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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 2d

Our graduate students collaborate with premier institutions all over the world! This summer PhD student Eleonora Zanetti attended the Santa Fe Institute for training in complex systems modeling, funded through a full scholarship from SFI.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 4d

Step into the past and explore Armenia with WSU this summer! Join Dr. Tekla Schmaus and Dr. Rachel Horowitz in May and June of 2026 to study archaeology, heritage, and identity in the Caucasus. Applications due February 1, 2026. Learn more: mystudyabroad.wsu.edu or email [email protected].

WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 6d

🔦 Summer Fieldwork Spotlight: Cultural Anthropology PhD student Sumanta Roy has been conducting research in India on the health and livelihoods of electronic waste workers. Sumanta was also recently awarded the WSU Liberal Arts Scholarship Fund for 2025–26.👏

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 9d

Student volunteers are hard at work cataloguing objects from the Museum of Anthropology’s learning collections, including lithics and pottery. These collections will be put to use in upcoming classes, giving students hands-on opportunities to learn from real archaeological materials.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 11d

WSU Anthropology is growing! We seek a tenure-track Assistant Professor in cultural anthropology specializing in health, well-being, and/or human-environment interactions, to start next fall in Pullman. Apply by Nov 2, 2025: wsu.edu/jobs (search R-14034).

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 13d

PhD candidate Beatrice Caffé was invited to speak at the National Academies of Sciences’ Reimagining STEMM Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Career Development Summit. Her panel explored challenges in graduate education.
🔗 Learn more: www.nationalacademies.org/event/44967_...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 16d

Every fall, the Department of Anthropology kicks off the school year with our Welcome Dinner! It’s always a great time to reconnect with faculty, grad students, friends, and even a few furry guests. 🐾. Here’s Ph.D. candidate Jordan Thompson with her pup, Data, an honorary member of the department!

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 18d

This summer Dr. Rachel Horowitz conducted NSF-funded archaeological research in Belize with colleagues, exploring what stone tool production reveals about past economies. The team also hosted a stone tool production workshop and an Archaeology Day in the community! Link: news.wsu.edu/news/2025/09...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 20d

Graduate student Evan Leacox co-created and hosts an annual canoe journey on the Columbia River for WSU Rivers, Watersheds, and Communities (RWC) students. This August participants joined the second Hanford Reach Canoe Journey, a paddling trip designed to build relationships with place and people.

WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 23d

👀 The floors at the WSU Museum of Anthropology have gotten a shiny new facelift! Check out the museum on the east side of the first floor of College Hall. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free! #anthropologymuseum

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 25d

📝 Writing Wednesday! PhD student RC Timilsina authored an article published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. This research shows that traditional knowledge on natural disasters is predictive specific to location and type of disaster. Article: doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 27d

Who doesn't like playing in dirt?? At Future Cougs Day, the Department of Anthropology and the Museum of Anthropology featured dig boxes. Pictured here are: archaeology faculty member Dr. Rachel Horowitz, museum curator Madison Pullis, and graduate student Abby Antinossi. #FutureCougs #archaeology

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · Sep 12

Funding Friday! We're proud to announce that doctoral student RC Timilsina has received a WSU Liberal Arts Scholarship for the 2025–2026 academic year. Congratulations, RC!

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · Sep 11

From September 5th to 20th, WSU Pullman and UW are teaming up to tackle hunger. This friendly competition aims to raise awareness and crucial funding for the university food pantries. Let’s beat hunger and support our students’ success!
Donate here: tinyurl.com/foodpantrych...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · Sep 10

📝 Writing Wednesday! Ph.D. Candidate Michael Gaffney first-authored an article on on how children communicate their needs through crying. This research was recently published in Human Nature, and his photo taken in Utila, Honduras made the cover image! Article: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · Sep 8

🔆 Summer fieldwork spotlight: PhD student Eleonora Zanetti studied cultural adaptations to climate change among the Rendille pastoralists of Kenya. She's presenting at the American Political Science Association (APSA) conference this week! Preprint here: preprints.apsanet.org/engage/apsa/...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · Sep 5

New semester, new faculty! Today we're introducing Dr. Kristopher Smith, an evolutionary anthropologist who conducts research in East Africa. He might be a familiar face, as he's completed postdoctoral work and also taught at WSU. Welcome, Dr. Smith! Read more: anthro.wsu.edu/kristopher-s...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 21

A special issue of PNAS on the origins of wealth inequality challenges the idea that economic growth began only with the Industrial Revolution, organized by Professor Emeritus Tim Kohler! Blog: www.pnas.org/post/update/... Issue: www.pnas.org/topic/567
Kohler’s article: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 19

The chair of the Department of Anthropology, Dr. Andrew Duff, was awarded the 2025 WSU College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Peer Mentoring Award. The department is fortunate to benefit from his tireless work, and we are thrilled that he has received college-level recognition. 👏 #GoCougs

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 16

Dr. Nicole Hess was awarded the 2025 WSU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Career Achievement for Career Track Faculty for excelling at research, teaching, academic advising, and service to her community in almost two decades at WSU Vancouver. 👏 #CoCougs

Dr. Nicole Hess presented with her award by Interim Dean Meehan

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 14

👀 Current and former students spotted at the Society for American Archaeology conference in Denver, CO last month! Current Ph.D. student Jennifer Cuthbertson and Ph.D graduate Dr. Valda Black presented posters on their research. #conference #postersession #SAA2025

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 14

👀 Current & former students spotted at the Society for American Archaeology conference in Denver last month! Current Ph.D. student Jennifer Cuthbertson and Ph.D graduate Dr. Valda Black presented posters. Conferences let academics present their emerging research to a specialized audience. #SAA2025

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 12

Dr. Marsha Quinlan was awarded the 2025 WSU College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Graduate Advising and Mentoring Award. For the past 18 years, Dr. Quinlan has chaired and co-chaired 24 graduate degree committees (14 MA and 10 Ph.D. graduates) and served on 45 graduate committees! 👏 #GoCougs

Dr. Marsha Quinlan accepting her award from Interim Dean Meehan.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 9

At the Society for American Archaeology meeting, Dr. Tim Kohler, Emeritus Faculty, was honored by colleagues and students for his tremendous influence over the years. Pictured are speakers in the session, Dr. Kyle Bocinsky (PhD '14) interviewing Dr. Kohler, and students he has advised. #SAA2025

Left to right: Scott Ortman (CU Boulder), Kyle Bocinsky (UMontana), Ann Cordell (UFL), Darcy Bird (UFL), Jerry Milanich (Tim's PhD advisor, emeritus from UFL), Tim Kohler, Carla Van West (retired, research director at SRI), Kelsey Reese (Los Alamos National Lab), and Andrew Gillreath-Brown (Yale)

Picture of Kyle Bocinsky giving an NPR-style interview to Dr. Tim Kohler that included a series of 1-minute and 1-word answers. Pictured is the question "Ketchup or Mayonnaise."

Left to right: Andrew Duff, Laura Brumbaugh (MA committee, '22), Matthew Root (PhD committee, '90), Kyle Bocinsky (MA '11, PhD '14), Darcy Bird (PhD '24), Tim Kohler, Carla Van West (WSU PhD '90), Kelsey Reese (WSU MA '14, on PhD committee at Notre Dame '21), and Andrew Gillreath-Brown (WSU PhD '22)

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · May 7

Graduate students Madison Hönig and Beatrice Caffe recently were honored with WSU leadership awards. Madison received a GPSA Excellence Award for Community Engagement, while Beatrice was awarded a Distinguished Leader Chancellor Award. Congratulations, Beatrice and Madison!!
#GoCougs #awards

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