Embarrassingly, I knew I wanted to be an archaeologist after I watched Indiana Jones with my brother and grandparents at eight years old. I never grew out of it, and by the time I was 16 my parents were sick and tired of me talking about how I wanted to be an archaeologist. They essentially wanted me to prove it, and tasked me with finding a field school to join. I am pretty sure their plan backfired; I found a Roman archaeology field school in Menorca, an island off the coast of Spain and pleaded with them to accept me despite being a high school student.

At the field school I excelled as an excavator and was invited back the next summer to serve as an on staff supervisor. By that time I was completely hooked. I began to develop intellectual curiosities in how ancient cities and spaces were designed, used, and reused. I knew I wanted to major in an archaeology program so I went off to Stanford University in the fall.

At Stanford my interests further crystallized and I began working at Neolithic sites in Jordan and Turkey, learned Arabic, and took classes in spatial analysis methods. I firmly set my sights on working in the broader Middle East and especially wanted to focus on Egypt. As an undergrad I studied abroad at Oxford University and took tutorials in the history and archaeology of ancient Egypt. As a senior I knew I wanted to start graduate school immediately after graduating.

I attended Harvard University for my PhD and began work at some of the most formative and important sites for my career; the ancient city of Tell el-Amarna in Egypt, the Theban necropolis in Luxor, and many sites in Sudan like the religious and urban center of Jebel Barkal. As a graduate student I also developed a love for teaching. For my dissertation I analyzed landscapes of ancient cemetery sites in Sudan, to understand how ancient people used natural features to design their spaces for the dead.

Now, the IFR feels like the perfect place for me to continue my research and apply my passion for fieldwork to our mission of transforming individuals and communities!

Jordan was a dream come true; I still remember exactly how I felt when I laid eyes on the Treasury at Petra for the first time at 18…filled with undeniable awe and love. Egypt of course is pretty unmatched. Cairo will always be my favorite city, I come alive in the maximalism and overwhelming energy. I would spend all day in the covered markets and coffee shops of the Khan el Khalili. However, Sudan truly feels like a second home. I started working and living with the people of El Kurru in 2015, and I miss the routines and connections of daily life in the village. My heart breaks for the people of Sudan as they endure the ongoing civil war. They are in my thoughts, always. #KeepEyesOnSudan.

Definitely a big challenge is ensuring that the needs of archaeological sites and cultural resources are not in conflict with the needs of the local communities that live near and steward their heritage. Similarly, the impact of climate change on the archaeological record and local communities is of massive concern. Lastly, everyone should be aware of pseudoarchaeology and disinformation’s negative impact on the archaeological record. The most important way that IFR and other organizations can help is to increase opportunities for more people to access and learn about the past and cultural heritage. Our aim is not to create armies of perfectly formed archaeologists and field scientists (although that would be awesome). We aim to foster a deep understanding of and respect for field research, so that individuals from diverse spaces and backgrounds will take these values and knowledge and share them with their communities.

You will meet the best people on field projects. Your favorite people, the people you will carry with you all throughout your life. A field project is an entirely unique environment; the isolation from your daily routines and responsibilities and total immersion in new and challenging skills can be disregulating but also beautiful. I am excited for you all to experience the growth and self-actualization that comes from being on a field project. You learn so much about yourself when you commune with the past and people from all over the world.

And honestly, it is just really fun getting absolutely filthy. Embrace the chaos of being completely caked in dirt. You won’t regret it.