Megan Hicks

Megan Hicks is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Hunter College, City University of New York, within the School of Arts and Sciences. Her research employs archaeology to investigate community ecologies amid colonial and capitalist intensification.

Education

• PhD, CUNY Graduate Center

Research Interests

Hicks specializes in archaeology, with a focus on community ecologies, colonialism, and capitalism. Her methodologies include excavation, zooarchaeology, and archival research. She conducts fieldwork in Iceland, examining traditional farming, fishing, and hunting in relation to shifting political and market structures, and in the Northeastern US, studying 19th century Black enclaves and land use dynamics tied to self-determination. Committed to collaborative archaeology, she partners with descendant and host communities in research design and educational initiatives, and consults with Native communities for heritage-based land protection.

Publications Trend

Hicks' recent publications demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach, merging historical archaeology with environmental and social sciences. Her work emphasizes marginalized communities and long-term sustainable resource use, particularly in Icelandic and African American contexts. She frequently employs zooarchaeological methods and engages with critical theories of colonialism and capitalism.

Scientific Awards

No scientific awards were mentioned.

Teaching and Advising

Hicks teaches undergraduate and MA level courses including Archaeology of Colonialism, Zooarchaeology, Urban Archaeology of NYC, and Gender in Archaeology. Her research provides students with consistent opportunities to engage in fieldwork and laboratory analysis.

Contact

Office hours: Wednesdays 12-1 PM, Thursdays 4-5 PM. Email: mhick@hunter.cuny.edu.