Hello!

I am an anthropological archaeologist who recently completed my doctoral dissertation at Yale University. My research is focused on better understanding the social role of Usulután style pottery in the Late Formative (300 BCE – 200 CE) period in the Southern Maya Region. My dissertation, A Peculiar Decoration: Production, Exchange, and Access to Usulután Pottery in the Late and Formative Southern Maya Region, integrates stylistic analysis with compositional analysis of paste (INAA) and surface treatment (PXRF) to better understand production and exchange patterns for Usulután pottery. My theoretical perspectives are rooted in Gellian theories of enchantment, and I am interested in the relationship between patterns, people, and pots.

I am also passionate about museum curation and education. Museums are vital community spaces where all should be welcome, and I appreciate the opportunity to break down barriers to museum access in my curatorial and pedagogical approach. I have taught at the Yale University Art Gallery since 2022, where I lead activity- and inquiry-based close looking at works of art with preschool through adult groups.