Research Journey
From first-generation scholar to national conference presenter — tracing the evolution of my work in Indigenous repatriation.
Discovering NAGPRA
Enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College. A single research assignment on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ignited a passion that would define my academic trajectory.
First Research Deep Dive
Began independent research into institutional power imbalances in repatriation. Discovered that hundreds of thousands of Native American cultural items and ancestral remains remain unrepatriated decades after NAGPRA's passage.
NCHA Conference, Cullowhee, NC
Presented "Uncovering Lost Knowledge of Pre-Columbian Native American Cultures" at the North Carolina Honors Association Annual Conference. First national presentation.
SAA Ethics Bowl Victory
Won the 2025 Society for American Archaeology Ethics Bowl as part of the first community college team to ever compete. Learned that ethics must be the foundation of archaeological practice.
NAAAS Conference, Dallas, TX
Presented "Returning Dignity: Reforming Repatriation Legislation for Tribal Empowerment" at the National Association of Native American Studies. 45-minute paper presentation.
SSS Conference, Charlotte, NC
Presented the same paper at the Southern Sociological Society 88th Annual Conference, reaching a new disciplinary audience.
NCHC Conference, San Diego, CA
Delivered a 60-minute oral research presentation on "Institutional Responsibility in Repatriation" at the National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Conference.
AAA Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA
Exhibited "Haunted Restitutions: Restless Ancestors and the Ghosts of Colonialism in Repatriation Policy" as an immersive art installation at the American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting.
What's Next
Completing my Associate of Arts degree at CPCC with a 4.0 GPA. Preparing to transfer for advanced study in archaeology and anthropology. Research continues to evolve.
Explore the Research
Each milestone in this journey produced scholarship that advances the cause of Indigenous repatriation. Read the full papers and presentations behind the story.