Spotlight Fall 2025

Graduate Student Spotlight Fall 2025

Renee Kuban — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:01:53 +0000

Graduate Student Spotlight Fall 2025 Renee Kuban Fri, 09/19/2025 - 10:01

Jack Dalton (Biological Anthropology, PhD Candidate)

My dissertation research focuses on the behavioral ecology of the thick-tailed galago, a species of medium-sized nocturnal primate. This work required of a year behavioral data collection on a wild population at the Lajuma Research Centre in South Africa, which consisted of tracking the animals through the forest all night and keeping detailed notes of their locations, behaviors, and other relevant variables. In detailing the animals’ movements, foraging patterns, and social behaviors, I hope that my research will shed new light on the social and cognitive complexity of a group of nocturnal primates traditionally (yet erroneously) described as solitary and unintelligent.

Off

Traditional

White

Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2025

Renee Kuban — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:43:36 +0000

Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2025 Renee Kuban Thu, 09/18/2025 - 10:43

Emily Reardon (Anthropology, BA in Progress)

My current research is focused on understanding the differences in mortality rates between immigrant and native-born individuals in 19th century Upstate New York. Specifically, I am researching the cities of Syracuse and Rochester between 1850 and 1880. I am utilizing data transcribed from federal and state census mortality records, which I will analyze using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis focusing on place of birth and sex. If time permits, I will also analyze country-specific immigrant mortality to reveal any differences between immigrant groups and the potential reasons behind them. This research is embedded into a larger community-based project run by Dr. Eric Jones and Dr. Sharon DeWitte researching 19th century upstate New York with an emphasis on mortality, urbanization, and rural communities.

Off

Traditional

White

Alumni Spotlight Fall 2025

Renee Kuban — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:56:46 +0000

Alumni Spotlight Fall 2025 Renee Kuban Mon, 09/15/2025 - 13:56

Kaitlyn Davis (Anthropology, PhD 2022)

Dr. Davis is an Assistant Professor of Archaeology in the Department of Anthropology, core faculty in the Radiant Remote Sensing Center, and affiliate faculty of the Department of Applied Indigenous Studies at Northern Arizona University (NAU), in Flagstaff, Arizona. She also maintains an active presence in cultural resource management as a Senior Archaeologist (Principal Investigator) for Chronicle Heritage. She works with descendant communities in the North American Southwest to apply geospatial, archaeobotanical, and ceramic analysis methods to research questions related to interactions and adaptations at frontiers and borders (particularly trade interaction processes) and transitions in settlement patterns and landscape use. She currently directs field projects in the Tewa area of New Mexico, Canyon Pintado National Historic District in Colorado, and at NAU research stations and public land units in northern Arizona. Her research has been published in journals including Advances in Archaeological Practice, Archaeological Prospection, and Historical Archaeology, and she is currently editing a volume on Democratizing Heritage.

Off

Traditional

White

Faculty Spotlight Fall 2025

Renee Kuban — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:52:21 +0000

Faculty Spotlight Fall 2025 Renee Kuban Mon, 09/15/2025 - 13:52

Sarah Kurnick (Archaeology)

I work with a contemporary Maya community in Punta Laguna, Yucatan, Mexico to investigate the nature of Postclassic (1100-1500 CE) Maya political authority and, more broadly, how politically authoritative relationships are regenerated in the wake of major social transformations. Working collaboratively, we survey, excavate, and conduct artifact analysis to ascertain whether Postclassic Maya peoples at the site physically erased, revered, or altered the Classic period built environment, and why. I am also working with Dr. Samantha Fladd (Washington State University) on a project investigating intersectional gender inequality in contemporary archaeological practice. We aim to create concrete changes that will make archaeology a more inclusive endeavor.

Off

Traditional

White