Bringing the Past into Today's Conversations
My work as an archaeologist and heritage scholar extends beyond the classroom and the excavation trench. I am committed to public scholarship: making the past meaningful for wider audiences, contributing to debates about heritage and identity, and ensuring that the voices of local communities are included in how their pasts are represented.
Talks and Lectures
I regularly give invited talks and public lectures for universities, museums, cultural organizations, and community groups in the United States, Jordan, and beyond. Recent highlights include:
- Public lectures on World Heritage and community archaeology for cultural heritage organizations in Jordan.
- Guest lectures on ruins, memory, and identity at universities and seminar series.
- Presentations for local community groups, churches, and schools on archaeology in Britain, Jordan, and other areas of the former Roman Empire.
Media Features
My research and fieldwork have been featured in a variety of media outlets, including:
- Print/Online: The Jordan Times, Spark Magazine, and international heritage newsletters.
- Broadcast and News: Interview appearances on FOX 17 News (Grand Rapids, MI) and local U.S., Jordanian, and Saudi Arabian media.
- Podcasts: Featured guest on the BioLogos Foundation's Language of God podcast, discussing archaeology, evolution, and human prehistory (paleolithic and neolithic developments).
- Documentary Film: Advisor and co-producer for a student-led documentary on Umm Al-Jimal, Jordan, screened at the Freep (Detroit Free Press) Film Festival.
Writing for Wider Audiences
Alongside academic publications, I write for general audiences on topics such as:
- The enduring fascination with ruins and abandoned places.
- The meaning of heritage in a fractured and contested world.
- Jordan as an overlooked center of the "Holy Land."
These pieces invite readers to see the past not as a distant curiosity, but as something with real relevance for today's global challenges.
Books and Forthcoming Projects
My forthcoming trade book, Mother of Beauty, Mother of Camels: An Archaeology of Place at Umm Al-Jimal, Jordan (working title), will tell the layered story of a desert town across two millennia, weaving together archaeology, history, and the voices of local residents. Written for a broad readership, it explores why ruins captivate us, how communities remember and reinterpret their pasts, and what heritage means in the modern world. I am currently seeking representation to support this project and secure its publication.
Availability
I welcome opportunities to share my work with broader audiences. If you are a journalist, producer, podcaster, or event organizer, I am available for:
- Interviews and podcasts.
- Speaking engagements and public lectures.
- Consultation on archaeology, heritage, and world history.
Please see my Contact Page for details.