ABOUT ME

Sharing maritime pasts to create a better future.

I am a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at Texas A&M University, where I study how African sailors shaped the Atlantic World. I hold an MA in Public History from Duquesne University and a BA in History.
Through historical research, archaeological fieldwork, outreach, writing, and speaking, I share African maritime histories with the goal of advocating for diverse and inclusive historical education and promoting a more informed global community.
  • As the co-director of the Kru/Krao Coast Heritage Initiative, I partner with communities in southeastern Liberia to investigate maritime histories, oral histories, and archaeological sites related to Kru (Krao) patrimony in the Atlantic. We have successfully begun shaping historical education in Sinoe County, Liberia by donating history textbooks written by Liberians for Liberians to Sinoe County high schools in partnership with the Sammy Morris Center in Greenville, Liberia. I advanced to the finals of the 3-Minute Thesis competition at Texas A&M for my outreach about our project, which has been generously funded by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the Society for Postmedieval Archaeology, and Texas A&M University.
  • My interdisciplinary writing has appeared in the Journal of African History, Maritime Studies, and other outlets, and has won several research awards.
  • My public-facing research and outreach has been featured by the National Council on Public History and the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology. My work has appeared in academic and public-facing outlets, including the Mariner's Mirror Podcast.
  • As a field archaeologist, I have collaborated with international teams from several countries to complete archaeological excavations, monitoring of archaeological sites, and curation/analysis of material culture across Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
  • ​I have taught courses in anthropological theory and method, cultural anthropology, historical archaeology and the Atlantic World, and archaeological conservation.
EDUCATION​
  • PhD, Anthropology (Nautical Archaeology Program), Texas A&M University
  • MA, Public History, Duquesne University
  • BA, History
GRANTS AND AWARDS
  • Folger Institute Colloquia Grant in Aid
  • Society for Postmedieval Archaeology research grant 
  • Institute of Nautical Archaeology Project Grant
  • Glasscock Center for the Humanities, Texas A&M University, Fieldwork Grant
  • Collegio di Sant’Isisdoro and Duquesne University Archival Fellowship
  • American Overseas Research Center for Khmer Studies Fellowship (DECLINED)
  • Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (ACUA) and RECON Offshore Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Student Travel Award
  • Southeastern Conference (SEC) Emerging Scholars Program
  • National Council on Public History (NCPH) Graduate Student Travel Award
  • 3rd Place Graduate Poster, Life on a Dynamic Planet Symposium, Texas A&M University
  • Finalist, 3 Minute Thesis (3MT), Texas A&M University
  • Excellence in Graduate History Award, Duquesne University Department of History
  • 1st Place Clio Award for Graduate Research, Duquesne University Department of History
  • NCAA Scholar All-American, Swimming and Diving
CERTIFICATIONS
  • Certificate in Africana Studies, Texas A&M University
  • Certificate in Historic Preservation, Texas A&M University
  • Certificate in Conservation Training, Texas A&M University/Conservation Research Laboratory
  • PADI Rescue Diver (specializations: Drysuit, Nitrox/EANx)
  • Emergency Oxygen Provider
  • First Aid/CPR/AED
  • Academy for Future Faculty, Texas A&M University
  • Aggie Allies workshop facilitator
  • Green Dot Bystander Intervention Training 
  • Step In-Stand Up Domestic Violence Prevention Training Program
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • European Association of Archaeologists (EAA)
  • African Studies Association (ASA)
  • Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology (SPMA)
  • Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA)
  • Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA)
  • American Association of University Women (AAUW)
  • International Council of Museums (ICOM)