The Michigan State University Department of Anthropology hosted the joint annual meeting of the Midwest Archaeological Conference and the Midwest Historical Archaeology Conference October 7–9, 2021, on MSU’s campus. Jodie O’Gorman, MSU associate professor and archaeologist, led the team responsible for organizing the conference. 

“Our membership gets together every year to share the research we’ve been doing. It’s an important opportunity for us to see colleagues, meet new and prospective students, and debate and discuss issues that are important to all of us,” O’Gorman said. 

The Midwest Archaeological Conference is the regional association for archaeologists and students working in the Mid-continent. It has been held annually for the last 64 years, except last year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. This year, the Department of Anthropology brought over 150 people and 21 student volunteers together again with special precautions to allow for social distancing.

“MSU has always been one of the most influential institutions in Midwest and Great Lakes archaeology,” O’Gorman said. “Many of our archaeology alumni still live and work in the Midwest and are members of MAC. They hold some of the most influential archaeology positions in national, state, and private organizations. We celebrate the opportunity to reconnect with them. We also see it as an opportunity to let others see how strong our program is.” 

The meeting this year was a joint meeting with the Midwest Historical Archaeology Conference because O’Gorman and her colleagues decided to co-host this meeting to stress the importance of both kinds of archaeology at MSU. The co-organizers were Drs. Jessica Yann and Stacey Camp, Director of MSU’s Campus Archaeology Program. 

“I hope people enjoyed reconnecting with colleagues. Some of the papers reflect on archaeology in the time of COVID, and I think it’s important for us to share that and to support each other,” O’Gorman said. “I think people also enjoyed just getting back to a bit of normalcy in terms of hearing research papers.”

Attendees attended sessions, workshops and a Campus Archaeology tour of MSU.

“One unique event was the MAC-sponsored symposium I co-organized with several former and current students,” O’Gorman said. “We assembled 13 papers on ‘Midcontinental Cuisine: Recent Archaeological Explorations of Food and Cooking in the Heartland,’ about cuisine from ancient times to MSU’s early history. We also featured MSU historical cuisine at the following reception in collaboration with MSU chefs.” 

Other events during the conference were a workshop on building an inclusive culture in the field, and two workshops (one for students and one for practicing archaeologists) on 3D Digitization, Preservation, and Access in Archaeology and Heritage. The 3D workshops were presented by Dr. Ethan Watrall in the college’s Lab for the Education and Advancement in Digital Research (LEADR), an interdisciplinary venture of Anthropology, History, and Matrix. 

“The past cultures we study lived from the edge of the Plains into the forests of the Northeast, around the Great Lakes as well as smaller inland lakes, and along major and minor river valleys,” O’Gorman said. “Indigenous groups have been here since at least 15,000 years ago and their cultural heritage is especially rich and varied.”

Hosting the conference had special meaning to O’Gorman.

“I first became interested in MSU when I attended a MAC meeting here 22 years ago,” O’Gorman said. “That meeting led to my application for the position I hold now. As I think about retirement, I hope the younger generation of Midwest archaeologists that attended this year saw what an exciting program we have.” 

To learn more about the Midwest Archaeology Conference, visit https://www.midwestarchaeology.org/about .

Dr. Najib Hourani, an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Global Urban Studies Program and core faculty in the Muslim Studies Program, is the winner of the inaugural 2021 College of Social Science Dean’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Excellence Faculty Award. The award recognizes social science faculty who have made comprehensive, impressive and sustained efforts surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Dr. Hourani is richly deserving of the inaugural DEI Faculty award because he has a demonstrated and sustained record of making our campus a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all,” said Dr. Nwando Achebe, the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the College of Social Science.

Continuing a tradition of transformative research

Dr. Hourani joined MSU’s faculty in the fall of 2006, and quickly established himself as a campus expert on the political anthropology of the Middle East, civil conflict, and cities of the Arab world. His past research focused on the Lebanese civil war and post-conflict urban reconstruction, and his current research builds upon the lessons learned in Beirut to address the rebirth of Syrian cities as that country’s decade-long civil war comes to an end. 

Unable to visit Syria due to U.S. travel restrictions, Dr. Hourani was recently awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to work with Syrian refugees in the neighboring country of Jordan to better understand their needs, hopes and aspirations for returning to their home villages, towns and cities.

Though his work in Jordan ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Hourani is still finding ways to transform the human experience through his scholarship closer to home. Teaming up with faculty from Global Studies in Arts and Humanities in the College of Arts and Letters, Dr. Hourani is exploring new research on the relationship between African American and Arab American communities in the United States. 

“The relationship between these two communities has historically been complicated, as there have been periods of both conflict and allyship between these groups in the past,” Dr. Hourani explained. 

Creating space for DEI conversations in the classroom 

On top of his research, Dr. Hourani teaches several undergraduate and graduate-level Anthropology courses. Upon his arrival at MSU, he developed the Anthropology of the Middle East course, which, in addition to exploring the peoples and cultures of the region, begins with discussions of race and representation. “There are a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions about what it means to be Arab that many people carry with them that they may not even realize,” explained Dr. Hourani.

In his classes, Dr. Hourani believes in fostering conversations about race and identity rather than shying away from them. For example, Dr. Hourani helps students to recognize harmful portrayals that normalize bigotry against Arab people in US popular culture, and encourages them to engage with such portrayals critically.

Dr. Hourani emphasizes the incredible opportunity that Spartan students have to learn about Arab culture, heritage and history at MSU – especially from Arab American faculty. 

“Many people may not realize that, outside of the Middle East, Michigan has the largest Arab population in the world,” Dr. Hourani explained. “Arabs and Arab Americans have made tremendous contributions to the state and to the country. In an increasingly diverse country, it is important for students to learn about Arab peoples and cultures. Unlearning biases and stereotypes is hard work. I am gratified to see so many students willing to take it on at MSU.”

Department of Anthropology doctoral student Marwa Bakabas was featured as the Diversity Torch in the College of Social Science “Diversity Matters” issue for Arab American Heritage Month. Arab American Heritage Month commemorates the contributions of Arab Americans to American life and their struggles to receive full protections as American citizens. The College of Social Science Diversity Torches celebrate students who uphold a diversity value or ideal. As “Diversity Torches,” they provide light, guidance, and awareness to their fellow students and all who see them.

Marwa Bakabas is a sociocultural anthropology PhD student in the Department of Anthropology whose work centers on violence, forced migration, exile, and trauma in the Middle East. While writing her Master’s thesis in Lebanon, Marwa decided she wanted to apply for a PhD and expand her focus from studying refugees that are displaced in Lebanon and Greece to also include the Yemeni refugee community. Marwa explains that MSU was a great fit because they had more opportunities to both become an academic practitioner and to continue work as an activist. Her dissertation will focus on the visibility of the war and conflict in Yemen and the subsequent displacement/exile of Yemenis.

In both her personal and professional life, Marwa is inspired by the Arab Americans making a difference in their communities, noting “as Arab-Americans, we have a choice in how we embrace or neglect our identity and so many of my counterparts and friends that I have crossed paths with have inspired me, especially those who continue to preserve our traditions while helping spread awareness and knowledge to break stereotypes.”

Marwa also explains, “We can all be better allies by standing in solidarity with one another. Many groups face marginalization and racism in America and all over the world. We need to stand together and build stronger allyship instead of amplifying our differences.”

The Department of Anthropology is pleased to introduce the new NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) Program Manager, MSU Anthropology alum Jessica Yann, who began this role in August 2021. Although the role is based in the Office of the Associate Provost for University Collections and Art Initiatives, Jessica also continues to work with the archaeology collections and teach through the Department of Anthropology.

This position is designed to create and take a proactive approach to NAGPRA compliance and outreach, including creating a strategic plan for effectively implementing NAGPRA work. This includes auditing collections for potentially NAGPRA eligible ancestors or objects, writing grants to facilitate collections research, management, and outreach with Tribal communities, facilitating consultations, creating draft Inventories and Summaries in collaboration with Tribal partners, facilitating respectful repatriations and returns, curating the NAGPRA collections, and ensuring that MSU stewards all collections according to the policies and procedures in the MSU NAGPRA and MSU Collections Policies.

Jessica started at MSU as a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology, completing her PhD degree in 2019. She took over as the NAGPRA Assistant in March of 2019 and continued in that capacity until beginning her current role in August. Prior to Jessica’s position as the NAGPRA Assistant, she worked with the State Archaeologist in the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office for 9.5 years, an experience that Jessica credits with having been incredibly helpful in her new role as Program Manager.

Jessica notes that she is excited to continue to consult and collaborate with all the Tribes that are connected to Michigan as she helps continue the journey towards repatriation and rematriation, stating “I’m honored by the privilege of assisting them in this work, and thankful for the trust they have placed in me.”

In her free time, Jessica enjoys dabbling in arts and crafts, trying crazy new recipes, and running. We look forward to all the amazing work Jessica will do in her new role!

The Department of Anthropology is proud to announce three new scholarships, each generously funded by an MSU Anthropology alum! These scholarships will allow undergraduate and graduate students in the department to embark on travel, undertake research, and gain educational experiences that may not have otherwise been possible. 

First, with the financial support of alum Aaron Whiteford, the Whiteford Cultural Anthropology Fieldwork Scholarship has been established. Preference will be given to students conducting research in Latin America. The inaugural scholarship has recently been awarded to PhD student, Juan Carlos Rico Noguera.

Second, with the financial support of archaeology alum Don Weir, the Commonwealth Heritage Group Diversity Scholarship Award in Archaeology at Michigan State University has been established. Students who are or have been enrolled in archaeology courses and who have high financial need will be considered for this award. Preference will also be given to students who are first generation to attend college and/or are educationally disadvantaged. Special consideration shall be given to ensure that this scholarship supports the Donor’s desire of building and supporting a culture of diversity and inclusion in the Department of Anthropology.

Third, with the financial support of alum Emily Altimare, the Altimare Professional Development Scholarship has been established. This scholarship will support graduate students in the Department – the funds can be used for professional development support including conference training to learn new skills, online certifications, qualitative data analysis software, etc.

We are extremely grateful for these generous donations, which will allow our students to expand their educational horizons and become successful and marketable anthropologists.

This edition of the Department of Anthropology newsletter highlights outstanding faculty, students, and alumni and invites you to learn more about their work across the diverse fields of anthropology. 

Although we are still navigating the global pandemic and following MSU safety mandates and protocols in accordance with directives from health and government officials, this fall semester we were delighted to welcome students back to campus to provide more experiential learning opportunities. We celebrate the ability to once again safely engage with students in the classroom and in the field, and appreciate the ways in which we have adapted and incorporated new technologies into every aspect of our work. The tremendous effort and patience in adapting to this situation from across the Department of Anthropology deserves profound recognition.

Despite the obstacles we have recently faced, we have also enjoyed commemorating many accomplishments across the department this semester. In fact, we are looking forward to celebrating the graduating class of 2021 in December at an in-person commencement ceremony.

This semester, we have honored faculty who have been recognized at the college level for their research that makes an impact in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, we have celebrated faculty who have received grants and published because of their timely research. We are also pleased to announce the new Forensic Anthropology lab space, as well as three new student scholarships. Additionally, the Department of Anthropology was honored to host the Midwest Archaeology Conference this year, and to recognize alumnus Don Weir for his important contributions to the field of archaeology and the Department of Anthropology at MSU. 

In the midst of this global pandemic, many have regrettably experienced grief over the loss of family or friends, missed opportunities, unfulfilled endings, and imminent uncertainties. While it is difficult to reconcile these feelings of loss, I am grateful for how the people in this department have consoled and supported one another as we have navigated through these complicated times. My sincere pride in this department has only strengthened as we continue to navigate challenging times while continuing our mission. The Department of Anthropology has demonstrated its unwavering dedication to provide an exceptional education for our students and to engage in meaningful research, even when faced with unprecedented adversity. We will carry this commitment forward in the upcoming new year as we continue to manage ongoing challenges while prioritizing everyone’s health and safety.

Ayla Schwartz has contributed greatly to research activities in the MSU Bioarchaeology Laboratory directed by Dr. Gabriel Wrobel. With majors in Anthropology and Neuroscience and a minor in Environment and Health, Schwartz’s interests within bioarchaeology include skeletal indicators of stress, and digital imaging and 3D modeling of artifacts and human skeletal remains.

During her undergraduate career, Schwartz was engaged in several projects in the MSU Bioarchaeology Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Wrobel. Her primary research endeavors have focused on investigating lines of increased bone density, referred to as Harris lines, seen in the ends of long bones with computed tomography (CT). Visible only in CTs and X-rays, Harris lines are traditionally considered to be signs of growth interruption and interpreted as signs of stress from juvenile malnutrition, disease, or trauma. In collaboration with the MSU Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Schwartz learned how to work with CTs and explored the three-dimensional topography of Harris lines within long bones. By better understanding the morphology and manifestation of Harris lines, Schwartz seeks to contribute to how they are analyzed and interpreted when observed in skeletal remains. Schwartz received a College of Social Science Provost Undergraduate Research Initiative (PURI) Grant for this project, presented her research at several research symposia on campus, and is currently publishing her findings.

After graduating with high honors this past spring, Schwartz will focus on several pursuits this year as she continues working with Dr. Wrobel in the MSU Bioarchaeology Laboratory. In addition to furthering her research, she will obtain her Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certification and prepare for graduate school with the aim of earning a graduate degree in bioarchaeology.

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Lulu Nestor discovered her passion for peace and justice work at MSU through her focus on sociocultural anthropology and peace and justice studies. During her first year, Nestor learned about the work of the Lansing violence de-escalation and unarmed civilian accompaniment nonprofit, Meta Peace Team (MPT), in Dr. Elizabeth Drexler’s Peace and Justice Studies class. This organization trains people in violence de-escalation and sends out teams of trained civilians to keep peace at potentially violent situations, such as protests. Nestor interned with MPT, serving as a board member and part of several committees including MPT’s international committee, which places unarmed civilian accompaniment internationally. During the pandemic, she was also involved in developing the MPT de-escalation training for MSU students and staff tasked with upholding Covid prevention protocols.

Nestor’s interests in social justice issues have guided her research activities. Working with Dr. Stephen Gasteyer of the Sociology Department, Nestor was engaged in a research project that examined the ways in which communities are currently using alternatives to policing. In this research, she worked with community leaders and carried out interviews, participant observation, and an extensive literature review. Nestor has conducted several additional research projects over her undergraduate career at MSU, including an ethnography of a sanctuary church.

Nestor received the College of Social Science’s Outstanding Senior Award for Anthropology, which is an honor presented to graduating seniors who have demonstrated exemplary academic and extracurricular successes, and a strong sense of leadership, commitment, and dedication to MSU. After graduating this past spring with her major in Anthropology and minors in Peace and Justice Studies and Leadership of Organizations, she accepted a fulltime position managing fundraising at Meta Peace Team. She is excited to continue furthering this organization’s efforts in teaching methods of nonviolence for a more peaceful world.

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When she first learned about forensic anthropology, Savannah Holcombe found that the field instantly resonated with her. At MSU, Holcombe followed her interests in forensic anthropology and became actively engaged in the MSU Forensic Anthropology Laboratory (MSUFAL) working with Dr. Joseph Hefner. In addition to her anthropology classes and experiences in the MSUFAL, Holcombe highly valued her coursework for her minor in African American and African Studies.

As an undergraduate research assistant, Holcombe worked with Dr. Hefner in the MSU Macromorphoscopic Laboratory on several projects. She received a College of Social Science Dean’s Assistantship to support a study that investigated sexual dimorphism in the human shoulder girdle through geometric morphometric analysis of the scapula. Holcombe’s research on quantifying sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the scapula contributes to efforts of estimating biological sex from the skeleton, which can aid in the identification of unknown human remains. Under the mentorship of Dr. Hefner and PhD student Micayla Spiros, Holcombe compared two methods of measurement to investigate which had the lowest error rates for sex estimation of the human scapula. She presented her research at the annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) and is preparing an article for publication.

In the fall, Holcombe will begin the master’s program in Forensic and Biological Anthropology at Mercyhurst University, where she is looking forward to expanding her knowledge, gaining more hands-on experience, and delving further into her research interests. After earning her master’s degree, she intends to pursue a PhD and ultimately teach at a university while dually consulting on forensic casework.

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