Ellen M. Lofaro

Ellen M. Lofaro is the Director of Repatriation and Curator of Archaeology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Anthropological Archaeology & Biological Anthropology. Her work focuses on repatriation under NAGPRA, collaborating with Native American Tribes to return ancestral remains and cultural items, and integrating traditional practices into academic standards.

• Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Florida (2016, 2011), B.A. in Anthropology with French minor from Vanderbilt University (2009).

Her research interests span Repatriation, NAGPRA, Collaborative Community Research, Cultural Heritage, and Isotope Geochemistry. She specializes in bioarchaeology, museum curation, and traditional collections care, with regional expertise in the Southeastern U.S. and the Andes.

Lofaro’s recent articles (2016–2019) focus on bioarchaeological and isotopic analyses of diet, mobility, and warfare in Andean Peru. These works highlight her interdisciplinary approach, combining archaeological science with cultural heritage ethics.

• Scientific Awards: Buffalo Bill Center of the West Resident Fellowship (2018), Mary Miller Scholarship (2018), Getty Research Institute grant (2016).

She has secured multiple grants, including a National Institute of Justice award (2019) and National Park Service agreements (2019–2024), to advance repatriation practices and collections management. Lofaro also advises doctoral students and collaborates with international organizations like AIATSIS on cultural heritage initiatives.