These contributors include Elizabeth Reetz (OSA Strategic Initiatives Director) and OSA Indian Advisory Council members Suzanne Buffalo and Julie Martineau. 

 

This award recognizes exemplary, short-term public engagement projects. This project is rooted in the experiences of its 38 contributors who have both excelled and floundered over years of doing public outreach. These contributors worked together with editors Elizabeth Reetz and Stephanie Sperling for a time span of 1-2 years and provided valuable time, expertise, and advice to address one of our biggest challenges in public archaeology: archaeologists interested in outreach receive little to no academic training or professional development to build needed skills. The project’s goal was to help archaeologists – at any career level – feel better-prepared to do public programming, make efficient use of scarce and underfunded time and resources, and eliminate some of the guesswork for many who, simply put, do not have the support needed to create intentional and effective programming. It aims to help archaeologists move beyond the check box to do more ethical, collaborative, effective, and impactful public outreach that can inspire interest in archaeology, historic preservation, and stewardship.

 

This initiative could have never been accomplished by a single person, or even a small group. We can only improve public archaeology by learning from and collaborating with each other, sharing our successes and struggles, and continuing to communicate about impact and effectiveness.

 

All 38 contributors deserve immense recognition for the invaluable time and expertise they provided for this project. They serve as active volunteers and leaders in educational initiatives for the Society for American Archaeology, Society for Historical Archaeology, Archaeological Institute of America, Society of Black Archaeologists, Project Archaeology, Institute for Heritage Education, and Irish Heritage School, among many others, and they represent county, state, and federal agencies; academic institutions; museums; non-profits; and private businesses across the United States and Ireland. Indigenous voices include members of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Meskwaki Nation (Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa), Choptico Band of Piscataway-Conoy Indians, and Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

 

Contributors: Elizabeth Reetz (editor), Stephanie Sperling (editor), Meredith Anderson Langlitz, Constance Arzigian, Sara Ayers-Rigsby, David Brown, Nicole Bucchino Grinnan, Suzanne Wanatee Buffalo, Virginia Butler, Mia Carey, Carol Colaninno, John Creese, Amelia Dall, Rebecca Dean, Marvin DeFoe, Thane Harpole, A. Gwynn Henderson, Alexandra Jones, Daniel Joyce, Susan Kooiman, Randi Korn, Angela Labrador, Linda Levstik, Stephen Mandal, Rayette Martin, Julie Spotted Eagle Horse Martineau, Lyssia Merrifield, Sarah Miller, Jeanne Moe, Rico Newman, Adam Novey, Bonnie Pitblado, Elizabeth Pruitt, Samantha Rubinson, Denis Shine, Rebecca Simon, Nichole Tramel, and Heather Walder