Krysta Ryzewski

Dr. Krysta Ryzewski is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at Wayne State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Specializing in historical and contemporary archaeology, her research integrates interdisciplinary approaches to urbanization, diaspora, and social justice in North America (Detroit/Midwest) and the Caribbean (Montserrat, St. Croix). She emphasizes community collaboration, historic preservation, and digital humanities, leading projects like the Unearthing Detroit initiative and Hamtramck Historic Spatial Archaeology Project.

Education: Postdoctoral Fellow (Archaeology & Engineering, Brown University, 2008–2011), PhD in Anthropology (Brown University, 2008), MPhil (Cambridge University, 2003), BA (Boston University, 2001).

Research Focus: Urban archaeology, material culture, diaspora studies, and heritage preservation. She co-edits the American Experience in Archaeological Perspective book series and serves on boards like Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Review Board.

Grants/Awards: NEH, NSF, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and recognition including the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation and James Deetz Award.

Teaching: Courses include Historical Archaeology, Urban Archaeology, and Archaeological Fieldwork in the Americas.

Lab/Teams: Active in Wayne State’s Archaeology Lab and collaborative initiatives like the Ethnic Layers of Detroit Digital Storytelling Project.