April M. Beisaw

April M. Beisaw is an Associate Professor and Chair of Anthropology at Vassar College since 2012. Her research focuses on North American archaeology, exploring cultural resilience, environmental history, and Indigenous rights. She holds degrees from Rutgers University (BA) and SUNY Binghamton (MA, PhD).

Research Interests:

• Contemporary archaeology of urban water systems and Indigenous protest sites
• Memory studies, repatriation, and ethical practice in archaeology
• Community-engaged projects linking past and present

Recent Work:

• Lead author of Taking Our Water for the City (2023), studying displaced communities in NYC's watershed
• Documented Native American protests from Alcatraz to Standing Rock (2020)

Honors:

• Putnam County Historian's Local History Publication Award
• Funding from Ford Scholars and URSI programs

Teaching & Outreach:

• Incorporates social justice themes in archaeology education
• Mentored over 100 student researchers in fieldwork