Research Interests/Experience
Samantha Ellens is the Archaeology Collections Manager at the Michigan State University Museum in conjunction with the Anthropology Department. She is responsible for the care, preservation, documentation, and activation of the archaeological collections housed within the MSU Museum. Samantha oversees various collections activities, including conservation and storage, supervising student volunteers, and managing access to collections for teaching and research. Samantha’s outreach and museum management background brings a community-based approach to her research and contributions to programming, teaching, and collections work focused on fostering a lasting appreciation of historical, cultural, and natural resources.
As a historical archaeologist with a background in Ontario, the Midwest, and the Caribbean, Samantha has over a decade of experience in museum management, collections-based research, and community archaeology. Her research emphasizes urban and colonial landscapes, drawing upon many topics, including consumption, trade, health, labor, and identity, to inform her work in Michigan and the Caribbean. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Anthropology with a specialization in historical archaeology at Wayne State University.
Degrees
M.A., Anthropology, Wayne State University, 2015
B.A.S., Anthropology and Biology, University of Windsor, 2013