SHA and ACUA Elections Candidates Slate 2023
SHA and ACUA Elections 2023 Candidates Biographic Statements
- SHA PRESIDENT
- TREASURER
- SHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
- ACUA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SHA President
Name: Audrey Horning
Present Position: Forrest D. Murden Jr. Professor and Chair, Department of Anthropology, William & Mary; Fellow, Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and Professor of Archaeology, Queen’s University Belfast
Education: PhD, Historical Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania 1995; MA, American Civilization, University of Pennsylvania 1990; BA Anthropology and History, William & Mary, 1989
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Member since 1990; Board of Directors 2018-2021; Conference Co-Chair and Terrestrial Program Co-chair, Leicester UK, 2013; Associate Editor, Historical Archaeology, 2004–present; Member, Awards Committee, 2014–2017; Elected Member, Nominations Committee, 2012–2014; Intersociety Relations Committee; 2001 John L. Cotter Awardee.
Other societies/ roles: Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology (SPMA): Council Member, 2000–2017; Officer roles include Monograph Editor, 2012–2017; Secretary, 2006–2012; Newsletter Editor, 2004–2006; Website Manager, 2002–2004. Irish Post-Medieval Archaeology Group (IPMAG): Co-founder and Committee member, 2001–present, Officer roles include Secretary, Newsletter Editor. British Academy: Member of Reflections on Archaeology (steering group), 2015–2017. Royal Irish Academy, Member of Archaeology Committee 2014-2016. University Archaeology UK (steering group): Elected Member, 2015–2016
Other Service: United Kingdom Research Excellence Framework 2020-2022 Sub-panel 15, Archaeology. Elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries London and the Society of Antiquaries Scotland. Advisory Board Kilmartin House Museum, Kilmartin Glen, Scotland. Advisory Board Durham Institute for Medieval and Modern Studies. Advisory Board, Literacy Interactives. Editor, Archaeological Dialogues. Associate Editor, Current Anthropology. Peer Review College, Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK) 2009-2016. External assessor, Fundaçao para a Ciência e a Technologia (Portugal) 2019-2022.
Research Interests: Comparative colonialism in the Atlantic world, engaged archaeology, integration of archaeology and conflict transformation, archaeological theory and ethics.
Biographical Statement:
I have been an active member of SHA since 1990 and I take the responsibility of a nomination for President very seriously because I understand the nature of the commitment. I have held a range of leadership positions, currently as chair of my department but previously as a member of senior management at Queen’s University Belfast as Head of the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, responsible for a multimillion-pound yearly budget, management of over 70 academic, technical, and professional services staff, and oversight of more than 500 students. Fundamental to my research practice is an inclusive, engaged approach, working with and for communities rather than on them. I have worked in this manner on both sides of the Atlantic—principally in the U.S., UK and Republic of Ireland—giving me insight into both the global expansion of the discipline as well as its diverse regional and national expressions. As a university academic, I have worked across disciplines including anthropology, history, geography and archaeology. I have also worked across sectors, for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, with the National Park Service, in private-sector cultural resource management, and with charitable organizations including the Corrymeela peace centre (Northern Ireland). In addition to my service with SHA, I have worked hard to develop historical archaeology on the island of Ireland as a founding member of the Irish Post-Medieval Archaeology Group, while also serving the UK-based Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology in various capacities as a Council member from 2000-2017. As conference co-chair for SHA’s second non-North American annual conference held in Leicester, England in 2013, we sought to expand understandings of practice and research on both sides of the Atlantic and well beyond, bringing together scholars from over 50 countries and reaching individuals who would not typically be involved with SHA. My research itself builds on this transatlantic perspective by engaging directly with the contested historical legacies of early modern European expansion, and working to integrate archaeological evidence with processes of conflict transformation and restorative justice.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
My transatlantic career has allowed me to engage not only with North American historical archaeology, but with the different contexts, forms of research, and development needs of Irish, British, and European postmedieval archaeology. I have recognized the shared colonial legacies that elevate the discipline in those countries to the detriment of others, and as a result, I have a deep commitment to broadening the discipline by acknowledging and addressing those legacies. I have seen firsthand how archaeology can play a critical role in contemporary conversations and conflict transformation, and as such I am very keen to see the society continue to develop its leading role in encouraging and facilitating ethical and community-inclusive practice. Given my background working across disciplines, in multiple countries, across sectors, and with a wide range of community partners, I believe I can bring a valuable perspective to help guide and expand the actions, concerns, and visibility of the society. Crucially, a society must be strong, healthy, and well-managed to achieve anything, and here I would draw usefully upon my considerable experience in institutional leadership and financial management to work productively with the Executive Office, the Board, the committees, and the membership as a whole.
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
My key priority is to help lead the continuing development of SHA as a body with a conscience, willing to step up and be seen and heard on matters of concern to our discipline, our members, our community partners, society at large, and to those long gone for whom we speak as archaeologists. In recent years the society has taken on more of an activist, outward-looking stance which I wholeheartedly support. To be successful in activism, however, also requires constant evaluation and self-critique, to transform the Society itself into a more inclusive, more diverse, and therefore more dynamic and relevant entity. Pragmatically, to achieve such transformation also requires that the society be well run and financially stable, thus able to take risks and develop new initiatives without fear of destabilization. That requires work to attract and retain members, enthuse members to be active and engaged, and to respond to members’ needs and interests in an inclusive, accessible, and nimble fashion. Like many in SHA, I believe that our work and our knowledge deserve greater external visibility and I would aim to continue to build a strong media presence alongside supporting and promoting the critical government advocacy work of the society.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
My practice as an archaeologist and scholar has always been oriented to social justice, whether it be integrating archaeology with conflict transformation and working to transcend the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland or working for and with descendant communities in North America, to challenge racism, oppression, and ongoing marginalization. Professionally, I have served in a range of DEIB&M roles, including on the university-level steering committee for Athena SWAN (which covered DEIB&M concerns) at Queen’s University Belfast and chairing the Anthropology Department Diversity committee at William & Mary. Experience, and listening and learning from others has instilled in me a cynicism about the performativity of institutional diversity regimes that serve only to reinforce structural inequality. Change comes only through self-knowledge, self-reflection, and self-critique. On a personal level, I acknowledge my own positionality as a white woman, and the attendant necessity of stepping aside, listening, and learning from others. Representing historical archaeology, SHA has a responsibility to continue to honestly address the many disciplinary legacies, practices, and unconscious biases that perpetuate white supremacy, Eurocentrism, patriarchy, and heteronormativity, among other inequities. Our very subject of study provides us with a formidable and highly relevant understanding of the origins of these biases, and it is incumbent upon us to deploy our knowledge as the basis for positive social action. As president, I will not only continue to support the many positive actions being taken by SHA (for example, anti-racism training and policies on harassment), I will work to encourage a constant culture of evaluation and honest critique, and a willingness to listen, to learn, and to change. I will also work across multiple constituencies to identify concrete actions to not only improve the society in the diversity of its membership, but crucially, to situate SHA as a visible and positive contributor to wider restorative justice efforts.
SHA Treasurer
Name: Kevin C. Bradley
Present Position: : Principal Investigator/Branch Manager, New South Associates, Inc.
Education: M.A., Public Anthropology, American University; B.A., History, University of Mary Washington
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: Fairfax County History Commission, Commissioner; Society for Historical Archaeology, Member; Society for American Archaeology, Member; Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference, Member; Council of Virginia Archaeologists, Member
Research Interests: Colonial archaeology, battlefield archaeology, archaeology of the Mid-Atlantic, urban archaeology, public outreach and engagement, GIS, human-animal relationships
Biographical Statement:
I’ve been a professional archaeologist for twelve years, primarily operating in the mid-Atlantic. My experience includes public-facing programs and regulatory work, but the bulk of my career has been spent in CRM. The last 10 years I was employed by several CRM companies between Pennsylvania and Virginia, including my current employer, New South Associates, Inc. since 2017. In 2021, I was responsible for managing NSA’s expansion into Virginia and today I serve as Principal Investigator and Branch Manager for the Virginia office in Fairfax County. My responsibilities as the lead in the Virginia office include managing a variety of projects for private clients to state and federal agencies to their successful completion, balancing the economic constraints of contract work with the ethical and professional obligations of cultural resource management. Ensuring the mental, personal, and physical well-being of my staff is also a responsibility I consider of upmost importance. With the support of NSA, I strive to create an environment in CRM that supports both professional and personal fulfillment, ultimately leading to rewarding and long-lasting careers.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
If elected, I believe I could contribute to SHA in several ways. First and foremost, I understand the benefits that membership in SHA provides, not only for the society itself, but for the individual archaeologist. Having been one of only two archaeologists to graduate from my master’s program in a graduating year, I am familiar with the value that professional organizations possess in creating a community of support for new professionals in the field – a value that I would champion to prospective members.
As a Principal Investigator and Branch Manager, I am also intimately aware of the financial aspects of conducting cultural resource management in today’s economic climate. As acknowledged throughout the industry, the economic and human resource challenges faced by companies and professionals alike are increasing as the demand for our services is rising. I am responsible for balancing the needs of clients, ensuring the long-term financial health of my branch, and attracting and retaining qualified and highly skilled professionals. When done successfully, not only is the industry stronger, but the preservation of our cultural heritage on the whole benefits. I believe the perspective my role provides would prove beneficial to the society and its members
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
Membership. Accomplishing the stated strategic goals of SHA is challenging without a diverse and engaged membership. That is why I consider working to expand membership in SHA a top priority and one that I would emphasize if elected. An increase in membership, however, would theoretically follow from an increase in professionals, which is why I would encourage and support programs that grow our field by educating and training archaeologists.
Professional Development. I believe a critical aspect in developing professional archaeologists, however, is understanding the incentives or roadblocks of choosing or continuing this career path. Much has been written and debated on the reason why the CRM industry alone is facing a crucial labor shortage over the next decade. As SHA treasurer, I would emphasize fully engaging in this debate and taking steps to address the identified disincentives.
Economics and Advocacy. Personally, I have witnessed the challenges of retaining dedicated and skilled archaeologists who find the financial burdens of progressing in the field untenable. I believe that personal economics is one of the largest factors in an individual’s decision to enter or remain in the field. As treasurer, I would encourage SHA to prioritize efforts in better understanding the root cause of financial strains placed on prospective or new archaeologists. This would likely include conducting outreach and advocacy at various levels of government, educational institutions, and in our own ranks.
Fiscal Responsibility. As treasurer, my most significant priority is to ensure the financial health of the organization. While I consider the priorities stated above as worthy causes that I hope to purse, ultimately, the main role of the treasurer is to provide a complete and transparent accounting of SHA’s finances and ensure the organization’s long-term success – a goal I am very much committed to.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
Archaeology is continually diversifying in terms of professionals and subject areas, creating a more inclusive and equitable understanding and retelling of our past. Likewise, SHA strives to become an ever more welcoming organization, representing diversity of ethnicity, indigeneity, gender identities, religion, sexual orientation, and economic position. I am fully committed to these values and would embrace the spirit of inclusivity as an officer in SHA.
SHA Board of Directors
Name: Joe Bagley
Present Position: City Archaeologist and Director of Archaeology, Boston Archaeology Program
Education: M.A., Historical Archaeology, UMass Boston; B. A., Archaeology, Boston University
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Co-Chair, SHA 2020 Annual Conference; member, Conference Committee 2018-Present
Other societies: Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Member, Member of the Board of Directors, 2012-2015; Member, Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology (Past).
Research Interests: Community archaeology, urban archaeology, public archaeology, historical archaeology, Northeastern U.S., Boston, lithic studies, ceramic analysis, digital archaeology, engagement and publicity, climate change impacts on archaeological sites
Biographical Statement:
I have been the City Archaeologist of Boston since 2011, and also the Director of Archaeology for the City since 2020. Prior to my current position, I spent a decade working in CRM, including roles at two SHPO offices (Maine Historic Preservation Commission and Massachusetts Historical Commission), and field technician roles in CRM firms working in New England and Florida. As City Archaeologist, I have worked to make public community archaeology a respected, trusted, and highly visible part of Boston’s landscape through community-led excavations, publications, open laboratories, exhibits, digital archaeology, and press opportunities. I have also pivoted the program towards the uplifting of underrepresented histories through urban archaeology by securing grant funding to coordinate a multi-disciplinary Native-led documentation of eroding archaeological sites on the Boston Harbor Islands and in the creation of the permanent Slavery in Boston exhibit in Faneuil Hall. Throughout this work, I have fostered a decade-long relationship with local Native communities and am actively working towards greater collaboration and co-management of projects and landscapes between tribal groups and municipal government.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
With over two decades of CRM and municipal archaeological experience, I am a technically competent field archaeologist with a full understanding of the varied challenges encountered by my colleagues at the field technician, project archaeologist, collections manager, and principal investigator position on sites spanning rural to urban conditions in multiple climate zones in the US. I think it is critical that the board consists of archaeologists with extensive field experience, mastery of material cultural identifications, and a wide-ranging understanding of the challenges our colleagues face in the field, laboratory, and office.
In my roles in the Massachusetts and Maine SHPO offices as well as my ongoing work as City Archaeologist, I will bring over a decade of experience reviewing projects, determining appropriate mitigation, and working directly with stakeholders spanning property owners, developers, descendant communities, regulators, and neighbors. It is important for the SHA board to have representation of government archaeologists who are at the front lines of threats to archaeological sites, have significant experience tackling the challenge of enforcing archaeological mitigation in a fair and meaningful way, and actively work to avoid the real and present threat of deregulation.
I work closely with a diverse range of communities, press, and archaeologists. These individuals possess widely varied experiences and archaeological literacy, and I have successfully found ways to communicate our work, build archaeological literacy, and help my colleagues refine their field and analytical skills. The SHA board will benefit from more members with the ability to communicate equally effectively with professional colleagues and the general public, and a person who actively works to build the skills of early career archaeologists.
My presence on the SHA board will bring a person who has a diverse background in professional archaeology as well as a deep understanding of the challenges faced by our colleagues, our profession, and our many opportunities to be relevant and contributing components of our society’s ongoing challenges.
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
In my extensive time at the entry levels of CRM, academic, and government archaeology, I have personally experienced the injustice of low wages, dangerous working conditions, abuse, and toxic work cultures that exist within our professional community. The SHA and its board should be an amplifying voice for those of our community who feel the least able to speak up about working conditions and the challenges faced by our early career colleagues. It is also imperative that the SHA board creates a proactive culture of intolerance towards— and an unflinching and immediate response to— any threats to the safety or well being of our members from other members, the public, or employers due to racism, sexism, abuse, intolerance, and other threats.
Never before have the public and other archaeologists been more interested in the diverse personal stories, the unwritten histories, and the silenced voices we encounter and celebrate. That said, our professional community has a lot of work to do to make our field accessible at a professional level to a more diverse pool of individuals. While I have had many unearned privileges, I have also had to overcome many limitations as a first-gen student from a low-income family living in a rural part of the US. Now in my current role, I strive to help lift up others through our excavations and public interpretations. I believe the SHA board should do everything in its powers to expand the opportunities for increased socio-economic diversity in archaeology, promote mentorship, encourage members to grow their outreach abilities, and break down barriers.
As co-chair of the 2020 SHA Conference, I know the role conferences play in the financial viability of the SHA. I have also been unable to afford conferences or be able to be away from home due to family issues. The SHA faces opportunities and challenges around the sustainability and evolution of its conference. In my service to the SHA, I will bring this personal experience to the review and consideration of new and existing means to increase the accessibility of the Society’s annual meeting.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
I am deeply committed to DEIB&M. These issues have created the many gaps in our collective Story that have helped make historical archaeology relevant, interesting, and significant to ourselves and others—but these same issues have directly impacted who is doing archaeology. I am committed to DEIB&M both as a means to ensure greater diversity among the stories uncovered in archaeology and as a long-needed part of the continuity and strength of our professional community.
Name: Allison Bain
Present Position: Professor of Archaeology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
Education: Honours BA, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, M.Sc. University of Sheffield, England, Ph.D. Université Laval, Canada, Post-doctoral fellow, Fiske Center University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: 2002-2010 Québec Coordinator for the SHA Bulletin, 2014 SHA Terrestrial Programme Organizer, Conference Committee member, Plenary Session Chair.
Other societies: Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology (CNEHA), Board Member 2008-2013, CNEHA Conference Chair 2009, Editorial Committee Northeast Historical Archaeology (2013-2016), student paper prize committee (2009-2014); Canadian Archaeological Association, member Weetakluk prize committee (2014, 2015, 2017, 2021); Scientific advisor, Archéolab project, Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archaeology (2018-2019); Committee member, Centre for the Interpretation of Urban life in Québec City (2010-2015)
Community volunteer service: Citadel Foundation, Board Member (2017-2023), President of the Education Committee (2020-present)
Université Laval: Director of CELAT Research Centre (2010-2011, 2019-2020), University Research Commission member (2005-2008), CELAT Research Centre Board of Directors (2010-2012, 2013-2014, 2020-2022), Departmental Council member (2004-2006, 2009-2013) Archaeology Programme Director (2021-2022), Archaeology Programme Committee member (2006-2008, 2013-2020), EleV Indigenous Educational Programme Committee member and Archaeology Codirector (2021-present).
Research Interests: Environmental Archaeology, Field School Pedagogy, Indigenous-centred archaeologies, Historical Archaeologies of Northeastern North America and the Caribbean
Biographical Statement:
I am a professor of archaeology at Université Laval in Québec where I have taught since 2002. I am also the director of the Laboratory of Environmental Archaeology (2003-present) which was, until recently, the only North American laboratory that specialized in both archaeoentomology and archaeobotany. I have taught Université Laval’s historical archaeology field school since 2003 and became director in 2006. In 2019, I also took over the Directorship of the Archaeometry Research Group for which I am the Principal Investigator on our grant. This is a Québec-based network of 14 researchers based in four universities along with the Waban-aki First Nation. I was director of the CELAT research centre at Université Laval for two years and for the last 20 years I have also run a Friday afternoon speaker series, Les archéo-vendredis, where we celebrate the scholarship of our students and invite guest lectures to present their work.
I have several areas of interest. My laboratory research focuses on human-environmental interactions in Northeast and the Caribbean using the methodologies of environmental archaeology. I am also interested in the archaeology of rural landscapes around the Québec City region (18th and 19th centuries) which I explore via the annual field school excavations. Over the last five years I have developed research and training collaborations with two Indigenous communities in the province of Québec, and am currently developing, with our First Nations training office and Indigenous students in the archaeology programme, a training programme designed for Indigenous community members.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
As a bilingual (English and French) Canadian archaeologist with considerable international exposure, I will bring international perspective to the SHA Board. Over the last forty years, I have had the opportunity to do field work on large teams in Canada (Ontario, Québec, Territory of Nunavut), the Caribbean and French Guyana, while my research collaborations span Greenland, Iceland, Canada, France, and the United States. I have worked in both field and laboratory settings in pre-contact, historical and environmental archaeology – my enthusiasm for and experience – working in diverse and often multilingual teams makes me a good collaborator. In addition, the experience of running archaeological projects and leading our field school, directing both a large research centre and a research team, and sitting on several different university and community committees annually has provided me with a broad range of administrative experiences and governance practices. These experiences reinforce my commitment to governance grounded in transparency and collegiality.
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
As I have learned, taught and conducted research in my second language since 1995, I am sensitive to the importance of continually expanding SHA membership beyond a primarily anglophone base, and believe we should continue to encourage scholarship and inclusion of community members that do not have English as their primary language. If elected I hope to work on the Journal and Co-Publications Editorial Advisory Committee.
As an educator and field school director, I strongly believe in the importance of public outreach to all communities as a means to educate and encourage relationships with the past in all its forms. I would be interested in working with both the UNESCO and the Public Education and Interpretation Committees. I would endeavour to enhance participation and collaborations that foster involvement and training opportunities with members of Indigenous, minority and descendant communities.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
I have had access to the privileges accorded to me as a white woman working in academia for much of my adult life. Different communities in the Academy may experience both systemic and structural barriers based on their gender expression, ethnicity, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds and sexual orientation – we do not all share the same educational experience on university campuses. In my work, I attempt to dismantle some of these barriers, prioritizing inclusivity in supporting students and colleagues who have not been afforded the privileges I have been. For example, in my university service work, I regularly volunteer for committees where I think my contribution can help promote diversity in all of its forms (for example BOD memberships, hiring committees). As the archaeology programme director and as field school director school, I often guide students in order to access resources and services that impact many aspects of their lives (sexual orientation, gender expression, socio-economic challenges, mental health services). Finally, in the region where I live, First Nations communities are often excluded from archaeology and I have chosen to prioritize this issue in my work. Over this past year, I helped initiate a discussion group for Indigenous students in our programme in order to critically examine our programme’s content. I am also developing curricula with Indigenous community members in order to train Indigenous archaeologists as a tool of both cultural empowerment and heritage management. I believe that diversity is important as the richness of diverse lived experiences translates into environments where differing perspectives and experiences enhance both learning and community building.
Name: Stephen A. Mrozowski
Present Position: Distinguished Professor of Anthropology; Director, Fiske Center for Archaeological Research, University of Massachusetts Boston
Education: BA History/Anthropology, University of Rhode Island; MA, Anthropology, Brown University; PhD, Anthropology, Brown University
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: I have organized countless sessions for the SHA annual meetings and helped organizing the 1985 SHA meetings in Boston, the 2003 SHA meetings in Providence, Rhode Island, as well as the 2020 SHA meetings in Boston.
Other societies: I have served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Historical Archaeology since 2000; Was part of organizing group of the Conference on New England Archaeology in the 1980s
Research Interests: Historical Archaeology, Indigenous collaboration, community-engaged research, urban archaeology, environmental archaeology, social theory
Biographical Statement:
I attended my first SHA meeting in 1976 when I was employed at what was then The Public Archaeology Lab at Brown University. I attended Brown University where I received my MA in 1981 and PhD in 1987. I served as Boston’s first City Archaeologist (1983-1985) and then worked for the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service where I served as the Co-PI (with Mary Beaudry, Boston University) of the Lowell Archaeological Survey 1987-1990. In 1987 I joined the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Boston. I have spent my entire academic career at UMass Boston where I also serve as the director of the Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research that was established in 2000. Most of my research has focused on New England with a particular focus on urban archaeology. Early in my career I focused primarily on the transformation of New England’s urban communities between the 18th and early 20th century. My chief interest was household archaeology including the gendered economics of household life and biological dimensions of class structures. My work in Lowell, Massachusetts has continued with additional field work done in 1996-1997, and now again in 2022. I have carried out field work and research in the Chesapeake Region, including at Jamestown and in Williamsburg. In the early millennium I began work at Sylvester Manor, a 17th century provisioning plantation on Shelter Island, New York, that relied upon enslaved African and Indigenous labor. Over the past 20 years I have worked with the Hassanamisco Nipmuc of Massachusetts in developing a pragmatically framed, collaborative examination of Nipmuc history. I was one of the co-authors of the recently published book Historical Archaeology and Indigenous Collaboration, (University of Florida Press 2020) that summarizes this work and won the Scholarly Book of Year Award for the Society for American Archaeology in 2021.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
The word that most comes to mind is experience. In the course of my career, I went from a field tech/field supervisor role for a fledgling Public Archaeology Laboratory at Brown University, to a City Archaeologist, National Park Service archaeologist, to a university-based, full professor. Along that way I have consistently sought to promote an archaeology that was methodologically rigorous, interdisciplinary archaeology that seeks to address issues of social relevancy. That same experience has allowed me to examine the interwoven histories of European colonists, enslaved Africans, and Indigenous communities who have survived a continuing colonialism. My work with enslaved African descendent groups and Indigenous communities brings with it an appreciation and commitment to collaborative, community-based archaeology. The SHA has always been open to diverse forms of archaeology and the different forms of employment that archaeology takes today. There was a time when the value of CRM archaeology was called into question, but the SHA has created a space where all are welcome. I would like to see that same commitment to inclusion extended to collaborators and stake holders who are not as trained archaeologists. Archaeology is better when it involves the people whose histories we seek to rediscover and all histories are important. My long commitment to the importance of Historical Archaeology has not waivered, but the growth of collaborative and community-based research has contributed to an even greater commitment to opening the discipline and broadening its diversity. That diversity is the key to the field’s future in my estimation.
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
The emphasis that the SHA places on inclusion is critical in archaeology today for the well-being of the field and its practitioners. I would like to see the society broaden its commitment to improving the lives of archaeologists working in the private and public sector. This commitment comes from the many conversations with graduate students and young professionals who face real challenges in wanting to realize their goals of maintaining their careers as archaeologists. I would also emphasize the importance of fostering a commitment to community-based archaeology and its importance at universities, federal and state agencies and organizations and in the private sector where many archaeologists work. Often community-based research is stressed by employers, but that doesn’t always translate into real support or actual appreciation for the value of this work. This is particularly true at universities where tenure decisions can sometime hinge on accepting such research as worthy of recognition. Similar issues exist in both government and CRM contexts and the SHA can help by continuing to promote the importance of heritage-based work. I also hope to expand the field’s commitment to collaboration with descendant communities including their role in heritage work at all levels of the discipline. One of the most important parts of that commitment is to stress the value of good writing practices. The importance of reaching the public has always been an important facet of Historical Archaeology especially within the space that SHA creates. Nothing is more important than expanding opportunities for all who seek careers in archaeology. Diversity has never been a hallmark of archaeology, but thankfully that is changing, and I would like to see the SHA continue its work on expanding opportunity and creating a safe space for everyone. We live in a world where institutions that “talk the talk” don’t always “walk the walk” and I would hope to see the SHA continue to build inclusion and equity both for archaeologists and their allies and collaborators.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
I believe that from diversity comes strength and well-being. People bring a wide array of experiences to their work and these experiences brings breadth and depth to any organization. As the field continues to grow it must continue its commitment to inclusion and equity. Those seeking careers in the field need to know that the society that represents them is committed to creating and maintaining a safe space for all. I can think of no greater goal for the SHA.
Name: Carolyn White
Present Position:Professor of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno
Education: Ph.D., Boston University, Archaeology; Certificate in Museum Studies, Boston University; B.A., Oberlin College, Archaeological Studies
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: Chair of Academic and Professional Training Committee (2016-2021), Chair of Student Paper Competition (2013-2019), Associate Editor, Historical Archaeology (2016-present), Member of Academic and Professional Training Committee (2010-2014; 2021-present); Steering Committee Contemporary and Historical Archaeology and Theory Member (2014-present)
Research Interests: : North America, Europe, Japan; material culture; contemporary archaeology; household archaeology; museum studies; cultural heritage studies; landscape archaeology; identity, individual, and group affiliation; method and theory in archaeology; 17th-21st century
Biographical Statement:
I am honored to be nominated to the SHA Board. I am Professor of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno where I hold the Mamie Kleberg Chair and direct programs in Museum Studies and Historic Preservation.
My research and teaching focuses on cultural heritage, the materiality of daily life, and the built environment in the recent past and present. I have studied numerous archaeological sites in the mainland US, Hawaii, England, Japan, and Germany and now work within the context of contemporary and active site archaeology. I have written books and articles on topics ranging from the intersection of art and archaeology, the ephemerality of artist studios, the materiality of individual lives, the built environment of Black Rock City, and the archaeology of the present. My most recent books are The Archaeology of Burning Man (University of New Mexico Press 2020) and The Archaeology of Place and Space in the West (University of Utah Press, 2022), which I co-edited with Emily Dale.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
I have been a member of the Society for Historical Archaeology since my days as a very green graduate student and have enjoyed working with the society for nearly thirty years now. I chaired the Academic and Professional Training Committee between 2016 and 2021 and have been a member of that committee since 2010. As an academic who has the privilege of advising and teaching undergraduate and graduate students in both theoretically-oriented and practice based courses, I am cognizant of the many needs of students who are moving into the profession. Students’ needs are constantly evolving, as is the world these students enter when they complete their degrees. Increasing student involvement is critical to the health and vitality of the organization and has been a focus of mine over the course of my professional career. As someone who works in many regions and over many time periods, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the expansion of historical archaeology around the world and think that it is vital to continue to raise the profile of the SHA as historical archaeology spreads further through archaeological communities.
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
As a member of the SHA Board, my top priority will be student engagement. Students are the lifeblood of our organization, and engaged students are future active professional members. Increasing and fostering student participation in all aspects of historical archaeology at conferences is one of the most important things the SHA can do. I will prioritize affordable conference fees, workshops, and roundtables and will work with conference organizers and student members to schedule formal and informal training, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Further, it is important to me that multiple tracks of professional employment are emphasized and valued: academic, CRM, federal and state agency, local government, museum, and private sector. It is critical that the SHA be a place that welcomes and encourages students from all backgrounds, regions, and research interests.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
As a board member, I will maintain my ongoing commitment to promoting diversity in all of its forms in all of my actions and activities and will pursue increased diversity within the SHA at all levels. A key role for the board is to identify individuals that are underrepresented in SHA and encourage wider participation, and in particular I will focus on student membership and leadership roles. Further, the blend of professionals from the CRM community, public facing positions in local, state, and federal government, and academic contexts is an essential strength of SHA membership and outreach to each of these communities is key to increasing DEIB&M efforts. I would like to see the leadership of SHA reflect the varied makeup of professional roles that make our organization both strong and relevant.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
Name: Mia L. Carey
Present Position: GMAC Chair
Education: PhD, Anthropology, University of Florida (’17); MA, Anthropology, University of Florida (’14), Interdisciplinary Certificate and Concentration in Historic Preservation, University of Florida (’14); Dual BA, Anthropology and Sociology, Howard University (’11)
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: GMAC Member (2012-Present); GMAC Chair (2020-Present); Academic and Professional Training Committee;
Other societies: Society for Black Archaeologists
Other service: Previously served on the “Documenting Sites and Landscapes in the Chesapeake Watershed Important to African Americans” Advisory Committee
Research Interests: 19th century African American Life and Culture; Islam in the Black Experience; zooarchaeology; critical race theory; anti-racism, anti-bias, and anti-discrimination; Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Biographical Statement:
Mia L. Carey, PhD founded Unearthing Our Past Consulting, LLC, (UOP) in 2021, which sits at the intersection of anthropological archaeology and inclusion, equity, belonging, and mattering (IEB&M) UOP serves as a resource for those looking to engage in difficult conversations about race, racism, and white supremacy in archaeology, public history, and museums. Dr. Carey is a trained IEB&M consultant and has been working in that space since 2017.
Before establishing UPO, Dr. Carey was the Mellon Humanities Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement with the National Park Service. In this position she gained collaborative and transformational leadership experience by guiding and supporting IEB&M best practices via webinars, workshops, and informal distance learning programs. Prior to this fellowship, Dr. Carey served in various positions with the NPS including the Acting Civil War to Civil Rights National Coordinator; a position in which she coordinated a nation-wide digital community of practice focused on weaving the excluded past into the national narrative; collaborating across parks, partners, and programs; activating the unique power of place to foster understanding, healing, and change; and supporting the holistic development and retention of a healthy workforce.
Her dissertation, “How Religion Preserved the Man: Exploring the History and Legacy of African Islam through the Yarrow Mamout (c.a. 1736-1823) Archaeology Project” examined the ways whiteness and white supremacy worked to silence the narratives and experiences of African Muslims through the archaeological and documentary record. The D.C. based project was the first known to investigate property of an emancipated African Muslim. She continues to research and present on this topic.
She currently serves as the Principal Investigator for the New York African Burial Ground Archaeological Overview and Assessment and works full time as an Education and Training Specialist (Racial Equity) for the District of Columbia.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
As an archaeologist and an IEB&M consultant, I occupy a unique position. I understand the strengths and opportunities that the discipline has, and I believe that I can leverage my unique position and expertise to aid the organization to continue working toward eradicating racism, sexism (including sexual harassment), and other forms of bias and discrimination. I believe that as archaeologists in the 21st century, especially working in the post-2020 era, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure that academia; CRM; our hiring, promotion, and retention practices; fieldwork; and training are free from bias and discrimination of all forms and that everyone regardless of their identity can be and feel welcomed, supported, valued, and respected.
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
I would uplift Principle 5 of our SHA Ethics, which currently is our only ethics principle that explicitly calls on us to adhere to zero tolerance against all forms of discrimination in harassment. Though I am particularly interested in racial discrimination, I believe that as an organization we need to focus more on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and disability-based discrimination. I wholeheartedly believe that we need to see more diversity in leadership across the board, but I think that we need to think beyond just race and ethnic diversity. We have a good number of members who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and some who identify as a person with a disability—we need their voices to be heard.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
I believe that the work of anti-racism, anti-bias, and anti-discrimination begins within individuals rather than at the organizational or institutional level. My work with the Gender and Minority Affairs Committee as been building up over the last several years to identify our strengths and challenges ( through the diversity audit and climate survey) so that GMAC can begin offering more opportunities for our members to authentically engage in conversations around IEB&M. As my statements above demonstrate, I am deeply committed to IEB&M in my personal and professional life.
Name: Mary Furlong Minkoff
Present Position: Current position is Assistant Director of Archaeology & Curator of Archaeological Collections at James Madison’s Montpelier in Orange, VA. I will be in this position until June 30, 2023 and will begin as Executive Director of the Florida Public Archaeology Network in August 2023.
Education: Ph.D., University of Maryland (Anthropology);M.A., University of West Florida (Historical Archaeology); B.A., University of Mississippi (Anthropology and History)
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: 2021 Conference Terrestrial Program Chair; Member of SHA Collections and Curation Committee and Public Education and Interpretation 2016-present
Other societies: Currently on the SEAC Conference Planning Committee for the 2024; SAA Excellence in Public Education Awards Committee 2021-2023
Other service: Board Member Orange County African American Historical Society 2022-Present
Research Interests: Community Based Archaeology, Public Archaeology & Education, Sensory Archaeology, Plantation Archaeology, Archaeology of Emancipation, Spanish Colonial Archaeology
Biographical Statement:
Mary Furlong Minkoff is the incoming Executive Director of the Florida Public Archaeology Network (beginning August 2023). From 2015-2023, she worked at James Madison’s Montpelier as the Curator of Archaeological Collections and became the Assistant Director of Archaeology in 2021.
While at Montpelier, Mary oversaw the Montpelier’s Public Archaeology Laboratory, LEARN Expedition programs, and curated multiple exhibitions including the multi-award winning Mere Distinction of Colour. As part of the Montpelier Archaeology Department, Mary was a co-award recipient for the 2023 SHA Daniel G. Roberts Award for Excellence in Public Archaeology, which recognized the department’s role in the achievement of parity with the Montpelier Descendants Committee, which made Montpelier the first presidential plantation to be co-stewarded with descendants of the enslaved, two decades of close collaboration with descendants of the enslaved, immersive public programming, and training of students in public and community engaged archaeology.
Before coming to Montpelier, Mary spearheaded several community engaged archaeological programs in Mid-Atlantic, including Fort Ward in Alexandria, Virginia and the creation of the Urban Archaeology Corps in Washington, DC. At Fort Ward, she collaborated with The Fort/Seminary African American Descendant Society in to uncover the archaeology and memories of the African American communities surrounding the Civil War Defenses of Washington, which resulted in several co-authored pieces with the Descendant Society’s President Adrienne Terrell-Washington. As the archaeologist for the flagship Urban Archaeology Corps program, Mary designed and led the National Park Service’s first youth employment program that focused on providing employment opportunities in cultural resources for urban youth.
Throughout her career, Mary has worked in nearly every type of archaeological environment, including museums, academic institutions, private CRM firms, and government offices. Recently she applied this variety of experiences to serve as the Interim Director of the Cultural Heritage Resources Management graduate program at the University of Maryland.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to SHA if elected?
I have been a member of SHA since 2006. This has allowed me not only to observe, but to participate in the organization as it has embraced the role of archaeology and archaeologists to have a voice in important issues facing the world including climate change, racial inequality, and the legacy of colonialism. Whether it was participating in the first anti-racism training ever offered by GMAC or creating sessions at the annual meeting where descendant collaborators spoke for themselves about their experiences with archaeology, I found small ways I could facilitate the forward progress of the organization and the discipline, particularly in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, racial justice, and community engagement. If elected, I would continue my efforts in these areas and would have a platform to increase my impact.
In addition, having spent the majority of my career outside of academia, I would contribute an understanding of how SHA could better recruit and serve archaeologists working outside of the traditional university system. Although the majority of archaeologists work outside of academia and this number is likely to go up following the passage of legislation like the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (USA), they are not proportionally represented in our organization. Likewise, I believe it is important to find pathways for community members, particularly tribal members and descendants, for and about whom are archaeological research is conducted, to participate fully in the archaeological process. This includes, but is not limited to, publishing (with full credit) their findings.
If elected, to serve on the nominations committee I would work to find candidates that are developing creative solutions to break down barriers of accessibility on all fronts. By increasing accessibility for one group, such as non-academic archaeologists, we will also remove barriers for other groups, such as descendant collaborators.
If elected to serve SHA, what priorities would you emphasize?
If elected to serve on the SHA nominations committee, I would emphasize recruiting candidates for leadership that represent both the current and aspirational diversity of archaeologists within the organization and the discipline as a whole. In order to increase diversity within SHA and the discipline, it is important to diversify the leadership. A diverse board would help put forth policies and programs that will recruit, support, and mentor new members and archaeologists.
This diversity should reflect the wide variety of careers and institutions archaeologists work, particularly those outside of traditional academia, including government institutions, private CRM firms, museums, non-profit organizations, and community colleges, the countries in which historical archaeologists work, particularly those outside of North America, and variety of identities of archaeologists, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, and economic status.
In addition, I would prioritize ways to make archaeology, SHA, and the annual meeting more accessible. This would include recognizing the barriers that prevent the public and young archaeologists from pursuing archaeological knowledge and careers, as well as thinking creatively about how to remove or reduce these barriers. This would include seeking the expertise of organizations, such as the Society for Black Archaeologists and Disabled Archaeologists Network, and SHA members who have successfully done this work.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
To demonstrate my commitment DEIB&M in the field of archaeology I will describe my work with the Urban Archaeology Corps in Washington, DC (2012-2015) and how these experiences shape my approach to teaching, research, and public engagement.
As the Project Archaeologist for the Urban Archaeology Corps (UAC), a youth employment program that engages urban youth in urban parks through cultural resources work. The goals of the program were to prepare participants for careers in NPS and cultural resources by conducting real archaeological and historical research, while creating avenues for the youth to “speak back” about the needed improvements for make both the parks and NPS as a whole more inviting to diverse communities. As the Project Archaeologist, my job was to design and run a program that would meet these goals.
I quickly learned, that in order to meet the goals of the program I needed to first meet the basic needs of the participants. During the four years I oversaw the UAC program in Washington, DC participants came from the poorest and most violent areas of the region. In addition, the majority of participants were African American or Latinx immigrants. From the first week of the program, it became obvious that the NPS staff and I had underestimated the resources and support the participants would need to be successful within the program. Much of this because we had made assumptions based on our own teenage experiences, growing up as white women in the suburbs. The three biggest challenges that affected the participants and therefore the success of the program were food, transportation, and safety.
The first problem, I had to address was the food insecurity. Because, the UAC involved physically draining work during the hot summer months, lack of food and water was dangerous for the participants. In the short term, I took regular trips to the Subway or Dominos to “treat” all the participants with a “special lunch” as to not draw attention to the participants who I knew didn’t have food that day. However, by the second year, I worked with NPS staff to make sure all the UAC participants could pick up free lunches every day from the Park Headquarters through DC’s Summer Meals Program. This embedded access to free food into the structure of the program.
The second problem, was that many participants did not have reliable transportation. In order to alleviate this, the UAC provided participants with funded Metro Cards. Because most of DC’s parks are accessible by either metro rail or bus, we were able to provide funds for the participants to get to the park or any of our program’s research trips to libraries, museums, and archaeological sites. However, during the first year, the classroom space provided for us was two miles from the park’s entrance and nearest metro station. Again, short term solutions like driving participants in my personal vehicle, were a patch until we could develop a long term solution, which was to move to a nearby park with a classroom that was accessible by bus.
Finding ways to keep the participants safe proved to be the most difficult challenge. For many of the participants their homes and neighborhoods were very unsafe places. Therefore it was important that they were safe during the program. One way I worked to do this was by making myself and the UAC a fixture in the neighbor surrounding the park. I intentionally drew attention to myself by wearing bright colored polo shirts with the program’s insignia. This inspired strangers to stop me and ask me what I was doing and about the program. I frequented local business, often with the program participants, and worked with local community organizations on small projects, like cleaning a public garden space, to make visible contributions to the neighborhood.
The next way I tried to keep the participants safe was to provide support for them outside of the confines of the program. This required building trusting relationships in which I was not only available to them when they reached out, but that I made the effort to stay connected to them. These open lines of communication and support continues to today. Most recently I served as a character reference for a former participant to take the Washington, DC Bar Exam.
Despite these efforts, I was not able to keep all of the participants safe. During the 2015 UAC program, I received a phone call that one of the 2014 participants had been shot and was in the hospital. While I scrambled to find the words to share this information with his friends and fellow UAC participants, I realized the immense dangers that these young people faced on a daily basis, and though he survived, the kind of tragic loss that they were too familiar. This experience solidified my belief, that it is not enough to create meaningful teaching and experiential programs, but we must also provide avenues for the students to continue on the path to success, whether or not it is in archaeology, following the completion of the program. I had failed to do so for that young man and knew that moving forward, building “next steps” into student programming is essential.
I have carried these lessons with me into my work teaching the archaeological field school at Montpelier. First, I recognize that meeting the basic needs of the students is essential for their success. We cannot assume that field school students have the support networks, stable food sources, transportation, or income necessary for them to be successful. Therefore, I worked to make field school affordable in two ways: offering the field school at a reduced price for students taking it for no course credit and providing full scholarships for African American students. In 2020, the success of this scholarship program, along with my work include anti-racism training and conversations about diversity into the field school curriculum, to increase diversity within archaeology was recognized by the Society for Historical Archaeology. During 2022, when Montpelier was unable to hold its annual field school, we worked with the Council for Virginia Archaeologists, Register of Professional Archaeologists, and Archaeological Society of Virginia to place all of our accepted students in other comparable field schools and provide scholarships for these students. Currently, my colleagues and I are also developing ways to provide food, work boots, and quality field clothing to field school students.
More importantly, the Montpelier field school is a direct pipeline to employment. From each field school, I hire five students into yearlong, paid, fulltime internships. These internships include full benefits and housing. We hire additional paid interns, who also receive free housing, for the summer months. Through this system of scholarships and internships, we diversified Montpelier’s archaeological staff and provided financial support for students and new archaeologists to help them enter and stay in the field. Through the internship program, serving as an advisor on field student thesis committees, and regular check-ins, including a Montpelier reunion I organize every year at the annual SHA and MAAC conferences, I continue to support field school students that stayed in archaeology. However, I also work to provide the same support for students who have taken other paths, continuing to check in with them and support them as they become professionals in a variety of careers from finance to the military.
Working with the UAC was a true turning point in how I operate as a community engaged archaeologist. I was no longer comfortable with dropping into a community for a short period of time, doing my research or public presentation, and then leaving. Nor was I ok with only inviting people to my white institution, thinking I had done the work of outreach, while avoiding spending real time in the communities I studied. I learned from my time with the UAC that the community is not there to serve my research agenda or make me feel good about doing public archaeology. Instead, I am there to serve them. I am there to use my skills as an archaeologist to help meet the needs of the community, whether that is helping them uncover their history or employ their youth in a meaningful summer job.
ACUA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Name: Joseph Grinnan
Present Position: Underwater Archaeology Program Manager, AECOM
Education: M.A., Historical Archaeology, University of West Florida; B.A., Anthropology/Minor in Zoology, University of Florida
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: Since attending my first SHA conference in 2010, I have volunteered as a co-lecturer for the ACUA’s Submerged Cultural Heritage Workshop, served as a volunteer judge for the Ethics Bowl, and participated as a panelist on several conference discussion panels. Outside of SHA, I have served on the statistics, standards, and scholarship committees with for the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS).
Research Interests: maritime cultural landscapes, underwater remote-sensing technologies, and diver safety
Guibert J.-S., Mémoire de mer océan de papiers. Naufrage risque et fait maritime à la Guadeloupe (fin XVIIe mi XIXe siècle), Presse Universitaire de Bordeaux, Pessac, 2020, 326 p.
Guibert J.-S. et Lesueur B., Navigations militaires aux Antilles (1620-1820), Paris, L’Harmattan, 2019, 238 p.
Guibert J.-S., Guérout M., Guillaume M., Bolle A., Leroy F., Serra L., « An Overview of Maritime Archaeological Research of the Colonial Period in the French Antilles », dans The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 2019, 48.1, p. 123-150.
Biographical Statement:
Joseph Grinnan has over a decade of professional archaeological experience. As the Underwater Archaeology Program Manager at AECOM, Joe is responsible for overseeing and conducting submerged remote-sensing survey, diver identification, and data recovery projects. He has 15 years of professional diving experience, holds a Master Scuba Diver Training rating through Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and is a Scientific Diving Instructor through American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). Joe’s research specialties include maritime cultural landscapes, sailing vessel technology, diver safety, and maritime archival research. He earned his master’s degree in Historical Archaeology from the University of West Florida in 2013 and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 2009. Joe has worked across the southeastern and northeastern United States and internationally in places such as Palau, Papua New Guinea, Yap, and Ghana. His experience includes the discovery and recovery of sixteenth-, seventeenth-, eighteenth-, and nineteenth-century vessels and numerous aircraft. Joe is a PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer, SDI Open Water SCUBA Instructor, and holds Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC). He is also a proud Eagle Scout. Joe is certified in SCUBA, CPR/First Aid Instructor, and Oxygen First Aid for SCUBA Diving Injuries Instructor; he is listed on the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA).
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to the ACUA if elected?
As a professional, I have built relationships with a wide variety of groups, including private, non- profit, state, and federal agencies both within the archaeological and broader scientific communities. On a daily basis, I collaborate with my scientific colleagues and work to ensure personnel safety, while satisfying the various regulations and statutes associated with cultural resources management, all under a strict budget. I believe my experience as a professional working in the private sector provides me with a skillset that I could bring to the board to assist with fulfilling ACUA’s mission and purpose.
If elected, what priorities would you emphasize, taking into consideration ACUA missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the management and financial challenges of the organization?
The ACUA is comprised of top scholars in and practitioners of underwater archaeology from diverse international organizations and agencies. I would have the ACUA coalesce this knowledge to advocate for methodological best practices by either endorsing already established guidelines or portions thereof, or by developing their own. For instance, many state and national agencies either do not have established guidelines or have outdated guidelines for conducting a Phase I underwater remote-sensing survey. In line with ACUA’s mission statement, one way to promote best practices for underwater cultural heritage would be to by updating the Council’s virtual resource on Laws, Issues, Developments & Ethics for Underwater Cultural Heritage.
ACUA’s Submerged Cultural Heritage Workshop, a critical workshop at each SHA conference, introduces terrestrial archaeologists to the principles and practices of underwater archaeology. This workshop is a fantastic, if under-utilized, resource for terrestrial colleagues who find themselves in a management role for underwater and maritime resources. I will also be a strong advocate for greater participation in this training opportunity. In being one of the few organizations to delve into topics like methodology, legal frameworks, conservation requirements, ethics, and more as they relate specifically to submerged resources, the ACUA has done an excellent job of championing our discipline and setting itself up as a leader in professional training.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
As maritime archaeologists, our greatest tool in understanding the past is a consideration of the tremendous spectrum of individual and cultural experiences. That recognition should not stop with the past: we also live and work today in a world that reflects this spectrum. Some of the finest and most intentional scholarship to which I have contributed has been the result of broad collaborations with people representing different backgrounds, stories, and perspectives. In every instance, these collaborations have engendered deeply creative approaches and produced effective, inclusive outcomes.
Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to play a small role in a large-scale project involving private and public sector employees; a wide array of professionals, including archaeologists, biologists, environmental scientists, geneticists, and museum specialists; professional and avocational archaeologists; and individuals from multiple ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles. The project had a large archaeological component, but what I enjoyed and learned from the most from was spending time with this community. Not only did I have the opportunity to communicate our findings each day, but I also had the honor of hearing what our work meant to them.
To me, the concepts of belonging and mattering begin with diversity, equity, and inclusion. They should, however, go one step farther. Having or being a part a group with diverse team members is insufficient. In order to develop an engaged and successful team, it is important that those in our discipline should extend a sense of belonging and mattering within our networks and in our communities. By taking time to listen, by modeling inclusive behaviors, and by leaving space for others to participate, we can ensure that the qualities of diversity, equity, and inclusion become an essential part of our work. While I recognize that I can always do better, I strive in my career and daily life to fully engage with and foster a sense of belonging and mattering. If elected to the ACUA Board, I will endeavor to carry these beliefs and actions to all aspects of my involvement.
Name: William Hoffman, RPA
Present Position: Archaeologist, National Park Service, Independence National Historical Park
Contracted through University Corporation for Academic Research (UCAR)
Education: M.A., Anthropology, Florida State University; B.A., Archaeology/Anthropology, The George Washington University
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: Register of Professional Archaeologists: SHA-appointed Board Director, 2016–2020; SHA: Technical Briefs publication series: Associate Editor; 2018 SHA New Orleans conference: Volunteer Coordinator; 2022 SHA Philadelphia conference: Underwater Program Chair
Research Interests: Eighteenth and nineteenth century material culture, marine remote sensing, scientific diving, urban archaeology, public archaeology, historic preservation law and policy
Biographical Statement:
My career has straddled both terrestrial and underwater worlds and I’ve striven to find the threads of continuity between the two, particularly related to the growth and development of cities within the Atlantic World. Most of my career has been in Federal service, both from the perspective of a regulatory agency while at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and supporting the protection and preservation of special underwater places while at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. At BOEM, I served as one of the lead maritime archaeologists for the offshore renewable energy program where I assisted in building the bureaus’ historic preservation program and also led in fostering a collaborative maritime archaeology research program in partnership with other Federal agencies and universities. I further served terms as the Atlantic Regional Preservation Officer and Diving Safety Officer for BOEM. I’ve conducted and supported maritime archaeological fieldwork and research throughout the Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Islands and have been lucky to have the opportunity to work with a diversity of submerged cultural resources ranging from pre-contact sites to revolutionary war shipwrecks to World War II casualties from the Battle of the Atlantic. I am currently with the National Park Service as the archaeologist for Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, PA.
Given your qualifications and experience, what do you believe you can contribute to the ACUA/SHA if elected?
It’s an honor to be nominated as a candidate and I would contribute to the ACUA a broad perspective on the field of underwater archaeology. My work at BOEM and NOAA gave me a direct hand in establishing Federal regulations, policies, and guidelines that influence the nation’s management of underwater archaeological resources. This has given me a unique view into the future of the discipline, particularly the need for providing graduate students the skills to be successful as the next generation of underwater archaeologists. This not only includes training in traditional skills (e.g., remote sensing and scientific diving), but also an understanding of the network of laws and policies that broadly drive how, why, and when historic preservation work is conducted in the United States, for better or worse, and an awareness of the importance of understanding how the field of underwater archaeology can and should fit within this bigger picture.
Further, my training at FSU and professional experience has given me direct exposure to the diversity of maritime cultural resources that exist beyond traditional shipwreck sites, including submerged pre-contact sites, Traditional Cultural Properties, and maritime cultural landscapes. This exposure has opened my eyes to the necessity of indigenous engagement and the critical importance of working in partnership with descendent communities and stakeholders. It is my hope that the field will continue to embrace and seek to realize the full potential of this type of collaboration.
If elected, what priorities would you emphasize, taking into consideration the ACUA and SHA missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the management and financial challenges of the society?
If elected, I would prioritize three areas which are in alignment with the ongoing work of the ACUA. First, in realization that I wouldn’t be where I am in my career today if it were not for a supportive and collaborative network of mentors, I’d support growing visibility of the organization and increasing connection with graduate students and early career archaeologists who may have an interest in underwater archaeology and are seeking opportunities for gaining exposure to various facets of the field. Related to this, I’m interested in ways the ACUA can support expanding diversity by making the field a more welcoming space, decreasing barriers to access, and reaching broader and less-traditional audiences. Second, I’d like to be part of the ongoing efforts to expand public outreach and engagement, in particular, moving away from tired tropes to expand messaging on the relevance of the field in its contribution to advancing science and technology, understanding and monitoring climate change, tackling difficult histories, and informing how we understand the complicated world we live in. Third, I’d like to bring greater awareness to regulatory and policy issues, both as part of student training and ACUA advocacy and outreach. These are admittedly less exciting topics, but the laws and policies that underly Federal decision-making have great bearing on the field and could disappear if not fought for by a diverse coalition of voices that recognize the value, importance, and uniqueness of underwater cultural heritage.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
I want the future of underwater archaeology to be doing things and asking questions I never imagined. To realize this future, the profession can’t only look like me and has to be driven by diverse individuals bringing diverse perspectives to the table. As described above, I am interested in finding ways to increase visibility of the field, to attract diverse professionals, and to make space for them to lead. I am further interested in seeking ways to provide capacity to underrepresented groups in an effort to share power and foster collaborative decision-making and research. An example of this is a recent collaboration I fostered between NOAA and Diving With a Purpose and the Society of Black Archaeologists under the support of a NOAA Diversity and Inclusion Mini-grant. The project provided a train-the-trainers workshop in photogrammetry as a first step in an effort to broaden the research agenda of how, and which, sanctuary maritime heritage resources are studied and interpreted to the public. I believe that ACUA is in a strong position to foster much needed change in the culture of the field and, if elected, I would welcome the opportunity to be a part of that work.
Name: Kendra Kennedy
Present Position: Cultural Resources Specialist, Argonne National Laboratory
Education: M.A., University of West Florida; B.A., University of Notre Dame
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: ACUA: Board Member, 2020–present; Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago (UASC): Archaeological Advisor, 2022–present; Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS): Senior Tutor, 2022–present; Ohio Maritime Archaeological Survey Team (MAST): Board Member, 2017–2020
Research Interests: maritime archaeology; French Colonial, eighteenth to early twentieth-century American
Biographical Statement:
Kendra Kennedy has over 20 years of experience as an archaeologist, both maritime and terrestrial, in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Gulf South. She is employed as a Cultural Resources Specialist with Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) near Chicago. Ms. Kennedy received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, French, and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Arts in Historical Archaeology from the
University of West Florida. She has worked as an archaeological consultant, SHPO compliance reviewer, instructor, and grant writer for private, academic, and nonprofit organizations and state and federal agencies. She specializes in geophysical survey and interpretation and is very interested in the increased use of unmanned and autonomous vehicles—underwater, aerial, surface, etc.—for archaeological survey. Ms. Kennedy is passionate about public outreach and working with citizen scientists to advance the discipline. She currently serves as archaeological advisor to the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago (UASC) and was formerly a board member of the Ohio-based Maritime Archaeological Survey Team (MAST). Ms. Kennedy was instrumental in assisting the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to secure a $100,000 National Maritime Heritage Grant in 2022 for a cooperative project between the IL SHPO, the UASC, and the Chicago Maritime Museum. The grant project involves formally recording numerous submerged archaeological sites in Lake Michigan with the IL SHPO and producing National Register documentation that will facilitate the future of underwater archaeology in Illinois.
Given your qualifications and experience, what do you believe you can contribute to the ACUA/SHA if elected?
If re-elected to the ACUA, I will continue to bring to the Council a nuanced understanding of the various worlds of archaeology and the potential and stresses inherent to each due to my broad range of experience as a terrestrial and maritime archaeological consultant and compliance reviewer (i.e., both sides of the coin) in the private, government, and nonprofit sectors. I will also continue to use my experience in fundraising, grant writing, and technological innovation to support all aspects of my work with the ACUA.
If elected, what priorities would you emphasize, taking into consideration the ACUA and SHA missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the management and financial challenges of the society?
My firsthand work with citizen scientists, particularly avocational underwater archaeologists, has provided me with a clear understanding of what archaeologists can and need to do to further educational outreach and encourage responsible public participation in maritime archaeology. If re-elected, I will continue to prioritize increasing ACUA’s outreach to citizen scientists and organizations that work with and train them.
As a current ACUA Board Member, I co-chair a committee that is assessing consultation, compliance review, and access to qualified professionals as these relate to state projects and federal undertakings that may impact submerged cultural resources. The committee is communicating with SHPOs and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) to determine how ACUA can best assist SHPOs and advocate for protection of submerged cultural resources in the U.S.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
As a mother of young children at a time when female archaeologists have become a major part of the archaeological work force, I have worked to find feasible ways to facilitate and encourage conference participation for archaeologists with infants and small children. This is especially important in our field since most archaeologists “go where the work is” and are thus unable to rely on the assistance of often distant friends and family. I worked on these issues as part of the accessibility and inclusion committee for the 2022 SHA conference in Philadelphia. Although we were not able to facilitate onsite childcare for the conference, I was successful in working with Karen Hutchison of SHA Headquarters to set aside a lactation space for nursing/pumping mothers at the conference. At Argonne, I am a member of the steering committee for the Parenting and Caregiving Employee Resource Group (PACE) that advocates for employees who are also caregivers and communicates with lab leadership about ways to improve the lab’s outreach to and support for Argonne caregivers.
Name: Chris Sabick
Present Position: Interim Co-Director, Director of Research and Archaeology, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Education: M.A., Anthropology, Texas A&M University, Thesis: His Majesty’s Hired Transport Schooner Nancy; B.A., Anthropology and History, Ball State University
Professional Service to the SHA/ACUA and Other Societies:
I am also a member of the Council on Northeastern Historic Archaeology, The Institute of Nautical Archaeology, and the Nautical Archaeology Society. However, I’ve not provided professional service to these organizations I am just a member. This position with the ACUA would be my first.
Research Interests: : nautical archaeology of inland waterways, 18th ship construction and its adaptation to inland waterways, management of submerged battlefield sites, impact of climate change on submerged cultural resources, particularly in the freshwater environment.
Biographical Statement:
My childhood experiences fishing and boating on rivers and lakes of the mid-western United States have led to a lifelong appreciation for the interconnected nature of our inland waterways. After receiving a BA in History and Anthropology from Ball State University, and participating in my first nautical archaeology project on the North Coast of Jamaica, I attended Texas A&M University’s, Nautical Archaeology Program, receiving my MA in Anthropology in 2004. My thesis research focused on a small fur trading schooner that participated in the War of 1812 on the Great Lakes, the schooner Nancy (1789-1814). While I was a student at Texas A&M I was given the opportunity to intern at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) in Vergennes Vermont, and fell in love with the location and the extraordinary submerged cultural resources in Lake Champlain. Starting as a conservation laboratory technician in 1999 I worked my way up to Lab Director in 2001, and became the Director of Research and Archaeology in 2014. My career at the LCMM has included shipwreck excavation/documentation, submerged cultural resource management, artifact conservation, public outreach, dive preserve management, submerged battlefield management and marine survey components.
Given the qualifications and experience outlined in your biographical statement, what do you believe you can contribute to ACUA/SHA if elected?
I feel that I can bring a unique perspective on the field of Underwater Archaeology as a professional archaeologist with one foot in the museum sphere and the other in Cultural Resource Management. In my role as Director of Research and Archaeology I am able to host internships for graduate students, work collaboratively with higher education organizations to facilitate field work, and complete regional, and mission focused, cultural resource management projects. These various aspects of my professional career mean that I have extensive experience working with State and Federal partners and funding sources and other stakeholders. This varied experience will allow me to contribute in numerous ways to the ACUA Board if selected.
If elected, what priorities would you emphasize, taking into consideration the ACUA and SHA missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the management and financial challenges of the society?
Education. I feel strongly that, in addition to academic learning, hands on experience performing the tasks of an underwater archaeologist are instrumental in helping to educate the next generation of archaeological professionals.
Student/Early Professional Development. Engagement with graduate students and young professionals through internships/field schools and other opportunities are also vital to the development of future archaeologists and the field as a whole.
Awareness of Submerged Cultural Resources to non-specialists. Working with non-professionals on submerged cultural resources matters has been a fundamental component of my professional career, and I feel continued outreach and education .is instrumental to the long-term viability of our profession.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum has been focused on enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for a number of years now. We have crafted our museum admission and program enrollment to a pay-what-you-can model that has greatly increased the numbers and types of visitors and students we have the opportunity to work with. Additionally, we have focused on the inclusion of underrepresented voices in our archaeological fieldwork. This has included close collaboration with both State and Federally recognized Native American communities in both research and active field participation.
Name: Athena Trakadas
Present Position: Chair/Co-founder, Ocean Decade Heritage Network (ODHN); Editor, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology; External Associate Professor, Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
Education: Ph.D., Archaeology, University of Southampton, UK; M.A., Classical Archaeology, Aarhus University, Denmark; M.A., Anthropology (Nautical Archaeology Program), Texas A&M University, USA; B.A., Classical Civilizations, Anthropology (double major), University of California, Berkeley, USA
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: SHA: Member, 2020–present; ACUA: Board Member, 2020–present, ACUA sub-committee: Member; Nominations, UNESCO Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB), Diversity and Equity, Annual Conference Abstract Review, ACUA Mentorship Program; SHA HARC: Member, 2021–present; Historical Archaeology: Associate Editor, 2021; I have attended SHA annual meetings since 2011, as co-editor of Journal of Maritime Archaeology.
Other societies: UNESCO UNITWIN University Network for Underwater Archaeology: Institutional representative for University of Southern Denmark, 2015–2019 and ODHN, 2019–present; Danish National Committee for UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Working Group Member, 2021–30, 2022–present; Bulletin de l’Institut Scientifique (Morocco): Editorial Board Member, 2018–present; Maritime Archaeology Society Esbjerg (MASE): Advisor, 2015–2018; American Institute of Maghrib Studies: Member, 2004–present
Research Interests: coastal and riverine landscape archaeology, ports/harbors, fishing, ethno-archaeology, natural- and cultural heritage management, classical archaeology, Mediterranean, MENA region, Northern Europe
Biographical Statement:
I am a maritime archaeologist whose professional background extends from academia to publication production to policy/capacity development to museology. Currently I am Visiting Associate Professor at the Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen (Denmark)—developing a maritime archaeology curriculum—and was previously the Honor Frost Foundation Visiting Professor at the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at Alexandria University (Egypt, 2020–21), and Visiting Professor at Aix-Marseille University (France) (2021). From 2018–22 I also co-directed the Maritime Archaeology Research Group as a Guest Researcher at the National Museum of Denmark. Prior to these postings I was Associate Professor of Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southern Denmark (2013–18). I also serve on the Advisory Board of the Koç University Mustafa V. Koç Maritime Archaeology Research Center (Türkiye) and co-supervise two PhDs in maritime archaeology (University of South Florida, Universidad de Cádiz).
In 2021 I was appointed Editor of the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology (IJNA), leaving the Journal of Maritime Archaeology (JMAR), which I co-edited from 2010–21; I also was Associate Editor of Historical Archaeology in 2021. I co-founded and chair of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021–30 partner, Ocean Decade Heritage Network (ODHN; 2019–present), which runs the UNESCO-Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) endorsed Decade Action “Cultural Heritage Framework Programme.” In addition to consulting to the IOC, I am an Expert Consultant appointed to the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection on the Underwater Cultural Heritage and its Scientific and Technical Advisory Board, teaching in capacity-building workshops and participating in policy forums throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia since 2011. From 2009–2014 I was Curator at the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark (contract archaeology, publications, and exhibits). I have been a licensed SCUBA diver since 1987 and Commercial Dive Instructor (Danish Maritime Agency) with an offshore certification since 2013. (publications)
Given your qualifications and experience, what do you believe you can contribute to the ACUA/SHA if elected?
My background constitutes a variety of positions—in the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally–which I feel can help inform perspectives within ACUA and its sub-committees. My professional network is largely based in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, although I have a background in and relationship to North American institutions. If elected, I believe that this profile will help ensure that ACUA has a broader perspective regarding its own aims and issues that affect its members globally.
Additionally, I believe I have applicable experience and wide-ranging skills that can contribute to the societal impact and administrative activities of ACUA. Through professional service on advisory boards and national and international consultancies, especially in my long-term relationship with UNESCO, I am actively engaged in the development of archaeological research methodology, the promotion of capacity building in archaeological practice, and the management of cultural heritage, with a focus on public outreach endeavors. As chair of ODHN—founded to support the role of cultural heritage in reaching UN Sustainable Development Goals within the framework of the UN Ocean Decade—I engage with NGOs such as ACUA, national agencies, and UNESCO programs to ensure that maritime cultural heritage (both tangible and intangible) is integrated into interdisciplinary marine science research agendas, policy, and sustainability management plans. ODHN leads the “Cultural Heritage Framework Programme,” the only endorsed UN Ocean Decade program that addresses cultural heritage, and which serves as an umbrella under which relevant actions take place, particularly those promoting Citizen Science and Ocean Literacy. I would like to contribute the knowledge gained from these forums to help ACUA to continue to formulate its own outreach and policy positions and likewise, bring to ODHN perspectives gained from such an important stakeholder group.
If elected, what priorities would you emphasize, taking into consideration the ACUA and SHA missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the management and financial challenges of the society?
Globally, through initiatives like the UN Ocean Decade, stakeholders are addressing the call for a paradigm shift in natural marine sciences. Humanities and Social Sciences—especially archaeology—should not be relegated to serving as a minor partner to the natural sciences within the marine environment: it contributes the context for understanding better the human past and what that can mean for us at present and certainly our impact on the future.
I believe that ACUA can prioritize ensuring that this evolving interdisciplinary perspective is incorporated not only in our own practice, but within how policy is formed, and heritage resources are managed. One of the ACUA mandates is working to educate governments, and this includes international bodies; ACUA is already an Accredited NGO to the 2001 UNESCO Convention, well-positioned to lobby the UNESCO Culture Sector. Cross-institutional awareness is increasing, and I would like to assist ACUA to expand these efforts to UNESCO’s Science Sector, becoming one of the stakeholders changing perceptions of the contributions of Humanities and Social Sciences to the marine sciences within bodies like the IOC. This is also extremely relevant as we face mitigating potentially polluting wrecks and an increase in exploratory seabed mining, with limited discussion in the IOC regarding the protection, conservation, and management of underwater cultural heritage.
In working towards educating scholars, ACUA/SHA also has developed a robust mentoring program, in which I enjoy participating. Further developments, already in discussion in ACUA, would be to look for longer-term follow-ups with mentor/mentees, as well as project placements and scholarship application preparation—those within ACUA/SHA and externally. I believe that assisting future colleagues is a key factor in helping our discipline develop and thrive.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
My experiences in working towards a more diverse and representative community of practice in archaeology has been influenced by my teaching and research experiences on three different continents, especially in those areas where the legacies of earlier colonist histories are ever-present. I aim to present a range of voices and examples in my teaching (and listening), as well as participate in field projects that include a variety of stakeholders outside of academia. I am a member of the ACUA sub-committee on Diversity and Equity; in 2021, I co-chaired the SHA panel Intentionally Transformational: Supporting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development through a Conversation on Inclusion.
As an editor of IJNA and JMAR, I also aim to provide a platform where diverse voices, practices and knowledge in our field can be heard and included (editorials e.g., 2020; 2021; 2022). I actively reach out to heritage practitioners in regions I have identified as under-represented in our journal. As part of the my tenure at IJNA, I organize bi-annual author webinars—and here I have made it my mandate to invite Early Career Researchers, especially from non-traditional institutions and under-represented regions. Additionally, I have held training workshops on developing articles for publications to ECR and diverse groups: the Maritime Archaeology Graduate Symposia (2021, 2023), and UNESCO 2001 Convention-affiliated workshops in the United Arab Emirates (2022), Columbia (2021), Kenya (2021), and Iran (2016).
I have also co-authored the ODHN’s DEI statement; additionally, two of the main operational objectives of ODHN’s Cultural Heritage Framework Programme are to develop capacity/early career support and enable greater diversity/representation: almost 50% of the CHFP annual budget is to facilitate travel for these stakeholders to participate in meetings and training workshops.
Name: Jeneva Wright
Present Position: Archaeologist for Climate Change, WASO Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate, National Park Service
Education: University of Miami (PhD, in progress); East Carolina University (MA); University of Montana (BA)
Professional Service to SHA and Other Societies: ACUA Board of Directors, Vice Chair (2023-present); ACUA Board of Directors, Secretary (2020-2023); SHA member (2013 – present); Register of Professional Archaeologists (2015 – present)
I currently serve on several SHA committees through my service with ACUA, including the SHA Heritage At Risk Committee, with which I have served as co-editor of a special issue of Historical Archaeology on the climate crisis, as well as the ACUA Publications Committee, Diversity and Equity Committee (with which I collaborated on ACUA’s formal antiracism statement), and serve as ACUA Liaison to the SHA Ethics Committee.
Research Interests: Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies for archaeological sites, World War II submerged cultural heritage, battlefield archaeology, history and archaeology of the global slave trade, marine remote sensing data acquisition and interpretation, marine corrosion modeling, and citizen science
Biographical Statement:
I serve as the NPS Archaeologist for Climate Change, working with the Climate Change Response Program out of Fort Collins, Colorado, to develop research and efforts to address the impacts of climate change and sea level rise across the breadth of the NPS system. Prior to this assignment, I supported the Partnerships and Innovations Directorate at the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency by serving as lead underwater archaeologist for partner development and field projects. My research and publications on climate change impacts to archaeological resources began during a graduate internship at Biscayne National Park, and continue during my tenure with the NPS Submerged Resources Center. I currently serve as Vice Chair of the Advisory Council for Underwater Archaeology, serve as a board member on the NPS National Dive Control Board, and am conducting a PhD at the University of Miami Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy in collaboration with the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. I am a diver, runner, mom to four-year-old Sullivan, and love a strong cup of dark roast coffee.
Given your qualifications and experience, what do you believe you can contribute to the ACUA/SHA if elected?
The core of my professional experience centers on collaboration and teamwork, using cooperative partnerships to connect multidisciplinary professionals with the archaeological discipline for actionable science. While this approach is particularly important for work addressing climate change, my commitment to communication and bridge-building results in broad inclusive partnerships that acknowledge competing priorities to create shared goals to tackle big challenges. Given the diversity of stakeholders in our field and the resultant wide range of concerns, this dedication is an asset I would direct toward the development of innovative and productive solutions to further ACUA goals.
If elected, what priorities would you emphasize, taking into consideration the ACUA and SHA missions and goals, ongoing committee activities, and the management and financial challenges of the society?
My priority would focus on outreach to multi-disciplinary partners. Whether the challenge is tackling the next frontier of deep-water investigations, understanding the devastating threats that climate change poses to submerged and coastal sites, or fostering inclusivity and diversity to champion all members of our field, I believe that solutions are best sought by expanding our horizons and seeking pluralistic viewpoints and expertise. Underwater archaeology cannot exist in a vacuum, and my emphasis would be on forging connections to increase sustainability, efficiency, and knowledge transfer so others can build on lessons learned and act.
Please include a statement on your commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Mattering (DEIB&M).
I am dedicated to promoting ethics, respect, and equity in the field of underwater archaeology. Currently my focus is directed to environmental justice and disproportionately impacted communities facing not only the threats of climate change on homes and communities, but also on histories, culture, and sense of place. I work to protect and preserve archaeological sites threatened by climate change, but emphasize not only the protection of physical artifacts, but also cultural landscapes, hidden histories, and connections to descendant communities, as well as working to meaningfully integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge and other Ways of Knowing into climate change response practice. In my work to date with the ACUA, I have also served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, including collaborating on ACUA’s formal antiracism statement, and supporting reviews and selections of students competing for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Student Travel Award.