My Background

As a kid growing up in New Mexico, I loved being outside and was always drawn to our rich archaeological and geological history. But it wasn’t until I was an undergraduate at the University of Denver that I discovered GPR and learned about its applications to archaeology. I was immediately drawn to the combination of geology, mapping/spatial analysis, and archaeology that it required.

My very first project was at Ft. Garland, Colorado, where we used GPR to map a Civil War-era officer barrack that was no longer visible on the surface. The moment I saw the walls from that building pop up on the screen after processing the data, I was hooked. What a powerful way to help unlock the secrets of the past—all without destroying the site with invasive excavation!

I went on to complete my M.A. degree at the University of Denver, where I worked at the Spanish colonial settlement at El Brujo, Peru. From there I started a small consulting business to provide GPR mapping to other firms and agencies all over the U.S. and internationally. In 2019, I completed my Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico, where my dissertation research focused on using GPR, magnetometry, and aerial photography to study land use at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.

I’ve completed hundreds of projects throughout my career. In the U.S., I’ve worked in at least 20 different states on everything from prehistoric land use, to historical structures, to cemeteries/forensics, to paleontology/geology. Internationally, I’ve worked on projects ranging from helping to locate the graves of WWII MIA soldiers in the South Pacific, to mapping complex archaeological landscapes in Peru, Turkey, and Oman. I’ve written more than 15 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, given dozens of presentations at professional conferences, and authored more technical reports than I feel like counting.

I’m passionate about geophysical archaeology because I’ve seen time and time again the solutions it offers to heritage management. I love using science and technology to help preserve our past, I love helping people solve problems, and I’m honored to be trusted with people’s history. These principles have guided my work since 2003 when I first pulled that GPR system across the ground at Ft. Garland.

When not doing geophysical archaeology, you can find me hanging out with my husband, daughter, and poodle, often in one of New Mexico’s many amazing locations. We love camping, traveling, board games, and movie nights. I am a firm believer in the power of green chile stew to cure just about anything.