Ryan Collins

Ryan Collins is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Millsaps College specializing in anthropological archaeology with a focus on ancient Maya urban society (900 BCE to 900 CE), environmental impacts, and social responses to epidemics in Yucatan, Mexico.

His educational background includes a BA from the University of Central Florida, MA and PhD from Brandeis University, and a Neukom Postdoctoral Fellowship at Dartmouth College. Fieldwork highlights encompass terrestrial and cave excavations in Yucatan, linguistic support for WWII POW recovery with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Italy, and leadership of cultural resource management projects in Miami.

Research spans obsidian exchange in the Tehuacan Valley (8000–2000 BCE), urban transformation, and contemporary applications of archaeological insights. He actively engages communities through podcasting and publishes in English and Spanish journals.

Award recognition includes the Neukom Postdoctoral Fellowship. His professional approach emphasizes stakeholder collaboration, public outreach, and interdisciplinary project leadership across terrestrial, cave, and urban archaeological contexts.