iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Archaeology Now, a new MSU Anthropology lecture series, opens Oct. 8 with short talks from Dr. Phyllis Johnson, Dr. Madeline Mackie and Dr. Gabriel Wrobel. 5 p.m., McDonel Hall C-103, and live on YouTube. Learn more: anthropology.msu.edu/archaeology-...

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Can a shift in angle make X-rays of the same clavicle look like a mismatch? MSU doctoral student Natalie Clark built a study around that question during her summer internship at the DPAA's Omaha lab, the agency working to identify missing U.S. service members. anthropology.msu.edu/2026/10/01/m...

Natalie Clark sits at a desk, looking at data on a computer screen.

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

MSU forensic anthropologist Dr. Joe Hefner told WLNS 6 News how a biological profile from skeletal remains is used to build a short list of potential matches among missing persons. An MSU Anthropology team is assisting Lansing police in an ongoing case. anthropology.msu.edu/2026/09/29/m...

anthropology.msu.edu

MSU Anthropology team assists Lansing police with investigation of human remains

Lansing police brought in an MSU Anthropology team to assist after human remains believed to be several years old were found in Lansing on Saturday, according to WLNS. The Medical Examiner’s Office…

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Dr. Rhian Dunn (WCU) and Dr. Joe Hefner (MSU) test whether collection-specific bias masks cranial variation across 1,161 individuals from eight U.S. documented skeletal collections. anthropology.msu.edu/2026/09/28/m...

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

MSU's Computational Cultural Heritage fellowship just announced its 2026-27 cohort. This interdisciplinary @leadr.bsky.social fellowship supports original digital cultural heritage projects across an academic year. Learn more: leadr.msu.edu/fellowships/

032

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Dr. Madeline Mackie on the La Prele mammoth site: nine excavation seasons revealed a campsite, not a kill site. Hearths, bone needles, ochre. A community moved to the mammoth, not the other way around. Full episode of The Ancients podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/0Qbl...

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

What skills matter in an AI-shaped workplace? The Wall Street Journal points to anthropology. Understanding technology matters. Understanding people does, too. Read: www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca... (Subscription required.)

MSU Department of Anthropology graphic reading, “Understanding technology matters. Understanding people does, too.” Below is a Wall Street Journal article preview with the headline, “Want to Succeed in an AI World? Study Anthropology,” by Callum Borchers.

001

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

MSU anthropology senior Megan Berry spent the summer analyzing soil that sat unstudied in museums for years. In it: microdebitage, the tiny stone flakes struck off in toolmaking that reveal where people once worked. Story: anthropology.msu.edu/2026/09/02/m...

anthropology.msu.edu

MSU anthropology senior Megan Berry finds big questions in archaeology’s smallest fragments

A summer sorting microscopic fragments led anthropology senior Megan Berry to an unexpected interest…

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

How do you make a 19th-century artifact accessible to researchers anywhere? Michigan State University anthropology PhD students use photogrammetry to build 3D models of Saints' Rest finds, and the MSU Museum is folding them into a VR experience. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ovi...

youtube.com

Saints' Rest: From Collections to Virtual Reality

The MSU Museum is transforming archaeological discoveries into new opportunities for learning. This video highlights the Saints' Rest project, which combines campus archaeology, 3D digitization, and…

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

"Contact" asks one word to cover two centuries of shifting power, trade and violence in the Great Lakes. Dr. Jessica Yann argues for breaking it apart: a continuum that centers how Indigenous communities persisted and adapted. anthropology.msu.edu/2026/08/13/r... #Archaeology #Anthropology

Book cover of Post-Contact Archaeology of Michigan and the Upper Great Lakes Region displayed on a table.

Infographic showing a continuum of Indigenous-European contact in the Great Lakes region, from encroachment and entanglement to symmetrical interaction and shatter zone, with a green-to-yellow gradient bar illustrating the overlapping phases.

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Dr. Phyllis Johnson, MSU anthropologist, on healthier working environments in cultural resource management, a field that runs most of US archaeology's jobs. New article in the journal Advances in Archaeological Practice. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The default interpretation for human remains in Maya caves has been sacrifice. Dr. Gabriel Wrobel has spent two decades pushing back on that, and the skeletal evidence is on his side. anthropology.msu.edu/2026/07/30/c... #anthropology

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Carolyn Isaac on her reappointment as assistant professor of anthropology. 🎉 Dr. Isaac is a biological anthropologist specializing in forensic anthropology.

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Drexler on her promotion to professor of anthropology. 🎉 Dr. Drexler's research examines violence, human rights, transitional justice, and impunity in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, work she has sustained for more than 20 years.

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The Department of Anthropology is proud to congratulate Md "Monir" Moniruzzaman on being named a Fulbright finalist for the 2026-27 academic year. Moniruzzaman was selected for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to conduct work in Bangladesh. From MSUToday: msutoday.msu.edu/news/2026/06...

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

There's something nice about digging into your own campus's history, literally. MSU's Campus Archaeology Program is back at the site of the university's 1880 observatory, picking up the thread of a pipe found in 2024 to see where it leads. Full story via The State News. statenews.com/article/2026...

statenews.com

Campus archaeology team heads back to 1880 MSU observatory site - The State News

In 2023, the Campus Archaeology Program at MSU made a groundbreaking discovery: the foundation of the original, 145-year-old campus observatory that was demolished in the 1920s. Now, the team is back ...

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Anthropology alumnus Donald Weir was recently awarded with the National Society of Historical Archaeology’s Award of Merit for his lifetime of work in archaeology at this year’s national conference. The full story: spr.ly/63325B6YhbR #MSUAnthropology #MSUSocialScience

Donald Weir (pictured right) receives his Award of Merit at the annual conference in Detroit.

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

In 1952, Toy Len Goon—a Chinese immigrant & widowed—was named U.S. Mother of the Year. Her granddaughter, Dr. Andrea Louie, shares Goon's story in Chinese American Mothering. 📚 spr.ly/63321CEsRd

A woman with glasses holds a book titled "Chinese American Mothering" by Andrea Louie. The cover shows a vintage photo of a group of people. She is seated, wearing a green jacket and necklace.

031

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

From childhood curiosity to forensic anthropology: Dr. Andrea Zurek-Ost joins MSU Anthropology as a research associate on MOSIAC—a $2.1M NIJ-funded project advancing identification methods. Read her story here! spr.ly/63320CBnBq

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a brown top, carefully examines and measures human bones with a measuring tool. The skull and other skeletal remains are laid out on a table.

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Congrats to MSU Ph.D. student Intan Kumbayoni and team for placing 3rd in the Geneva Challenge! Their PATH project promotes peer-led health education for migrant teens—one of five global finalists among 313 teams. 🌍👏 #MSUResearch #GlobalInpact

Three people stand on stage at the Geneva Graduate Institute. A woman speaks at the podium, while two individuals stand beside her. Text on the podium reads 'GENEVA GRADUATE INSTITUTE, INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES.'

110

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Support the next generation of Spartan anthropologists! Give today! give.msu.edu/?sid=701 #givingtuesday #msu

Students sitting in a classroom with a graphic that reads, "giving Tuesday."

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Students in ANP 364: Fake Archaeology are learning to investigate pseudoarchaeology and analyze its spread on social media using digital tools in MSU’s LEADR Lab. spr.ly/633267W3io @leadr.bsky.social #Anthropology #FakeArchaeology #DigitalResearch #HandsOnLearning

Classroom setting with a student seated using a laptop and smiling.

An instructor standing at the front of a classroom, gesturing towards a projection screen while facing a group of students with their laptops.

040

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Stacey Camp on being appointed the new Curator of Archaeology at the MSU Museum! Read more here! spr.ly/6332979eUT

040

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Meet Laila Komis, whose love for cultures led her to anthropology. Now, through a PURI-supported project, she’s exploring how digital media drives movements for economic and social justice. 📖 Learn more: spr.ly/6332279l1G

Portrait of Laila Komis with the text "Field Voices, Spartans in Anthropology"

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Thank you MSU Police for inviting Associate Professor Dr. Joe Hefner to speak at the Detective Bureau meeting! Hefner, a forensic anthropologist, shared how his work with MSU’s Department of Anthropology and Forensic Anthropology Lab (MSUFAL) can assist and strengthen local investigations.

Man standing and talking to a group of people while gesturing to a screen. The screen has images of bones.

Man standing and talking to a group of people while gesturing with his hands.

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Graduate Student Association Annual Chili Cookoff was a blast! 🌶️ Thank you to everyone who came out, voted, and cooked up amazing chili and cornbread! 🏆 Chili Winner: Hot Stuff Comin’ Through 🏆 Cornbread Winner: Kernal Panic #ChiliCookoff #CornbreadChallenge #GradLife

Two people standing and holding small trophies.

Two trophies sitting on a table. White cards display names of winners: "Kernal Panic" and "Hot Stuff Comin’ Through."

000

Reposted by Michigan State University Department of Anthropology

MSU LEADR @leadr.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Busy weekend for the LEADR Lab! Chi fellows presented two weeks of their hard work building digital cultural maps Then at the USIH Conference, LEADR + @h-net-humanities.bsky.social presented a proof of concept for their digitization project on the Radical Historians Newsletter

112

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

What can ancient Indigenous cuisines teach us about culture & community? A new volume of essays explores how food shaped social life in the ancient Midcontinent. 📚 Learn more: spr.ly/633227pfEn

Book cover which reads: "Ancient Indigenous Cuisines, Archaeological Explorations of the Midcontinent”

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

👏 Congrats to Gungun Islam on receiving the Dr. Delia Koo Global Student Scholarship! Her research in West Bengal, India, explores how infertility care is shaped by social, political & economic inequities. spr.ly/633237Ppdh #GlobalHealth

Two women seated on the floor, talking and facing each other. Image taken during Islam’s preliminary fieldwork in West Bengal, India, 2025.

100

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Meet Kiana Sakimehr, recent Ph.D graduate whose dissertation centered on the emotional realities of Afghan refugee resettlement in Michigan. Her work reminds us that migration is not just political—it’s deeply personal. 📖 Full story: spr.ly/633277z2oJ

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Language can fuel conflict—or heal it. Indonesian youth in Ambon are using art, music & literature to counter disinformation and build peace. Read more: spr.ly/633227Em8C #Peacebuilding #ArtsForChange

Watercolor paintings by: Helmi Ishak Johannes (Instagram: @miiidraw)

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

We are excited to celebrate Dr. Carolyn Isaac on her achievement of becoming a Board-Certified Forensic Anthropologist! Thank you, Dr. Isaac, for all your amazing contributions to our department, lab, students and the community!

Two women in a dimly lit room are examining X-rays. One woman points to a chest X-ray.

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

📝 Big thanks to Dr. Joe Hefner for leading a CV workshop at the recent Anthropology Club meeting! He shared practical tips on what to include (and what to avoid) when crafting a CV that truly highlights your work. #Anthropology #CareerTips #CVWorkshop #MSU

A class full of students seated and listening.

A man standing, pointing at an image on a projection screen.

130

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

From childhood digs in the woods to excavating #archaeological sites in Tuscany—Don Henrikson’s journey as an anthropology student is fueled by his love for discovery. #FieldSchool #Anthropology spr.ly/63326AqAUy

A young man standing outside posed next to a GPS device.

A young man pickaxing on an archaeological site.

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Dr. Stacey Camp hosted FIRST® LEGO League team from New Lothrop, MI to explore archaeology, STEM, and innovation through hands-on activities. This year’s theme: UNEARTHED™ — digging into the past to build a better future. #FIRSTLEGOLeague #STEM #Unearthed #Outreach

A boy is holding a glowing green object, illuminated by a flashlight held by a person out of frame.

A young kid holds a small, clear bag containing an object.

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

MSU is developing its first CRM Lab, led by Dr. Phyllis Johnson, aiming to offer paid, hands-on archaeology training from undergrad to Ph.D. level. #SpartanArchaeology #CRM #Anthropology #SpartansWill spr.ly/63329Ab8V1

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

We joined a medical ANP class led by Dr. Heather Howard, where students explored how Indigenous health is defined, understood, and researched. “I love seeing students respectfully learning from Indigenous peoples’ experiences, strengths, and insights,” she said. spr.ly/63320ApIfA

A student seated and participating in an inclass discussion.

Dr. Heather Howard teaching in a classroom.

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Jules McClary, an anthropology major, spent her summer exploring Lansing’s history through an archival internship at the @lansingbwl.bsky.social Her passion for human history, culture, and art shines through in her work. Check out her story. spr.ly/63322AMYL8

Woman smiling in a posed photo standing outside. Above is text: "Field Voices: Spartans in Anthropology" with a spartan helmet image.

A smiling woman stands next to a display board titled "BWL Intern Story Board: Jules McClary, Archival Intern." The board contains photos and text about the "Photo Digitization Project" and "Annotated Bibliographies". A laptop displays "Archival Intern Project".

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Recent Ph.D. grad, Brian Geyer, began in music performance, moved into ethnomusicology, and transitioned to anthropology. After Peace Corps service in Kenya, his research focused on intersectional identities in Kenya’s tech sector. Read more in his recent Q&A. spr.ly/63323favaX

At a graduation ceremony, a woman places a graduation hood on a man. Both are wearing black caps and gowns.

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Just dropped: Field Voices ft. Josie Cowles! As she heads into senior year, Josie reflects on her anthropology journey—from lab work to research. See what she’s been doing this summer + share your own story! #SpartansWill #MSUAnthro #Forensics spr.ly/63325fQluP

A young woman standing and posed in front of a poster.

010

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Kelsey’s journey from grad school to full-time artist demonstrates the versatility of anthropology. Now with her own weaving studio and exhibits in the books, she’s modeling how her creative practice and cultural interests are building community. spr.ly/63326fUmTY

A portrait of Kelsey Merreck Wagner standing in front of a blooming magnolia tree.

030

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Out of 1,100+ participants at MSU’s UURAF 2025, only 3 were named grand prize winners—and 19-year-old anthropology grad Sasha Franklin was one of them! Her project uses #ArcGIS StoryMaps to turn Maya archaeology into an interactive experience. spr.ly/63328fdwd8

A woman talks in front of a research poster titled 'Story Education in the Digital Age: Sharing Story Through ArcGIS StoryMaps.' She holds a tablet displaying images related to the project.

A woman stands beside a research poster at a UURAF. The poster titled 'Archaeology Education in the Digital Age' includes charts and images of archaeological sites, with sections on objectives, results, and future work.

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Check out the latest Graduate Voice featuring Kelly Sullivan, a 2024 MSU grad in biology and anthropology, now excavating history at Colonial Michilimackinac. #GradVoices #Archaeology spr.ly/63321f1CYl

Archaeology dig site with a spray bottle, buckets and trowels.

Woman sitting on the ground taking notes.

052

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Senior Paige Topping joined MSU students, faculty & alumni in Tuscany for the Monteverdi Field School. Read about her archaeology journey abroad! 🇮🇹 #MSUAbroad spr.ly/633274aUsN

Person holding a tablet at an archaeology dig site.

Group of students posing for a picture at an archaeology dig site.

031

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Even when malnourished, mothers in Kenya protect their breast milk during drought—thanks to social support, behavior, and biology, says Dr. Masako Fujita in her new study. spr.ly/633284qQ0A

Two boys with a dog herding goats in northern Kenya.

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Congrats to recent Ph.D. grad Sara Tahir! Read about her research that examines global transnational migration from Pakistan and her future plans in her Q&A! spr.ly/633234jwMc

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Dr. Joe Hefner & Ph.D. student Savannah Holcombe teamed up with vets to improve dog knee surgeries. Using 3D scans & fluorescent markers, they mapped ligament points to reduce surgical risks. spr.ly/633264Pt20

Portrait of Savannah Holcombe and Dr. Joe Hefner with their three dogs.

020

Michigan State University Department of Anthropology @msuanthropology.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

🎓 Congrats to recent Ph.D. graduate Rhian Dunn, new Asst. Prof. at Western Carolina University! Read her love for forensic anthropology and why she chose MSU in her Q&A! spr.ly/63322NfgeA

120