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Michigan State welcomes Dr. Phyllis Johnson to launch its first cultural resource management lab
With cultural resource management (CRM) accounting for up to 90% of archaeology jobs in the United States, Michigan State University (MSU) has taken a major step forward by hiring Dr. Phyllis Johnson, a new assistant professor of anthropology, to launch the university’s first CRM lab and training program. The CRM Lab, currently in development, hopes to support students with paid, hands-on experience in cultural resource management while completing archaeological contracts and generating revenue. Johnson envisions using the money generated from contract work to support the lab with equipment costs, graduate student assistantships, undergraduate internships and summer jobs. Once established, it…
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Anthropology grad wins grand prize award for innovative archaeology research
With more than 1,100 students participating in the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), only three grand prize winners were named. Among them was 19-year-old recent anthropology graduate Sasha Franklin whose nontraditional project has already gained attention. Franklin’s research project, Archaeology Education in the Digital Age: Sharing History Through ArcGIS StoryMaps, won the UURAF grand prize in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts category. Her project used an interactive platform called ArcGIS StoryMaps. ArcGIS technology is widely used by archaeologists because it allows geographic information systems (GIS) to transform spatial data into interactive digital maps. With ArcGIS StoryMaps, photos, videos, explanations, and even 3D…
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Graduate voice: My archaeology journey excavating Fort Michilimackinac
Kelly Sullivan graduated in 2024 with a degree in biology from Lyman Briggs College and in anthropology from the College of Social Science. This summer, Sullivan is working as an archaeologist at Michigan’s Colonial Michilimackinac, an 18th-century fort and fur trading village located in Mackinaw City. Growing up, my family has always made it a point to explore the best places that Michigan has to offer. We went to museums, campgrounds, state parks, lighthouses, historical sites, nature trails and more. One such location happened to be Fort Michilimackinac. Because of that, I have always been interested in the history that surrounds…
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Field Notes from Tuscany: A Student’s Perspective on Archaeology Abroad
Senior anthropology major Paige Topping recently spent a month in Tuscany, Italy, working with the IMPERO Project at the Monteverdi Field School. In this Q&A, she shares her firsthand experiences of living abroad, working on an active archaeological site, and how this experience deepened her appreciation for the field of archaeology. What interested you in participating in this archaeology dig in Tuscany? I was initially drawn to this dig site because of its location—Tuscany sounded incredible, and I had never been abroad before. I was also intrigued by Dr. Fenton’s work on skeletal analysis at a local burial site. Knowing I’d have an…
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New study reveals how breastfeeding mothers adapt to environmental stress
Can a mother’s body protect her breast milk even if she is malnourished? Yes. In her new study, Dual Behavioral–Physiological Buffering of Mothers’ Milk Facilitates Drought Adaptability of Pastoralists and Agropastoralists in Northern Kenya, Dr. Masako Fujita examines how environmental challenges—like drought—affect the nutrition and health of 221 breastfeeding mothers living in northern Kenya. “During a severe drought, we found that mothers protect both their own nutrition and the nutrients in their breast milk—safeguarding their babies—through a combination of social support, behavioral choices, and biological responses,” Fujita said. By Louise Henderson
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MSU helps advance efforts to reduce ligament injury in dog knee replacements
An unexpected collaboration between forensic anthropologists and veterinarians could help reduce ligament injuries during total knee replacement (TKR) surgeries in dogs. Dr. Joe Hefner, a forensic anthropologist, and Savannah Holcombe, a doctoral student at Michigan State University (MSU), partnered with researchers from MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Cambridge Veterinary School to improve the accuracy of identifying collateral ligament attachment points in dogs. Their goal is to enhance surgical planning by providing orthopedic veterinarians with more precise imaging and anatomical reference points. Hefner explained many TKRs in dogs are less successful due to the limited visibility of the lateral and…
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Anthropology researchers examine COVID-19’s ongoing impact on families and nations
A new open-access publication features the work of Dr. Heather Howard, associate professor of anthropology at Michigan State University, and MSU doctoral candidate Priyanka Jayakodi. The book, titled Covid’s Chronicities: From Urgency to Stasis in a Pandemic Era, examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved from a global emergency to a state of chronic unpredictability. Drawing on research from across five continents, the volume documents the pandemic’s continuing impact on health systems, economies and communities, while also highlighting the creativity and resilience of local responses. The full publication is available as a free PDF. By Louise Henderson
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Discovery of ancient wolf mandibles links the Illinois Hopewell to Michigan
The discovery of two 2,000-year-old modified wolf mandibles has provided new insight linking the Illinois Hopewell to southern Michigan. Professor Emeritus Dr. William Lovis of the Department of Anthropology at Michigan State University and the late Maurice O. Haag published an article in Illinois Archaeology, “Cut and Polished Wolf Mandible Segments from the Quanicassee River Drainage, Michigan,” revealing evidence that connects these artifacts to the Illinois Hopewell. Lovis said the mandibles were intentionally modified in a style used by the Illinois Hopewell, a Native American civic and ceremonial complex that existed in the Midwest before European contact, particularly in Ohio and…
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Anthropology doctoral student Gungun Islam wins Shao Chang Lee Award
Gungun Islam, an anthropology doctoral student, won first place in the 2024-2025 Shao Chang Lee Best Paper Competition. Islam said receiving this award was a ‘powerful reminder’ that her research is significant. “It’s rewarding to see my hard work, long hours of research, and emotional investment in the topic recognized in such a tangible way,” she said. “It reaffirmed that the questions I am exploring and the lens I bring to my research are contributing something valuable to broader conversations.” Shaped by her everyday experiences, Islam’s decision to pursue a graduate degree in anthropology grew from her curiosity to understand how…
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From Passion to Purpose: Adena Norwood’s Inspiring Journey to Commencement Speaker
It’s one of those rare warm and sunny days in early April when I meet Adena Norwood for the first time. The sky is perfectly blue, and for a minute, I remember why I enjoy living in Michigan. As I walk into a local East Lansing coffee shop, I hear the barista call Adena’s name. I wave and introduce myself. I’m instantly drawn to her bubbly energy, authentic smile and poised demeanor as she welcomes me to a table in the corner for us to talk. Immediately, I see why Adena was selected by the Dean’s Student Advisory Council…