Destiny Crider

Destiny Crider serves as Instructor in Museum Studies, Manager of the Anthropology Lab and Collections, and Museum Studies Program Director at Luther College. Her work bridges archaeological research with museum practice, focusing on Mesoamerican and Southwest US archaeology through ceramic and materials analysis.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, Arizona State University
• B.A. in Anthropology, University of Kansas

Dr. Crider's research centers on archaeology of the Americas with deep specialization in Central Mexican Mesoamerica and US Southwest cultures. She employs scientific techniques like particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) for ceramic analysis and actively explores experimental replication of ancient decorative technologies. Her work consistently examines cultural interactions during the Epiclassic and Early Postclassic periods through pottery studies and settlement patterns.

Publication trends from 2002-2023 reveal evolving expertise from technical ceramic analysis toward museum studies advocacy. Early work focused on Mesoamerican pottery production and trade networks, while recent publications integrate liberal arts education frameworks with collections management. Her 2023 article demonstrates continued leadership in archaeological ceramics methodology.

Dr. Crider has mentored undergraduate researchers including Jayne Cole (’14), resulting in two conference presentations on ceramic decorative technologies. She teaches MUST 120: Introduction to Museums, MUST 220: Collections Management, and specialized Directed Readings on Aztec worldview and Southwest archaeology. Current grants are not specified in available materials.

She directs Luther College's Anthropology Lab and Collections while maintaining the Digital Library of Central Mexican Pottery—a collaborative resource featuring her research and contributions from Basin of Mexico specialists. This digital repository supports both academic research and undergraduate pedagogy through accessible archaeological materials.