitive to the fact that SHA has traditionally been a North American society with a core duty towards the needs of that ongoing majority North American demographic. I hope to be able to continue in this bridging role if reelected to the board.

If elected to serve as a director of SHA what priorities would you emphasize?

Over the last 25 years, I have worked in academic, commercial contract, and museum archaeology on five continents. While the specific contexts within each country differ, historical archaeologists face many of the same challenges wherever we work. Chief amongst these shared challenges are (1) advocating a role for historical archaeology in national and local government regulations in a challenging economic climate; (2) continuing to educate the public on the importance and value of the archaeology of the modern world; (3) overcoming resistance to historical archaeology in certain sectors of the academy; and (4) addressing the increasing popularity of ‘treasure hunting’ in the public imagination. None of these challenges have easy solutions, but I am committed to seeing SHA continue to play a, and grow its, key role in leading professional advocacy for our discipline in North America across these areas, while working with sister societies such as SPMA and ASHA, as appropriate, to meet shared challenges. In this regard it’s helpful that I’m one of the few people to have simultaneously been a member of the governing bodies of both SHA and SPMA.

I have been a member of the SHA Budget Committee for seven and a half years now, so I am acutely conscious of the financial challenges facing both the society and our members. Our excellent treasurer Sara Mascia has done superb work in guiding SHA’s finances through a period of significant financial instability, but much work remains to be done in balancing the fiscal stresses felt by our membership with the fiscal strength of our society. I remain committed to working with Sara and the SHA Business Office to find that balance should I be reelected to the board.

SHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 Sarah Miller

Sarah E. Miller

Present Position
Director, Northeast and East Central Regions, Florida Public Archaeology Network

Education
M.A., Anthropology, East Carolina University, 2001
B.A., History, Secondary Education, Cornell College, 1995

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies
SHA: Chair, Public Education and Interpretation Committee, 2011–present; Nominations and Election Committee, 2013; Popular Chair for Amelia Island Conference Committee, 2010; Society for American Archaeology (SAA): Local Advisory Committee Chair for 2016 Annual Meeting; Southeastern Archaeological Conference (SEAC): Public Outreach Grant Committee, 2013–present; Florida Anthropological Society: Public Archaeology Committee, 2013–present, Nominations Committee, 2011; Project Archaeology: Leadership Team, 2012–present, and State Coordinator for Florida, 2006–present; St. Augustine Archaeology Association: Board of Directors, 2014–present, Conference Committee, 2013; Florida Trust for Historic Preservation: Conference Planning Committee, 2013

Research Interests
Heritage education; North American historical archaeology; public archaeology; cemetery preservation; advocacy; civic tourism

Biographical Statement
It’s an honor to be nominated for a SHA Board Member position. I received my Master’s degree in Anthropology from East Carolina University in 2001 after developing archaeology education programs at Tryon Palace in New Bern under the supervision of Charles Ewen and Patricia Samford. Upon graduation from ECU, I supervised lab and field projects for the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, including excavations at the Henry Clay Estate under Principal Investigator Kim McBride, excavation and artifact analysis of historic cemeteries around the state, and a landscape study tracing the Catholic diaspora from Maryland to Kentucky. While at Kentucky I also served as a reviewer for compliance projects at the Kentucky Heritage Council (SHPO). Currently I serve as Regional Director for both the Northeast and East Central Regions of the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), recipient of the 2015 Daniel G. Roberts Award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology by SHA. I supervise other professional archaeologists as we work together to serve the needs of 5 million residents and visitors over a 15-county region spanning Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Orlando, Canaveral, all the way down to Lake Okeechobee. As part of my work for FPAN I’ve developed training opportunities for professionals and nonprofessionals in heritage education, social media, cemetery preservation, understanding the impacts of sea-level rise on cultural resources, and archaeology advocacy.

Skills I’ve acquired to do my job over long distances I’ve also applied to my work within the society. While serving as Chair of the Public Education and Interpretation Committee, I improved communication over vast distances during the year, promoted geographic and specialization diversity among PEIC members, and served as clearinghouse for historical archaeology issues for the public. It is my hope SHA will continue its tradition of intersociety collaboration, commitment to expressing the relevance of our work to the times we live in, and promotion of the benefits of archaeology for the many publics we serve.

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if as Board Member?
The most rewarding experience in my work for SHA has been representing the society as part of the Archaeology Education Clearinghouse (AEC). Each year the SAA, AIA, and SHA partner to provide an information table at the National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) attended by 5,000 teachers, administrators, and researchers. I’ve worked to expand the scope of the AEC partnership beyond the NCSS table and enjoy working with members of other societies towards common outreach goals, while recognizing and emphasizing the unique perspective we can bring to any project as historical archaeologists. As a board member I would continue to work towards cooperation between the societies, to promote collaboration and coordination for efficiency, as well as promote the society and its benefits to other archaeologists and educators. Improving access to archaeological information by professional and nonprofessional audiences is of prime ethical importance and the best way to do this is by joining forces with others engaged in this effort.

Networking is another skill I hope to bring to the position. While serving on the Nominations and Elections Committee I learned how maintaining ties with colleagues over distance and time is an asset to the society. Working in several states in the Southeast and establishing new working relationships through committee and conference participation has yielded deeper deliberation over ongoing conversations reflected in a greater variety of potential symposia and panel topics, and sustained communication over the year beyond the conference. I hope to apply these networking skills as I would prepare to work over large distances with a diversity of other board members to address the needs of the society.

If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
Access and integration are the two priorities the society must continue to address. Access is of utmost importance in terms of social media, technology, professional development, and coordination with other professionals. I’ve enjoyed facilitating social media workshops at the annual meeting and contributing to SHA’s multiple social media platforms. Access to information online not only provides essential lines of communication between members within the society during the conference, but also helps us gain momentum as conversations continue beyond the conference, and promotes the relevance of our work to new audiences. To that end, professional development opportunities for historical archaeologists wanting to progress in current or future work areas will depend on technology and opening access to society benefits on a larger scale. Integration rather than isolation of specializations will also be a priority.

Timo_Ylimaunu

Timo Ylimaunu

Present Position
Senior Lecturer, Docent, University of Oulu, Finland; International Associate, Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Education
Ph.D., Archaeology, University of Oulu, 2007
Licentiate in Philosophy, Archaeology, University of Oulu, 2006
M.A., Archaeology, University of Oulu, 1997
M.A., History, University of Oulu, 1995

Professional Service
Society for Medieval Archaeology: Newsletter Editorial Board Member

Research Interests
Urban archaeology; historical archaeology from the medieval period to the contemporary past; memory and conflict archaeology; maps and images in the past

Biographical Statement

I have been working as an archaeologist since 1996. I have been a member of the faculty of Oulu University since 2000, and I have had two main career tasks and goals. The first has been to take responsibility for international student exchanges in archaeology, and to create international exchange agreements and networks with other institutions in Europe, the USA, and Canada. The second stems from observation that there was a great need for teaching and undertaking research in historical archaeology with regard to the students at the University of Oulu. As a result, I have been involved in urban archaeology excavations, managing historical archaeology research projects, and supervising students’ M.A. theses and doctoral students’ dissertations for almost fifteen years. Through these two goals, I and my former students and present-day colleagues have succeeded in establishing international and forward-looking historical archaeology programs via our research in Oulu.

In my classes I have stressed that we always need to build international research cooperation opportunities, and that doing so will help introduce new ways of thinking and new perspectives into our own historical archaeology in Finland and the northern Baltic Sea region. Because of the importance I place on this international outreach both for myself and for my doctoral students, I have made sure to take them to all of SHA’s annual conferences since 2011, as well as actively participating in other international historical archaeology conferences.

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected as SHA President-Elect/Board Member?

As someone working in academia, teaching historical archaeology, and managing research projects in our field of study, I have come to appreciate that the future of historical archaeology lies in international cooperation. As an international exchange coordinator and as a head of international research projects, I have gained experience in working with colleagues from other countries, and in planning and carrying out different kind of programs and projects related to historical archaeology. Therefore, I am ready to work to find solutions to the different issues facing our discipline. As a teacher I have been eager to emphasize the importance of the global dimension to our discipline. In the recent past, awareness of historical sites as a global heritage, and the importance of their preservation for future generations, has become more and more important to all of us. If elected, I am willing to help expand awareness of the importance of the global dimension to historical archaeology and heritage—and research on both of the latter—with students and younger researchers, to emphasize the importance of the opportunities that come from meeting colleagues from other countries, and to demonstrate the importance of a global perspective in our research and teaching.

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

I am highly honored to be nominated for the SHA Board of Directors. If elected, I will emphasize the significance of international cooperation in our global discipline, and will aim to increase participation in the society among students and colleagues outside of North America. I am looking forward to being able to play a role in growing SHA membership internationally by encouraging European historical archaeology students—both my own and others—to participate in SHA’s annual conferences as well as encouraging them to join the society as members. As an academic and a teacher I will continue to highlight the importance of global research collaboration and student exchange in order to help the society create a global historical archaeology network between SHA members. I will also emphasize the importance of international colleagues publishing their research in Historical Archaeology in order to consolidate its status as a leading journal in our field of study. I hope therefore to enable colleagues from different continents to access broader perspectives from different academic research traditions, and to potentially be able to ask different questions from our shared research data.

NOMINATIONS and ELECTIONS

Cipolla

Craig N. Cipolla

Present Position
Associate Curator of North American Archaeology, World Cultures Department, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario, Canada

Education
Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, 2010
M.A., Historical Archaeology (Anthropology), University of Massachusetts Boston, 2005
B.A., Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Boston, 2003

Professional Service to SHA
Terrestrial Program Co-Chair, 46th Annual Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology, 2013; Local Committee Member, 46th Annual Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology, 2013; Silent Auction Coordinator, 46th Annual Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology, 2013; Panelist, Student Subcommittee Forum on Employment in Historical Archaeology, 46th Annual Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology, 2013

Research Interests
Historical archaeology and anthropology; indigenous collaborative archaeology; New England; colonialism; reservation archaeology; archaeological theory

 Statement
In the broadest sense, my work explores colonialism and colonial heritage in northeastern North America. It examines these topics in regard to the long-term prehistory and history of Native North America, particularly the complicated intersection of coastal Algonquian societies and European newcomers. My research reconstructs processes of colonial entanglement and survival through analysis of archaeological, written, and spoken records. I am particularly interested in the ways in which prehistoric developments shaped colonial North America. In pursuing these themes, I strive to create new means of collaborating with descendant communities and other stakeholding publics in the present. This involves making the archaeological process more visible and relevant to those traditionally situated outside of academia while maintaining academic rigor.

I am committed to building and maintaining connections between historical archaeologists and a variety of other stakeholders. Key relationships to foster include those with indigenous and local communities, those with members of the “public,” and those with anthropologists and archaeologists working in a wide variety of temporal and geographical contexts around the globe.

Rivers-Colfield

Sara Rivers Cofield

Present Positions
Curator of Federal Collections, Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum; Adjunct faculty, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Education
M.A., Applied Anthropology, University of Maryland, College Park, 2002
B.A., History, Murray State University, 2000

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies
SHA Collections and Curation Committee, Member; SHA, SAA, the Council for Maryland Archaeology, the Middle Atlantic Archaeology Conference, and the Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology, Member

Research Interests
Promoting the study and use of existing archaeological collections; collections management; English-colonial material culture

Statement

I left fieldwork about 11 years ago to work full-time as a curator and collections manager for federally owned collections recovered in Maryland. I wanted to become a caretaker of collections instead of someone who generates them and then never sees them again. My goal is to be an archaeologist who fulfills the promise our discipline makes to the public when we pay to process, store, and maintain collections; that collections are still relevant and valuable for research long after the excavations are over.

My vision for the future of archaeology is one where collections repositories are more like libraries than warehouses, offering materials to expand knowledge and experience rather than just a final stop on the archaeology conveyor belt. I dislike the trend of treating artifacts as little more than illustrations and counts for reports because it compromises the value assemblages as long-term assets. Our credibility is undermined when we make decisions regarding site significance and artifact sampling without a thorough understanding of the collections we already have.

So far the best way I have found to pursue this vision has been to conduct collections-based research myself. Putting out journal articles and webpages on topics I find interesting, like spurs, sleeve links, and leather ornaments, is my way of communicating the usefulness of collections without lecturing about the curation crisis. SHA and other professional organizations must be integral to the effort, as they represent the interface between curators, academia, and the CRM world. If elected to the Nominations and Elections Committee, I will look for candidates who pursue research that incorporates existing collections, whether they use collections themselves, pursue collections-oriented creative mitigation, or teach the next generation to value artifacts long after the fieldwork is over.

ACUA BOARD of DIRECTORS

Langley

Susan B.M. Langley, Ph.D.

Present Position
Maryland State Underwater Archaeologist, Maryland State Historic Preservation Office (1994–present); and Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University and St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Education
B.A. cum laude Anthropology, 1980, Trinity College, University of Toronto; M.A. Archaeology, 1983 University of Calgary; Ph.D. Archaeology, 1994, University of Calgary; Certif. Heritage Resource Management, Environmental Design, 1990, University of Calgary. Certified Master Spinner, 1997, Olds College; Master Scuba Diver Trainer (PADI), Medic First Aid/Emergency First Responder Instructor (PADI), Oxygen Provider Instructor (DAN).

Major Professional Service
ACUA (2007–2011); SHA Conference Co-Chair (2012); SHA Governmental Affairs Committee (1997–present); SHA UNESCO Committee; SHA Nominations Committee (2004); SHA Underwater Program Co-chair (2003; 2012–present); SHPO representative to the U.S. Coast Guard Maryland and Potomac Area Committee for Emergency Response Contingency Plan/Regional Response Team III (1999–present); appointed to the Maritime Committee Executive of the Maryland Historical Society (2000–present); planned, organized and cohosted a Wooden Ships Conference (2001).

Research Interests
The effects of oil and hazardous material spills and related clean-up activities on submerged and littoral sites; identifying the origins of flint in ballast piles; tagging wreckage in littoral and coastal environments to track its movement over time; heritage legislation and law; historic and archaeological textiles and textile technology, and beekeeping in archaeological and current contexts

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

More than 20 years of state service have privileged me with both a depth of experience (regulatory, managerial, legislative, and empirical) and myriad opportunities for partnerships and projects to advance the standing of maritime archaeology and awareness of the significant issues and challenges it faces and which ACUA strives to address. Throughout these years I have participated successfully, in various capacities, on advisory councils (including ACUA and a NOAA Sanctuary Advisory Council), committees, and working groups from international to local endeavors involving multiple partners and stakeholders. In addition to educational and outreach activities engendered by my state position, teaching maritime archaeology at colleges and universities, as well as instructing scuba at these institutions and to the public at other facilities permits engaging diverse populations and encouraging their active and sustained involvement with the preservation and protection of humanity’s submerged patrimony.

If elected, what priorities would you emphasize taking into consideration
ACUA/SHA’s missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the
management and financial challenges of the Society?

In a previous term with ACUA, I was able to garner the support of the U.S. Coast Guard as well as the state of Maryland for ICUCH. Through the hard work of many individuals and organizations, with ACUA and SHA and their memberships in the forefront, ICUCH was ratified. While it is critical that the endeavors of these organizations continue through the UNESCO Committee and STAB, I believe it is time to add renewed domestic efforts to urge the creation of more underwater archaeologist positions in government at the state, provincial, or other regional division levels as appropriate for our membership.

A potential mechanism for aiding this is the global spotlight cast on the Gulf of Mexico by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The ACHP drafted the Programmatic Agreement on Protection of Historic Properties During Emergency Response Under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan in 1997 and both ACHP and the NCSHPO are signatory to the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for the Protection of Historic Properties During Federal Emergency Response. Spills in and around water fall generally under the U.S. Coast Guard and also the EPA depending on where the spill occurs and are usually addressed by a SHPO’s compliance staff. However, these are often not maritime archaeologists and in some states maritime archaeologists, where they exist, are not based in the SHPO. My program has been involved since 1999 and we have learned that most SHPOs have little to no involvement in contingency planning for emergency response and clean-up, do not attend exercises, and have no training in incident management. This disconnect is significant and since September 11, 2001, with the movement of the U.S. Coast Guard into the DHS, there is an increased demand for technical expertise and trained cultural resource specialists, especially for maritime resources that may be impacted by response to oil and hazardous material spills, as well as planning for responses to terrorism situations and natural disasters. Some of the latter are addressed by the state agencies equivalent to FEMA; in Maryland MEMA addresses storm-related flooding. With sea level rise and climate-related extreme weather increasing, more maritime archaeology specialists are needed. This situation is not unique to the U.S. but the Nationwide PA provides a starting point for having these needs recognized and building or rebuilding positions and employment opportunities for the upcoming generations of maritime archaeologists.

Therefore, my priorities are, to see more positions for maritime archaeologists, at all levels of government specifically but more generally as well; the active involvement of maritime archaeologists in emergency response and contingency planning, and the improvement of best practices through more effective application of extant legislation and regulations and by identifying and addressing gaps in protecting and managing the underwater cultural heritage.

Meniketti

Marco Meniketti, Ph.D., RPA

Present Position
Associate Professor Archaeology, San Jose State University; adjunct faculty, Texas A&M University, Department of Anthropology; Director, the Institute for Interdisciplinary Caribbean Studies

Biographical Statement
I have been active in archaeology for over thirty years. Beginning as a tech for the Nevada Department of Transportation, I have field experience in both terrestrial and maritime archaeology. In 1987 I cofounded the San Agustin Institute for Marine Archaeology specifically to provide an alternative on the west coast to treasure hunters seeking to exploit the submerged cultural resources of California. The Institute was at the forefront in California linking the sport diving community with maritime historic preservation in association with the Channel Islands National Park Service. That experienced enabled future development of a nonprofit institute, which I currently direct that has been a platform for field schools.

Before teaching at the university level I developed maritime archaeology with simulated shipwrecks in the classroom in middle schools to inspire student learning and to build an appreciation for shipwrecks as historical resources. I was trained in nautical archaeology at Texas A&M (INA) and since that time have participated in numerous maritime projects in Jamaica, Cayman, Nevis, Baja California, as well as terrestrial projects in Nevada, Michigan, and Nevis, West Indies. Current projects include the search for a 1576 Spanish galleon in Baja California, and pXRF investigation of ceramics associated with the 1595 wreck of the San Agustin.

I am an active member of the Society for Industrial Archaeology, Society for Historical Archaeology, Society for California Archaeology, and Society for American Archaeology and a member of the RPA since 1997. I have published in the proceedings of SHA and SCA, in IJHA, the SIA Journal, and in IJNA. My forthcoming book (University of Alabama Press) examines the role of maritime commerce in the Caribbean sugar industry. I was honored with the 2010 Vogel Prize for outstanding article in the Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology. I currently serve as chair of the Vogel Prize committee. I was elected a Fellow in the Explorers Club in 2012. As an academic advisor I am proud that two of my graduate students in the past four years have earned honors for Best Thesis of the College. My practical executive experience includes serving as Program Chair for the annual conference of the SIA in 2009, and Maritime Program Chair for the 2015 SHA. I am the 2015 editor for the Underwater Archaeology Proceedings.

I was hired at San Jose State with the stated mission to build the archaeological program and to introduce a maritime focus in historical archaeology. We initiated the California Maritime Cultural Landscape Project in 2012 with a modest grant from the College of Social Science. From this platform I forged links with the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory to train AAUS certified student divers. I was able to leverage my appearance on the National Geographic Channel production, Wicked Pirate City (about Port Royal, Jamaica), into building up a sizable maritime archaeology reference library on campus as I work to establish a program. I am a nominee for the 2015 College of Social Science Excellence in Teaching Award at San Jose State.

Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to ACUA if elected as a Board Member?

I am privileged and honored to be considered for the ACUA Board. My background in both maritime and terrestrial archaeology has allowed me to effectively navigate between academic, private CRM, and governmental archaeological practice for many years. If elected I would draw on my range of experiences to continue the work of previous ACUA boards to productively bridge the subfields of the discipline, especially at conferences. I believe I can contribute in a substantive way to the continued growth and professionalism of maritime archaeology by increasing the reach of ACUA in academic arenas, but also by fostering strong public outreach to increase the visibility of maritime archaeology’s positive impact on research and preservation issues. I would like to see greater participation of the maritime community beyond SHA. I feel it is important that we nurture in the public the same passion for maritime archaeology we harbor ourselves. I am gravely concerned that new technologies and various social media platforms are serving the interests of treasure hunters at the expense of heritage preservation. This is just one challenge which I feel the ACUA must confront. We cannot be satisfied with how far we have come, but must be outspoken on preservation, and vigilant in maintaining ethical standards. I very much take the long view and would like to explore new avenues for building secure financial strength for the ACUA in order to find ways to support promising student research projects. I am dedicated to the core principles and purpose of the ACUA and would be proud to work with my colleagues to further its mission.

Watkins Kenney

Sarah Watkins-Kenney

Present Position
QAR Lab Director/Chief Conservator, Office of State Archaeology, Queen Anne’s Revenge Conservation Laboratory, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

Education
Ph.D., Coastal Resources Management, East Carolina University (ABD–completion aim 2015)
M.A., Museum and Gallery Management, City University, London (with Distinction)
B.S. (Hons), Archaeological Conservation, University of Wales, College Cardiff

Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies
ACUA: Board member 2012–2015; attended all SHA conferences and ACUA Board meetings 2012–2015; gave talk on Conservation of Underwater Finds, at each of SHA/ACUA conference Underwater Cultural Heritage Resources Awareness workshops in 2013, 2014; and 2015;

SHA: Member; papers presented at 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015 annual conferences; consultant for SHA online Conservation FAQs and Facts;

IfA (Institute for Archaeologists, UK): Member (MIfA); Finds Group Committee member 1995–2001, Chair Finds Group 1999–2001; 2001 Standard and Guidance—Artifact and Environmental Study, Collection, Research and Conservation;

ICOM-CC WOAM (International Council of Museums Conservation Committee, Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Group): member; coorganizer of 11th Triennial Conference, Greenville, NC, 2010;

IIC International Institute for Conservation: member and Fellow (FIIC);

ICON (Institute for Conservation): member; Accredited Conservator-Restorer (ACR); Reader for CPD reviews 2012, 2013, 2014; Accreditation Committee 2000–2003; Chair Archaeology Section 1988–1991; Archaeology Section Committee 1983–1991; UK Portable Antiquities Recording Scheme training of finds officers 1995–2002; British Museum working party UK Treasure Act 1996 Code of Practice 1995–1996; UK Museums & Galleries Commission group Standards in the Museum Care of Archaeological Collections 1990–1992; English Heritage ‘Ginger Group’ for Provision for the Conservation of Waterlogged Structural Timbers in the UK 1990–1992

Research Interests
Conservation management of underwater cultural heritage; conservation of waterlogged wood with sucrose; 18th-century pewter; casks; history of archaeological conservation; preservation of archaeological evidence in situ versus ex situ; in situ monitoring and preservation of iron artifacts

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

If reelected to ACUA I would bring knowledge and experience gained as an archaeological conservator and manager in various organizations in the cultural heritage field since the 1970s. I have worked in the UK, Continental Europe, and the U.S., including for universities, local governments, national museums, state government, and on terrestrial and underwater excavations. Through my work experience I have gained understanding not only of conservation of archaeological materials from a range of burial environments but also of public management of archaeological conservation in different countries and organizational frameworks. Since joining the NC Office of State Archaeology’s Queen Anne’s Revenge Project in 2003, I have learnt how important partnerships and the public are to getting the job done. Over the years I have found that working in the public sector requires an understanding of the complexity of the management context. My Ph.D. research in the Coastal Resource Management Program at ECU is investigating conservation management of UCH from this perspective. I am a member of other professional conservation and archaeological organizations, including: Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation (FIIC); an Accredited Conservator-Restorer (ACR) of the Institute for Conservation (ICON, UK); and an accredited Member of the UK’s Institute for Archaeologists (MIfA); and a member of ICOM-CC WOAM Working Group. Through my professional, academic, and community work over the years I have experience of working with colleagues across disciplines but especially in conservation, archaeology, and museums. I have participated in: organizing conferences (most recently the ICOM-CC WOAM in 2010); development of standards and guidelines; getting legislation passed and put into practice; education and outreach to different audiences; training and continuing professional development. Overall, throughout my career I have endeavored to promote best practice and scholarship in relation to conservation of archaeological materials and sites.

If elected to serve ACUA, what priorities would you emphasize, taking into account SHA and ACUA’s missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the management and financial challenges of the Society?

I am proud to be invited to stand for reelection to ACUA and would welcome this opportunity to continue to give professional service through SHA and ACUA. If elected I would continue to seek opportunities to work in partnership with colleagues (professional, public, and political), in SHA, ACUA, and other professional organizations (conservation and archaeological, in the U.S. and beyond), to promote best practice in relation to archaeological investigation of underwater heritage and the conservation of archaeological materials, artifacts, and sites. One task in progress is a revision and expansion of the conservation information on the ACUA website. I would also like to continue to participate in the ACUA Underwater Cultural Heritage Resources Awareness workshops, for the last three of which I gave the talk “Conservation of Underwater Finds.” I would also like to work with colleagues, including in SHA and ACUA to improve and extend interdisciplinary training opportunities for archaeologists and archaeological conservators, for both land and marine sites. The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage provides a framework and baseline for good practice in preservation, management, scientific research, and public education; a task for ACUA is to continue to encourage and facilitate the turning of principles into practice.