Jennifer Haas
- Director, Archaeological Research Laboratory Center
- Assistant Professor, Anthropology
- NAGPRA Coordinator & Tribal Liaison, 51ÁÔÆæ
Education
- PhD Anthropology, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 2019
- Certificate in Geographical Information Systems, 51ÁÔÆæ, 2019
- MA Anthropology, University of South Carolina, 1995
- BA History, Anthropology, Marquette University, 1992
Office Hours
Mondays 10:30 am to 11:30 am or by appointment.
Teaching Schedule
| Course Num | Title | Meets |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 467-001 | Archaeological Curation: A Practicum in the Care of Research Collections | M 5:30pm-8:10pm |
| ANTHRO 467G-001 | Archaeological Curation: A Practicum in the Care of Research Collections | M 5:30pm-8:10pm |
| ANTHRO 489-001 | Internship in Anthropology, Upper Division | No Meeting Pattern |
Courses Taught
- ANTH 308 - Archaeology of North America
- ANTH 465 - Historic Preservation in Archaeology
- ANTH 467 - Archaeological Curation
- ANTH 530 - Paleoethnobotany Methods and Analysis
- ANTH 535 - Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics
- ANTH 489/ANTH 889 Internship in Anthropology
Teaching Interests
My teaching emphasizes the integration of anthropological theory with applied, experiential learning. Courses are structured around critical evaluation of evidence, assessment of primary sources, and clear written and oral communication. Students engage in project-based research that applies classroom concepts to real-world archaeological and heritage management issues, often using material culture from Midwestern sites curated at the Archaeological Research Laboratory Center.
I guide students through all stages of the research process, including question development, data collection and management, qualitative and quantitative analysis, technical writing, and presentation. This approach prepares students for both academic and applied careers in archaeology while developing broadly transferable skills in research design, project management, and professional communication.
See a student public outreach and community project based on a cultural resource management project in Milwaukee
Research Interests
51ÁÔÆæ is a leading graduate program in Midwestern Archaeology, strengthened through its affiliation with the Archaeological Research Laboratory Center, where students gain hands-on experience in cultural resource management (CRM) and archaeological collections management. My research interests advances 51ÁÔÆæ’s strengths by positioning the Department as a center for CRM scholarship, sustainable and ethical collections and data management, and historic preservation policy. My continued focus on foodways, regional archaeology, and community-engaged research further supports these priorities.
My CRM-focused research synthesizes project data—primarily from Wisconsin—into thematic analyses, such as Middle Fox River Passageway studies, to generate broader contextual interpretations and advance scholarship on Woodland-period foodways in the western Great Lakes. These efforts lend themselves to publication and collaborative work, including potential partnerships with Great Lakes–focused faculty.
I also examine historic preservation policy, particularly the intersection of Wisconsin’s burial sites law and NAGPRA. Drawing on extensive experience in CRM and NAGPRA compliance, I aim to evaluate the effectiveness of current legal frameworks and work collaboratively with Tribal Nations and stakeholders, including the Wisconsin Historical Society, to develop best practices and treatment protocols for the inadvertent discovery of human remains.
As Director of the ARLC repository, which houses collections from over 1200 sites, my research focuses on sustainable, ethical, and accessible collections and data management. I am developing standards grounded in FAIR and CARE principles and implementing them through improved intellectual control, preservation planning, and enhanced access to collections and records. These efforts are broadly disseminated through publication and professional training.
Central to all of this work is a commitment to community-engaged archaeology. Through long-standing relationships with Tribal Nations connected to the region, I prioritize inclusive research practices that respect multiple ways of understanding the past and recognize archaeological sites as culturally significant landscapes rather than solely as research resources.
Related Activities
- Cultural heritage, cultural resource management
- Community archaeology/public outreach/Indigenous archaeology
- NAGPRA & historic preservation
- Curation and collections management
- North American Archaeology (Woodland Tradition cultures)
- Paleoethnobotany
- Bioarchaeology
- Woodland Tradition
- Foodway Archaeology
Professional Qualifications
- Meets the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology (Prehistoric and Historic Periods) and History (48FR44738-9)
- Qualified archaeologist to excavate and analyze human burials under Wisconsin’s burial law and administrative rules (Wis. Stats. § 157.70(1) (i) and HS 2.04(6))
Biographical Sketch
Jennifer R. Haas, Ph.D., is the Director of the Archaeological Laboratory Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She leads the cultural resource management program, serves as the campus NAGPRA Coordinator and curator of the archaeological repository, and is an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. Dr. Haas's research and teaching interests include archaeological curation and collections management, NAGPRA, repatriation, cultural heritage and the Woodland era cultures of the Mid-continent.
Selected Publications
Home Cemetery. The Artifact, A Publication of the Archaeological Institute of America –
Milwaukee Society 30 (2): 10-14.