ASSISTANT LABORATORY MANAGER
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY VCP
Ashley Alvarado (M.A. in Archaeology of Death and Memory, University of Chester, UK; B.A. in Anthropology, Texas State University, San Marcos) serves as an Assistant Laboratory Manager for the satellite VCP at the Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) at Texas State University. Ashley is both a museum professional and experienced archaeological field technician with a well-rounded background in the interpretation and curation of archaeological and historical materials. She completed a broad range of course work in archaeological curation, archaeology and heritage, and mortuary archaeology. Her graduate dissertation explored the sensory affordances of whole-body catacomb saints distributed throughout the Duchy of Bavaria both during and post-Reformation. Prior to working at CAS, Ashley worked on several CRM projects in Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Kentucky, as a field technician and laboratory supervisor. Prior to this, she worked in the exhibits department at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, Texas where she designed and fabricated artifact mounts for upcoming exhibitions, worked with both registrars and curators to assess proper care and maintenance of incoming artifacts and associated materials. Ashley is very excited to be a member of both the CAS and VCP team and looks forward to contributing to the continued refinement of curation procedures, the mentorship of student and veteran technicians, public outreach, and the preservation and long-term care of archaeological collections for the benefit of present and future generations.