Lecturer
Email: ls1407@txstate.edu
Phone: 512.245.8272
Office: ELA 271D
Education:
BA in Anthropology; Texas A&M University
MA in Anthropology; Texas State University
Ph.D. in Anthropology; University of Texas
Research Interests:
Bioarchaeology, human skeletal variation, population history, colonial archaeology, identity and ethnogenesis, genomics, aDNA
I am a bioarchaeologist with a primary research interest in colonial archaeology in Belize. My work examines how people’s lives are shaped by broader histories of migration, community formation, social experience, and environmental change. I use skeletal analysis, ancient and contemporary DNA, demographic data, archival records, and community-engaged fieldwork to explore questions related to identity, ancestry, kinship, mobility, and lived experience. My current research focuses on long-term collaborative work in northern Belize with local and Indigenous community partners. I am also interested in ethical research practice, including how researchers work with community partners, communicate findings clearly, and make research and collaborations useful beyond the academy.