Meet Our Volunteers

Katherine Erdman, Ph.D

  • Early in her career, Katherine was drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of archaeology while studying both anthropological and Classical archaeology. She obtained her M.A. (2012) and Ph.D. (2014) from the University of Minnesota where she specialized in the Iron Age and Roman period ritual practices of Gaul. Her recent work focuses on public archaeology and education. She edited a book, Public Engagement and Education: Developing and Fostering Stewardship for an Archaeological Future (2019), dedicated to archaeology education for audiences of all ages.

  • Katherine contributed to writing organizational materials, online/social media content, and SASSAk12’s eNewsletter; building relationships with our donors and supporters; and managing fundraising opportunities for SASSAk12. She also co-authored curricular materials for high school students in Perryville co-created by the National Park Service in Alaska, Educators, and leaders in the Native Alaskan community.

  • Katherine now teaches in the School of Sciences and Humanities at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan where she teaches courses in archaeology and publicly engaged research. She is also spearheading local educational outreach programs following the SASSA-model -- bringing together experts with local children to provide hands-on learning opportunities.

  • Working on SASSA for three years was incredibly rewarding. Seeing Katrina's vision in action, and building something so new and impactful was inspiring. I truly believe the SASSA-model is the future of education and I have incorporated much of it into my current teaching methods and outreach activities.

  • Instagram

Emily Briggs

  • I have always loved history, and I was introduced to archaeology near the end of my undergraduate degree. After being introduced to it, I decided to apply to archaeology graduate programs to specialize in skeletal analysis and Indigenous archaeology.

  • I have been an active member of SASSAk12 for years leading the facilitation of modules in local classrooms and providing feedback on ways to continually improve in-class interactions and pedagogical approaches.

  • I am nearing the end of my graduate education at the University of Minnesota, and will be defending my dissertation soon! Most of my time is spent analyzing data and writing up the results of my dissertation research so that I can complete this exciting stage of my education.

  • SASSA has provided me with the opportunity and framework to help share my love of archaeology and cultural heritage with younger students. An appreciation for cultural heritage and the multiplicity of communities and voices that come together to shape our understanding of the past is a fundamental value that SASSA supports. I look forward to continuing my work with SASSA and interacting with (potential) future archaeologists!

  • Bell Museum Graduate Award Recipients

Madelaine Walker

  • I am a PhD student/candidate(soon) in UMN's Anthropology program. My academic interests revolve around ape diets, life histories, and environments, and what they can tell us about primate paleobiology. I am developing dissertation research investigating comparative life histories in Early Miocene catarrhines.

  • I participated in Archaeology Day at the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, MN; Created content and social media infrastructure for SASSAk12 2021- 2023

  • I spend my days working on my dissertation, writing blog content for software companies, working at my university’s natural history museum, and creating anthropology-related art. During the summer, I also conduct K-5 paleontology talks and activities at libraries across the Chicagoland area.

  • SASSAk12 provided me with exciting opportunities to get involved with SciComm at the U as I started out in grad school. It allowed me to see how my previous experience working in nonprofits and social media could be applied to science and social studies and helped me figure out how I want to incorporate SciComm into my career moving forward. I'm excited to see what's in store for this group in the coming years!

  • Website | Instagram | Linkedin

Erin Crowley-Champoux, Ph.D.

  • I'm an anthropological archaeologist who studies the relationship between the environment and society. My doctoral dissertation (awarded in 2022) focused on the role of cattle and dairy in agricultural and political economies from the years 1-1000 CE in Ireland. I've taught courses in archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology at the University of Minnesota and the University of Southern Maine. I've been involved in archaeological fieldwork since 2007 in the eastern and midwestern United States, Ireland, and Peru. As a zooarchaeologist and faunal analyst, I've analysed material from Woodland Period shell mounds sites to 20th century urban sites, with research, commercial, and community excavations. I'm also currently a supervisor at the Dún Ailinne Archaeological Field School, excavating at the Iron Age site of Dún Ailinne in Co. Kildare, Ireland.

  • I supported SASSA in Minneapolis from 2016 to 2020, volunteering in the schools and behind the scenes to develop zooarchaeology activities.

  • I'm finishing work on the FOODSEC project as a postdoctoral research scientist at University College Dublin in the School of Archaeology. With the FOODSEC project I've been using environmental data (plant and animal remains) to understand food production and food security in Bronze Age Ireland (2200-700 BCE). I accomplish this by researching plant and animal remains from archaeological sites, studying the folklife record, conducting isotopic analysis of cereal grains, and experimental archaeology testing underground grain storage.

    The project is funded by the Irish Research Council COALESCE Scheme (2022–2024; Strand 1L INSTAR+; Project ID: COALESCE/2022/1623) and has been in collaboration with Dr. Meriel McClatchie and Dr. Penny Johnston at UCD, Dr. Kerri Cleary at Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACSU), Dr. Liam Ryan in food science, and organic farmers, Dominic Gryson of Cornstown House and Michael Miklis.

  • Working with SASSA was great! It challenged me to think about the ways that we archaeologists tend to talk about the work that we do and forced me to translate that work for different audiences and demonstrate the connections between the various things that we study and other fields to make the work relevant. It also gave me the opportunity to work with some really excellent folks, including the other SASSA volunteers and the teachers, administrators, and parent volunteers at the schools who all do such incredible work!

  • UCD-FOODSEC | Twitter

Samantha Porter, Ph.D

  • Samantha is an archaeologist with a background in Neanderthals, stone tools, and digital methods. She has served as an IF/THEM Ambassador for women in STEM with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

  • Samantha has volunteered with SASSk12 both in the classroom, and at outreach events such as MN Archaeology Day, in addition to presenting SASSAk12 projects at conferences.

  • Samantha currently works at the University of Minnesota's Advanced Imaging Service for Objects and Spaces (www.aisos.umn.edu), where she helps digitize everything from wolf skulls, to tree rings, to ancient artifacts.

  • Volunteering with SASSA has been an amazingly fulfilling experience. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to share my excitement about science with young people. I especially love being able to introduce kids to topics that are not as often covered, such as archaeology.

  • https://stporter.com/

Maria Loukusa

  • I got my bachelor's degree in Anthropology in 2018, with a focus on education. I got my health and wellness coaching certification while at home with my kids. I am now back in school pursuing my Masters of Social Work with a clinical focus.

  • I worked with Katrina in the very beginning of SASSA's formation. I was initially a volunteer, and then took it on as an honors project. I did a little bit of everything, from volunteer recruitment and scheduling to making flyers to piloting new lessons in the classroom.

  • Enjoying life back in Marquette, Michigan, as a part-time student and full-time mom! I am working toward my Masters of Social Work at Northern Michigan University. My husband and I have five beautiful girls who keep us very busy. If we ever have free time, we like to spend it hanging out with friends or family, adventuring in the woods or at Lake Superior!

  • Volunteering with SASSA was the perfect way for me to bridge my interests in anthropology and education as an undergrad. I loved the mission of bringing real science and social studies into the classrooms in a hands-on and novel way. Much fun and learning was had by both the students and the volunteers! I also appreciated being a part of SASSA at the dreaming and growing stage, and gained some valuable skills doing so.

Rutger Jansma, Ph.D.

  • Hi there! I'm a biological anthropologist and paleontologist from the Netherlands who made his way to the US in pursuit of a degree and career in anthropology. I've been fascinated by fossil animals since I was 5 years old and my favorite dinosaur is Spinosaurus!

  • I had the absolute joy of volunteering for SASSAk12 in 2016.

  • I'm currently a part-time faculty at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University where I'm responsible for teaching an anthropology class and helping out with human anatomy. Whenever I'm not working as a course instructor, I'm balancing my time between investigating ape evolution and exploring the city of Phoenix on my bike.

  • Seeing the students get excited about the pursuit of knowledge in the social and natural sciences reminded me that science is fun. As career scientists, we get so stuck in the intricacies of our chosen field and can forget what led us there in the first place. Volunteering for SASSAk12 reminded me of that joy in the best way possible!

  • LinkedIn

Ivy Faulkner, Ph.D.

  • My name is Ivy Faulkner and I was born in Phoenix, Arizona. I did my bachelor’s at Arizona State University with degrees in Anthropology, History, and Classics. I have a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. My dissertation research focused on culture contact and the exchange of materials, particularly painted pottery, between Ancient Greeks and local populations in the regions around the Black Sea and in what is now Germany and France in Western Europe.

  • I have worked with SASSAk12 since the early days of the organization, assisting with the development and implementation of a variety of teaching modules.

  • I currently work in the field of Cultural Resources Management as a Cultural Resources Specialist with Bolton & Menk, Inc. This primarily involves assisting with the identification and protection of archaeological and historical sites throughout the state of Minnesota.

  • SASSAk12 is a great organization because it not only provides valuable STEM education for students, but it also provides important community engagement and teaching opportunities for graduate students and young professionals in STEM fields. This is a service for the entire community because it demonstrates the real-world application and importance of scientific thinking, fosters the development of analytical problem-solving, and builds connections between professionals and the communities served by and impacted by their work.

  • TAG Conference | Bolton & Menk | Email

Annie Melton

  • Annie Melton is a Ph.D candidate in anthropological archaeology at the University of Minnesota. Broadly speaking, her research focuses on the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition and the stone tool technological changes which took place during this period. More specifically, she seeks to understand cultural transmission processes among prehistoric populations and how archaeologists observe them via the stone tool record.

  • I volunteered with SASSA for archaeological modules at various middle schools in the Maple Grove area.

  • I am deep in the trenches finishing up my dissertation! I hope next steps include a postdoc and/or university position.

  • I really enjoyed the opportunity to witness top-notch outreach programs designed and implemented by SASSA. We in the academic sphere are told to do "outreach" but rarely are exposed to "how" to do it. With SASSA, I could see exciting ways to engage middle school students in archaeological concepts, many of which most people don't get exposed to until postsecondary education. So honestly, it was educating me on how I can do outreach in the future.

  • ResearchGate | Academia

Tyler Imfeld, Ph.D.

  • I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio where I fell in love with the natural world and with birds in particular. After learning more and more about birds as an undergraduate biology student, I chose to study them for my dissertation at the University of Minnesota. During my graduate work, I began volunteering with SASSA as a way to practice my educational skills with a student population quite different from the college students I primarily worked with as a TA. That practicing paid off, because it ultimately led me to a job as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Regis University in Denver, where I teach and still research birds to this day.

  • I volunteered with SASSA a number of times between 2017 and 2018, working with students in their science labs on a number of different topics related to biostratigraphy, geomorphology, and using data to answer questions about these fields. I also briefly contributed a few posts to SASSA's Critter Corner Blog in its early days, where I introduced students to a host of bizarre animals with unique morphological adaptations.

  • I'm an Assistant Professor of Biology at Regis University in Denver, the director of Regis's M.S. Environmental Biology Program, and I'm a Research Associate in the Zoology Department at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The bulk of my current position involves teaching students from their very first semester of college all the way through the final semester of their master's degrees, but I still do research with students using the ornithology collection at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

  • I loved volunteering with SASSA, and I genuinely believe that it helped me hone my skills in teaching and lesson management. It's one thing to be able to execute a lesson for juniors in college, but it's quite a different scenario to work with middle schoolers! But, these students were excited, motivated, and had fun with me as we designed studies to understand how the natural world works.

  • Website

Sophie Minor, Ph.D.

  • I am a trained historical archaeologist and zooarchaeologist. My research focuses on African American history in the midwest and military history. I recently defended my dissertation (May 2024), which focused on the history of enslavement at Historic Fort Snelling, a historic site in Minnesota.

  • I have primarily participated in Archaeology Week, a program run through the Minnesota Historical Society, as a representative of SASSAk12.

  • I am currently employed at the Minnesota Historical Society in collections. My current project involves digital mapping.

Jaime Zolik, M.A.

  • My name is Jaime Zolik, and I am a PhD student at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Anthropology. I grew up in Syracuse, New York, and completed my undergraduate degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and my Master's in Applied Anthropology at the University of South Florida. I enjoy learning new hobbies like drawing, editing videos, and game development. Additionally, I love playing Dungeons and Dragons.

  • I worked with SASSAk12's social media team to spread the word about the community's goals and share the experiences of being a researcher, both from an academic perspective and during leisure time.

  • I am currently working on my dissertation, focusing on ancient pathogens.

  • I really enjoyed working with SASSAk12 and hope to see the community grow. I believe it is crucial for researchers to communicate their work to the public creatively and without fear. Working with SASSAk12 reminds me that science is fascinating, and nothing is too complicated to explain or learn. While some things may be difficult, with persistence and time, they can be understood.

  • Lab Website

Chrissy Goodwin

  • My name is Chrissy Goodwin (formally Pettit) and for two decades I was a stay at home mom to my three amazing kids. During that time, I volunteered at school. I taught Art Adventure to three classrooms (ran it for a year before they shut it down), I have a Certificate in Festival and Event Management from UMN and either coordinated the parade or ran the festival for five years. There are too many things to talk about, but I'm most proud of working with my kids and their friends and learning about new generations.

    I've been on archaeological digs, toured sites in Europe I only dreamed of, and really got a sense of where I wanted to be. I worked with MNHS for about four years during various fellowships and internships, learning more about my culture and about how we view science and the events of the world. In 2019 I graduated from UMN with a BA in American Indian Studies. During that time, I helped start an indigenous canoe club (Canoe Rising) and was able to present our work in New Zealand. We also curated an exhibit at Northrop Auditorium, revolving around water and how events have changed our waterways. Also how they connect us.

  • I met Katrina during my time at the U after she sent out an email looking for volunteers for the SASSAk12 program. On a lark, I responded! I wish I had more time to do more, but I believe I did two sessions. As a person in love with geology, geography, history, weather, etc. I found the curriculum super fascinating and educational. Even I learned more! The coolest part, however, was the engagement of the students. Middle schoolers can be.....skeptical..... but all I saw was excitement and kids working together. I can't name a favorite, but the timeline really blew their minds. I've taken some of what I've learned in my future work and I just wish my kids had this back in the day.

  • I'm currently looking for a new position. After graduation I spent two years working Street Outreach for Native American Youth (although the first year was in the Youth Lodge due to Covid). I learned a heck of a lot from our youth during that time and was able to share my knowledge as well. After two years there, I transitioned to working for a local school district in before/after school care (elementary). By far one of my favorite jobs - I got to take out my science hat and create some cool projects along with teaching. I am currently looking for another space where I can use my random set of skills.

  • I've said it above, I truly believe having SASSAk12 is so important. The curriculum is amazing, but what I really like is having parents or students volunteer. Parents get a chance to see a different side of their child and their classmates, students get excited to share what they've been learning. It's unique and there's nothing more important than experiential learning. I learned that with canoes and I've seen it with my kids I've worked with for over two decades: hands on makes the difference.

Kristin Crouse, Ph.D.

  • I have always been interested in how the universe works! I studied Astronomy as an undergraduate and eventually got my PhD in Anthropology studying primate behavior. My project focused on developing a computer model, called B3GET, that can simulate individual primates moving about on a landscape of virtual plants. The virtual primates forage for food, and mate with or attack each other, among many other behaviors. Now, researchers can use my model to test a variety of hypotheses about animal behavior and evolution.

  • I mainly volunteered in the classroom where I guided students through a variety of hands-on exercises, including using stone tools to cut celery and making their own “stone” tools out of rock candy!

  • I am currently a postdoc at the University of Minnesota where I am applying my computer modeling skills on a new biological system: the inner-workings of animal cells. My colleagues and I want to better understand how genes are affected by the environment, how genes interact with each other, and ultimately how those interactions affect cell operations. We are currently running many simulations using my new model GenoScope to figure this out!

  • Working with SASSAk12 was so much fun! I loved seeing the students’ enthusiasm and felt like I was ushering the way for a new generation of scientists.

  • CoMSES | UMN | ReearchGate | GoogleScholar | MN Zoo

Vini Taguchi, Ph.D.

  • Vini Taguchi was born in Germany and was raised in North Carolina from the age of 2. Growing up, he spent significant time visiting family in São Paulo, Brazil. While in Brazil, Vini was shocked by the severe flooding and polluted waterways that challenged such a massive urban area in a tropical climate. This motivated Vini to study stormwater engineering and green infrastructure at North Carolina State University and the University of Minnesota. Throughout his work and studies, Vini has always been passionate about incorporating social and environmental justice whenever possible.

  • Vini participated in several SASSAk12 events from 2018 - 2020 focusing onstream geomorphology and erosion through hands-on experimentation in middle schools and developing collaborations between the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory and SASSAk12.

  • Vini Taguchi is a Stormwater Extension Associate at North Carolina State University working under Dr. William F. Hunt III, where his work focuses broadly on urban green stormwater infrastructure projects and making communities resilient to climate change. He is most passionate about implementing solutions together with communities in ways that empower them and prevent displacement through green gentrification. Vini also serves as the current president of the Twin Cities chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, a civil rights organization committed to fighting for social justice for all those who are victimized by injustice and bigotry.

  • SASSAk12 was an incredible opportunity to conduct meaningful outreach, distill advanced concepts to fundamental scientific principles, and gain teaching experience in diverse grade levels. I highly encourage a researchers to participate!

  • LinkedIn

Evan Whiting, Ph.D.

  • I am an interdisciplinary scientist and science educator with expertise and experience in paleontology, biology, and the Earth sciences. My research mainly focuses on modern and fossil reptiles and their (paleo)ecological relationships. My experience as an educator includes teaching multiple courses at the middle school, community college, and university levels.

  • I collaborated with a fellow UMN graduate student, Carrie Miller, to develop, deliver, and facilitate a middle school classroom module about the topic of ecological succession. I also contributed to the old SASSAk12 "Critter Blog" and helped represent SASSAk12 at a Minnesota Earth Science Teachers Association (MESTA) conference in Minneapolis.

  • After leading my own classrooms for several years, I am now currently working in the educational technology industry as a science curriculum designer.

  • SASSAk12 is a great organization that brings hands-on experiences to K–12 students and enriches their education. SASSAk12 helps build community by connecting scientists with schools, providing unique opportunities for everyone involved to learn and grow.

  • Website | LinkedIn

Katharine Baldwin, M.A.

  • I've always loved learning about our world in hands-on ways, especially ecology and history. This led to me a BA in Anthropology and a BSc in Sustainability from the University of Minnesota. I also spent two semesters in field studies programs. During my undergraduate summers, I worked in environmental education, teaching youth about the natural world while being on the land. After my undergraduate degree, I moved to Vancouver, Canada and received a Master's degree in Geography from the University of British Columbia.

  • I volunteered with SASSA during the 2016-2017 school year. Along with other volunteers, I designed and led an archaeology and evolution module for 30 high schoolers at Gordon Parks High School. I also presented modules to middle schoolers in the Osseo School District and researched ways for students to get involved in the creation of the new park behind Gordon Parks High School.

  • I currently live in Vancouver, Canada and work as a research assistant at First Nations University of Canada. My research is about ways to support Indigenous communities in Northern Canada as they adapt to climate change, with a particular focus on developing economic opportunities such as renewable energy, local food production, health initiatives, sustainable forestry, and carbon credits.

  • Volunteering with SASSA was a great way to get involved with the Twin Cities community, practice designing hands-on curricula for youth, and continue to be involved with experiential education during the school year.

  • LinkedIn

Pedro Angulo-Umaña

  • Pedro was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. He graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 2019, where he double majored in mathematics and physics.

  • While working as an undergraduate research assistant, Pedro assisted Dr. Yezzi-Woodley in the processing of three-dimensional data from high-resolution scans of archeological bone samples. He additionally helped develop computational methods for identifying the cause of breaks on bone samples.

    As a part of SASSAk12, Pedro also contributed to the development of lessons that explored the connection between lithic analysis (the study of stone tools) and Newton's laws of motion.

  • Pedro is currently a PhD student in the Department of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences at the University of Washington. His research is focused on understanding the fundamental physics of high-impact tropical storms.

  • Working with SASSAk12 was one of the formative experiences of my undergraduate career. I loved working with the other volunteers to bring contemporary research into the classroom. I feel that connecting young students to modern researchers helps the students to recognize that science is an ongoing, never-ending pursuit to which they can contribute.

  • Website

Jason Massey, Ph.D.

  • I am a biological anthropologist broadly trained in evolutionary anthropology with a focus on primate evolution and skeletal growth and development. I received my PhD at the University of Minnesota. My research interests lie in the interplay between growth and development (or ontogeny) and evolution, whereby slight alterations in a population’s ontogeny can lead to divergent adult shapes – potentially contributing to evolutionary change. My work has primarily focused on the skeletal remains of gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.

  • While working with SASSAk12 I participated and led several sessions on bio- and geoarchaeology at the 7th grade level.

  • Currently, I am working at Monash University’s Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology in Melbourne, Australia. While I continue my research in extant skeletal ontogeny, I have started working in the fossil record at the site of Drimolen located in South Africa. The site is approximately 2 million years old and offers a snapshot into a key period in human and primate evolution.

  • Working with SASSAk12 is an amazing experience. To me, it’s really exciting to see students’ interests being sparked as they’re engaging with the activities. And watching their enthusiasm for learning and problem solving, while working through the primary tenants of our discipline, reminds me of the importance to communicating our science to the community.

  • LinkedIn | Website

Risa Luther, M.A.

  • I'm originally from Portland, OR and grew up going to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) just to sit and stare at the different giant fossil dinosaurs and never looked back. Now the fossils I look at are quite a bit smaller, but no less exciting for me. I'm a queer, Mexican-American scientist that is striving for a more inclusive and accessible scientific community for our future. 

  • I served as a classroom volunteer (favorite activity to lead was the global and local climate change module) and social media manager.

  • I am currently completing my dissertation in biological anthropology at the University of Minnesota studying diet and teeth in living and fossil apes.

  • I love getting to work with middle schoolers to talk about and learn about science. They ask great questions and I usually also learn something I didn't know before, even when I am there to teach them!

  • McNulty Lab | LinkedIn | Twitter

More of our Volunteers!

  • Rebecca Nockerts, Ph.D.

  • Aspen Cooper

    “I want to be that person who is in a position to help students pursue any career they want. Working with SASSA has inspired me to continue my adventure in academia so that I can one day be a role model for young women who wish to enter careers in STEM fields!”

  • Tessa Cicak, Ph.D.

  • Samantha Gogol

  • Andrew Honsey, Ph.D

  • Anna Hardin, Ph.D.

  • Michael Murphy

    “SASSA definitely helped me prepare for working with the NPS [National Park Service] because it helped me build my communication skills. Half of the battle is presenting information in a way that is relatable; any program that helps you learn communication skills is going to be beneficial in teaching/interpretation.”

  • Kelly Plevniak, M.A.

  • Rebecca Kropp

  • Thomas Alberg

  • Yessica Berumen Martinez

  • Samantha Schwartz

  • Miguel Contreras Sieck

  • Penina Kadalida

  • Laura Pott