Kimberly Foecke

Kimberly Foecke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at George Mason University (GMU), specializing in Biological Anthropology. She joined GMU in 2024 after completing a PhD in Human Paleobiology from George Washington University (2022) and earlier degrees in Archaeological Sciences (BS, Penn State) and Geosciences (MSc, Penn State). Prior to her current role, she worked at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in the Human Origins Program.

Her research integrates biogeochemistry, stable isotope analysis, and trace element studies to investigate dietary behaviors, environmental adaptation, and space use in hominin and ancient human populations. She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across museums, academic institutions, and government labs. Key methodological contributions include advancing geochemical sourcing techniques for fossils and archaeological materials.

Recent publications focus on revising interpretations of hominin behavior (e.g., Homo naledi burial claims), exploring the impact of food processing on isotopic signatures, and sourcing Miocene primate fossils using portable XRF technology. Courses taught include Biological Anthropology, Food and Human Evolution, and Quantitative Methods in Anthropology.