SAA News

Join us on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 1-3 PM Eastern Time for a virtual panel discussion, Demystifying CRM Careers. This online event is designed for students or early career professionals. It is free and only available to SAA members.

The future job market can seem uncertain. This panel discussion aims to answer your questions and demystify the process of getting started in a career in cultural resource management. The four panelists will share their knowledge and take questions from the audience. They come from different positions and experiences in CRM to cover a wide range of topics such as:

• Professional development
• Challenges and resources
• Serving public needs
• Business management
• The future of CRM

The discussion will be recorded and available to all SAA members. Join live to participate and ask questions. Space is limited, so click here to register today! For any questions, please contact public_edu@saa.org.

Panelists:

Richard M. Begay
The Navajo Nation

Mr. Begay is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and Department Manager for the Navajo Nation. He has many years’ experience as a field archaeologist and ethnologist. Currently, Mr. Begay oversees and manages Navajo cultural resources across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, coordinating with the Navajo people, various departments and programs, and federal and state partners. He received a B.A. in Anthropology from Dartmouth College and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Deborah C. Cox, RPA
The Public Archaeology Laboratory Inc.

Ms. Cox has 40 years of experience in the field of cultural resource management, primarily in the eastern United States. Her archaeological experience has involved successful implementation of all stages of research including survey, evaluation, and mitigation of prehistoric sites. These projects have ranged from small developments for private entities to major multi-disciplinary efforts for state and federal agencies. As President of Public Archaeology Laboratory since its inception, Ms. Cox has been directly responsible for all aspects of the company management. Specific administrative duties include overseeing a staff of more than 50 professionals; fiscal policy development; project scope and contract negotiations; and integration of cultural resource services with other environmental compliance services.

Kimball Banks, PhD
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.

Dr. Banks has over 40 years of experience in cultural resource management and historic preservation: 26 in the federal sector and the rest in the private sector or university setting along with two tribes. Since 2009, he has been employed by Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Kimball received his PhD in archaeology from Southern Methodist University in 1984 and has conducted fieldwork in California, the Southwest, Texas, the Southeast, the Northern Plains, and, now, Colorado, as well as Oman and Egypt. His experience has given Kimball a broad understanding of cultural resource management while his experience in a variety of geographical settings and situations has resulted in an expansive understanding and appreciation of archaeology in general.

Michelle Gray
National Park Service

Ms. Gray is an Archeological Technician for the National Park Service based out of the Southeast Archaeological Center. She has worked as an Archeological Technician in the Archeological Investigations, Compliance, and Evaluation (AICE) program for four and a half years. She received her BA in Anthropology from the University of Florida with a minor in Florida Teaching. Michelle is currently enrolled at Florida State University working toward an MS in Anthropology, with a focus in Archaeology, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Emergency Management. Her experiences as a CRM professional include geophysical survey and analysis, as well as terrestrial and underwater survey and excavations. Ms. Gray's primary research focus is on the Archaeology of the African Diaspora in the Caribbean and North American Southeast, however she has experience working on a variety of sites from the Paleoindian period to the early twentieth century throughout the Southeast region.