I received my Master of the Arts Degree in Public Anthropology and Archaeology from American University in Washington D.C. I attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland for my Bachelor’s Degree. During my research at St. Mary’s, I attended an archaeology field school in Historic Saint Mary’s City, where I aided in the excavation of the 17th century Van Sweringen Lodging house. The results of this field school aided in the preservation and reconstruction of the site; turning the site into an interactive learning experience for educational institutions and the public. During my graduate degree, I attended the Great Dismal Swamp archaeology field school through American University, where I returned for the following three summer field seasons as a teaching assistant. My duties as a teaching assistant for the Great Dismal Swamp archaeology field school included the supervision and instruction of archaeological techniques, leadership of remote site survey efforts, the review and editing of field paperwork, management of artifact collection and recordation as well as the production of technical reports for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

My M.A. thesis was entitled, “The People of the Lonely Place: An Archaeological Exploration of Community Structure within the Great Dismal Swamp.” I focused my research on the resistance communities that took refuge from enslavement and land encroachment within the Great Dismal Swamp of VA and NC prior to the Civil War. My work centered on a structural feature located deep within the swamp, identified as a posthole within a trench that was reinforced by prehistoric ceramics. I used Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) samples and associated artifacts to determine that the feature’s date range fell between the late 17th to mid 18th centuries. The research model that I adopted, posited that found prehistoric wares were located and reworked to fit the need of those communities occupying the site during the historic era due to the swamp’s lack of naturally occurring stone sources.

While attending American University, I also worked for the National Park Service. During my employment, I worked for Monocacy National Battlefield in Frederick, MD for two seasons as an archeological technician. My work with Monocacy National Battlefield involved identifying and defining the structures associated with the late 18th to early 19th century slave village located on the Best Farm. Shortly after this work concluded, I joined the Antietam National Battlefield in their Cultural Resources Management division, where I worked as a historic preservation technician aiding in the daily maintenance and reconstructive efforts of the historic resources.

After the completion of my Master’s Degree, I joined R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc. (RCGA).  Since joining the cultural resource management division of archeology, I have participated in Class III archeological surveys of several thousand acres at White Sands Missile Range, NM, and pipeline projects in NM and AZ, where I gained experience in the identification and classification of Southwestern prehistoric and historic cultural materials. During non-collection surveys, I became proficient in the use of handheld GPS units using data dictionaries specific to the local and regional project areas. I have worked on significant cold war, historic and prehistoric sites throughout the Southwest. I also have experience conducting Phase I surveys on the pipeline projects in OH, PA and WV for RCGA and aided in Phase I surveys and Phase II excavation efforts in MD and WV. My responsibilities have included leading teams as a crew chief, the proper recordation of cultural materials of both historic and prehistoric sites and the assistance in research and report production, including the construction of LA forms, site narratives, desktop reports, reviewing project areas for future investigation, as well as detailed reports on the survey results.

During my time with RCGA, I have gained extensive knowledge of mining activities and have been trained in safety procedures by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. I have experience recording late nineteenth century and early twentieth century mining operations associated with the United States expansion west.