Table of Contents
- Congratulations to Our Faculty Award Winners
- Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference
- Congratulations to Our 2025 Departmental Awards Recipients
- Congratulations to Our 2025 Honors Society Inductees
- History & Anthropology Spring 2025 Senior Seminar
- Academic Year 2025 Master’s Theses and Comprehensive Exams
- Works in Progress
- Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) Club Meeting
- Monmouth University Department of History & Anthropology Welcomes Area Students to Campus on New Jersey History Day
- Spring 2025 Photo Album
- News and Notes
- Club News
- About This Issue
Congratulations to Our Faculty Award Winners
Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference
55th Annual Meeting, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Led by GIS instructor and professional archaeologist Sean McHugh, eleven of our Anthropology students embarked on the annual pilgrimage to the MAAC conference. This was the largest cohort of students to recently attend.
Adam R. Heinrich, Ph.D., and Richard Veit, Ph.D., presented on “Archaeological and Environmental Investigations at an Eroding Tavern Site on Sandy Hook, NJ”. Many thanks to Sean McHugh for leading the charge and special gratitude to our anonymous doner who funds the Mjolnir History & Anthropology Student Travel Fund that allows students to participate in opportunities like the MAAC. Here’s what our students had to say about their experience:
Allison Magerr, anthropology graduate student: “I really enjoyed my experience at MAAC. It was very interesting to see how varied the topics of the talks were; it really opened my eyes to how diverse archaeological research can be. I was particularly interested in one of the later talks about the fill in an old chimney, and what it could tell about the people who occupied the space. It was also exciting and beneficial to meet new people and learn how they started and progressed in their career. The location of the conference was very nice. It was right near the Gettysburg Battlefield, so we had the opportunity to learn about the local history, as well. Overall, the experience was very fun and familiarized me to the archaeology world, which is something that will definitely help me as I continue in my studies.”
Samuel Meyer: “MAAC 2025 was a wonderful experience for an archeological grad student. I found the session on carnelian beads quite interesting. The origin of it from India, its different style by heat being applied them or not in crafting. As well as its use in the North Atlantic Slave trade in terms of currency. I also enjoyed the battlefield speech Sean McHugh gave. It was my first time in Gettysburg and the tour that Steve Santucci gave us definitely made the trip worth wild. During the conference I met with several CRM firms, they took my resume, and I made new networking opportunities with some others who were also there. The best part was the treasure trove of old archeology books and CRM reports I found extremely interesting and informative.”
Rebecca Ashdot, anthropology graduate student: “My experience at the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference (MAAC) was very informational and showed me all the different avenues possible in the field of archaeology. Some of my favorite presentations include the section on applications of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and presentations surrounding a specific artifact and the greater research done to contextualize it and give it a background, such as the presentation on a carnelian bead by Emma Schlauder. I focused most of my attendance on seeing the presentations about concepts and artifacts and regions I was unfamiliar with, especially when it comes to the techniques and technology implemented at these types of sites. Overall, the conference inspired me to do further research of my own on these subjects and see if there was a way to integrate it into my work and my thesis. I also learned that viewing the presentations was only part of the learning process; getting to know the presenters and having one-on-one conversations with them and other people throughout the conference was where I learned the most.”
Richard Fallon, anthropology graduate student: “This MAAC which marks my second year going to MAAC was a blast, first from getting an unparalleled private tour of Gettysburg Battlefield, papers galore, and deepening relationships with colleagues this MAAC was a rousing success. One paper that stuck out to me covered the use of 3D archaeological unit models in the classroom was incredibly interesting. As someone who went to school prior for education and now archaeology, this paper and its applications were in my wheelhouse. I’ve always argued for more hands-on exercises within the classroom and less written work so it’s perfect for me. I’ve even thought about applications outside of the classroom such as using a model in a museum to teach visitors about archaeological methods (if they’re curious). Of course, there were too many papers and too little time to see them all, but I am more than satisfied with my experience at this year’s MAAC. Below are an image of the battlefield and two of the 3D models, which as seen by the image can be taken apart to see the stratigraphic layers.”
Congratulations to Our 2025 Departmental Awards Recipients
Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar in Anthropology
Mia Szostek
Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar in History
Amanda Keighron and Patrick Meehan
Outstanding Graduate Scholar in Anthropology
Jessica Nicholson and Kristen LaPorte
Outstanding Graduate Scholar in History
Emily Homer
Department of History & Anthropology Service Award
Orlando DelValle
Susan Douglass Future Educator Award
Lincoln Pereira
Brian Greenberg Social Justice Award
Leidy Rodriguez Alvarez
Congratulations to Our 2025 Honors Society Inductees
Lambda Alpha
- Matt P. Pascale
- Leidy T. Rodriguez Alvarez
- Jessica G. Nicholson
Phi Alpha Theta
- Matthew Cioletti
- Reagan Dunn
- Max Giunta
- Amanda Keighron
- Amy Margiatto
- Riley McGee
- Sydney Mitchell
- Sean Massett
Gamma Sigma Theta
- Alexis Baumgartner
- Daniel Bensch
- Sarah Bilotta
- A. D. Boonman Morales
- Shelby Brodhead
- Olivia Fowles
- James Gentles
- Jordan Giansante
- Nitika Girish
- Jacob Kallman
- Zoe Lohne
- Kathryn Marshall
- Victoria O’Malley
- Maggie Raymond
- Christopher Reigel
- Isabella Torres
- Siena Zisa
History & Anthropology Spring 2025 Senior Seminar
Congratulations to all our history and anthropology undergraduate students who presented their senior thesis papers this semester under the guidance of Maureen Dorment, Ph.D., and Veronica Davidov, Ph.D., respectively.
History
- Patrick Meehan: “Judaism and Christianity: The Construction and Reconstruction of an Identity”
- Amanda Keighron: “‘A Matter of Conscience’: Philosophy and the Origins of Animal Advocacy”
- Colby Elston: “The Processing of Food and the Widespread Use of Additives”
- Ava Rollins: “Soulful Struggles: African American Women Musicians, Race and Stardom”
- Nicholas Stevens: “Japanese Internment and Their Participation in World War II”
- Brian Kelly: “Internecine Memory: The Reality and Narratives of Ukraine in World War II”
- Nicholas Macarthur: “They Belong in a Museum: The Trophies of World War II”
Anthropology
- Mariami Tsuladze: “God Will Forgive: An Ethnographic Look into Christian Female Republicans”
- Leidy Alvarez: “Cycles of Inequality: How youth and Families Navigate Economic Hardship in Paterson”
- Matt Pascale: “US Perception of Healthcare: Privilege or Necessity”
- Rachel Damstra: “The Cultural Construction of Knowledge: Professional Perspectives on Consciousness, Reality, and Existence”
- Erin McGrath: “Selling Cultural Capital: How growing influencers demystify inconspicuous consumption for an online audience”
Academic Year 2025 Master’s Theses and Comprehensive Exams
History Theses
- Emily Homer: “The Silent Epidemic: Women and Opiate Addiction inAmerica, 1847-1914” (pass with distinction)
- Readers: Katherine Parkin, Ph.D., and Melissa Brzycki, Ph.D.
- Grace Joyce: “In the Shadows: The Experience of Comfort Women and the Politics of Denial”
- Readers: Melissa Brzycki, Ph.D., and Maryanne Rhett, Ph.D.
Anthropology Theses
- Skylar Secord: “Tools of the Trade: Medical Artifacts and Sexual Health in Historical Brothels”
- Readers: Adam R. Heinrich, Ph.D., and Hillary DelPrete, Ph.D.
- Jessica Nicholson: “Grave Thoughts: Exploring the Evolution of Symbolic Thinking through Hominin Burials”
- Readers: Adam R. Heinrich, Ph.D., and Hillary DelPrete, Ph.D.
Works in Progress
Our Works in Progress (WIP) series provides a forum for both full-time and part-time faculty in the Department of History and Anthropology (and occasionally beyond) to present their research in progress and teaching pedagogy to the campus community. Presentations generally take place once per month on Wednesdays from 1:15-2:15 p.m.. Thank you, Maryanne Rhett, Ph.D., for chairing this important series. WIP was founded by Hettie V. Williams Ph.D.
Thank You to Our Spring 2025 Presenters
Jan. 22, 2025
GIS Listening Session: What Can We Do with Our Resources?
Dane Ward, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of History and Anthropology
Feb. 26, 2025
A Potential Benefit of AI Use for Students: A Discussion of Notebook LM
Hillary DelPrete, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of History and Anthropology
March 26, 2025
STEMming from Punk Rock
Jeffrey H. Weisburg, Ph.D., Specialist Professor, Department of Biology
Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) Club Meeting
Tyler Gillis
On Friday, April 25, the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) club met for a zine making event to protest the lack of freedom of speech on the Monmouth campus. This event was spearheaded by a mix of students from the Departments of history and anthropology, English, political science, and science. Students participating included Lincoln Pereira (history), Sam Smith (anthropology), Abel Rymar (political science), Valentine Miller (English), and Luke Hernandez (Biology), as well as Department of History and Anthropology faculty member MacKenzie Avallone. The purpose of the zine was to share voices of dissent that may be too provocative to be included in a student paper like “The Outlook”.
Due to the current political climate both on and off campus it is extraordinarily important now more than ever for student voices to be heard. Rather than continuously echoing the beliefs and claims of administration, it is important for students to speak out and have a voice. As college campuses around the country shut down political protests and punish students for voicing opinions in opposition to their college’s, the YDSA club here at Monmouth intends to remind everyone of the importance of student voices. While the university may be funded by benefactors with conservative beliefs and patriarchal values, the campus itself is full of diverse populations who are being underserved and underrepresented despite paying thousands upon thousands of dollars each year to attend this very academic institution. The goal of YDSA’s zine is to point out this disparity between the students and the administration.
According to Pereira the creation of this zine is “a good opportunity for students to say what they want about the administration.” Rymar backed him up by adding that this zine is “a great opportunity for students to be heard.” The creation of this zine serves as a reminder that Monmouth University’s administration, and even SGA, does not speak for the entire campus population. This is history and anthropology in action.
Monmouth University Department of History & Anthropology Welcomes Area Students to Campus on New Jersey History Day
Much gratitude is owed to the History & Anthropology Department’s faculty and graduate student judges: (left to right) Mel Brzycki, Melissa Ziobro, Tyler Bane, Maureen Dorment, Bill Gorman, Adam Black, Brooke Nappi, Manuel Chavez, Maryanne Rhett, and Fred McKitrick. Thank you!
Spring 2025 Photo Album
Spring 2025 Senior Seminar
News and Notes
The 4th Annual Monmouth University Student Trivia Tournament Charity Event
Students from across multiple disciplines participated in the yearly charity event that was founded in 2022 and hosted by adjunct professor of history, Adam Black, on April 25. Each student selected a charity that was close to their hearts; 50% of the proceeds collected are donated to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), while the remaining 50% are donated to the charity chosen by the winning contestant. This year, the tournament raised $1,300 in total! $650 was donated to CHOP while the remaining $650 was donated to ‘Monmouth Cares, the charity chosen by victorious contestant, Sophomore Chemistry Major Kooper Kaney! To date, Black’s trivia tournament has raised $7,305 for various charities! Congratulations Kooper!
Faculty in the News
Congratulations to Hettie Williams (history) and Melissa Ziobro (Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music/history) on the positive review of their book “A Seat at the Table” in the American Historical Review!
And to Provost Rich Veit (anthropology), who was quoted in an article about a symposium on Revolutionary War encampments in Somerset County!
Club News
Plans for The History and Anthropology Club visit to the American Museum of Natural History are in the works for Fall 2025. Stay tuned!
We are looking for club members who would potentially be interested in running for eBoard positions. If this sounds like you, please send an email to Amanda Keighorn at s1359618@monmouth.edu.
About This Issue
This edition of The Sextant was produced and coordinated by Debora Graas.
Many thanks go to our contributing student writers/news hounds.
We’ve just scratched the surface of the tremendous work being done by our team. Stay on top of the latest news from the Department of History and Anthropology, year-round.