I am an historical archaeologist interested in race, slavery and capitalism in the Caribbean and the wider Atlantic. My current research project explores land and labor relationships in post-emancipation Dominica. In my work, I examine the material changes that came after slavery ended on two plantations in the village of Soufriere. Future research will continue to explore post-slavery changes in the Caribbean to deepen the comparative perspective.
Prior to joining Kenyon, I was a fellow with the Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery (www.daacs.org) at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Areas of Expertise
Historical archaeology, colonialism, material culture
Education
2017 — Master of Arts from Northwestern University
2010 — Master of Arts from University of the West Indies
2005 — Bachelor of Arts from University of the West Indies
Courses Recently Taught
ANTH 112
Introduction to Archaeology
ANTH 112
Today people increasingly live in highly industrialized and urban civilizations. But how long have humans had "civilization"? What is "civilization" and how can it be recognized? This course will address these questions through looking at the basic elements of archaeology and its place in anthropology. Topics we will cover include the history of archaeology, fundamental aspects of fieldwork and analysis and the prehistoric record from the first humans to the origins of civilization. This foundation course is required for upper-level work in archaeology courses. Offered every semester.
ANTH 200
Commodities and Consumption: Anthropological Perspectives
ANTH 200
In a world of rapidly changing technologies, consumers and their commodities are now central to economic growth in most parts of the world. Consumer spending remains resilient, accounting for the bulk of economic activity in the world’s largest economies. Where do the resources come from to sustain such growth, and for whom? What are the conditions that facilitated this current social, political and economic climate? This course is an anthropological approach to the study of consumption and the processes that entangle people and objects together on a global scale. Throughout the course we will examine how consumption practices shape the modern world by emphasizing its impact on individual behaviors, the environment, the economy and public policy. This class will address a wide variety of processes involved in the creation, exchange and consumption of commodities in a global historical context. Special attention will be paid to labor practices and social identities that are intricately tied to the way humans consume and the material objects they acquire. This course counts as an elective for both the anthropology major and minor. Prerequisite: ANTH 112, 113 or permission of the instructor. Offered every fall.
ANTH 291
ST: Commodities & Consumption
ANTH 291
ANTH 300
Archaeology of the African Diaspora
ANTH 300
This course is an archaeological exploration of the major concepts, themes and research questions that are at the foundation of African diaspora studies. In this class, students will engage with the very concept of ‘African diaspora’ in conversation with the geo-political and socio-economic processes that shaped, and continue to influence the field. Through an engagement with archaeological and ethnographic case studies, we will examine the everyday practices of peoples of African descent across numerous geographies, focusing on similarities and differences that emerge from our comparative approach. Students will be introduced to a number of methodological and theoretical perspectives, and will examine topics such as slavery, emancipation, cultural production, gender, ethnicity, class and spirituality. This course will appeal to students interested in archaeology, anthropology, history, African American studies and Caribbean studies. This counts toward the upper-level archaeology requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ANTH 112 and permission of the instructor. Offered every spring.
ANTH 391