Erin Walcek Averett

Erin Walcek Averett is a Professor in the Department of Fine & Performing Arts at Creighton University and Associate Director of the Honors Program. She holds a PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of Missouri and specializes in Cypriot archaeology and digital methodologies.

• Education: B.A. in Latin and Classical Archaeology (University of Georgia), MA and PhD in Classical Archaeology (University of Missouri)

Her research focuses on the archaeology of Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean during the Iron Age, emphasizing terracotta figurines, ancient ritual practices, and digital archaeology. She co-edited Mobilizing the Past for a Digital Future (2016) and authored Visualizing Votive Practice (2020), utilizing 3D modeling to analyze religious artifacts.

Recent publications highlight her work on zoomorphic masks, ritual performances, and the application of digital tools in reconstructing antiquity. Her studies often bridge material culture analysis with theoretical frameworks like New Materialities and social zooarchaeology.

Scientific awards include the Dean’s Award for Tenure Track Teaching at Creighton University. She has secured significant grants, including a National Endowment for the Humanities Digital Humanities Start-Up Grant and National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) funding.

Erin actively collaborates with institutions such as the Joslyn Art Museum and the Archaeological Institute of America, where she serves as President of the Omaha-Lincoln chapter. Her work integrates field archaeology with digital innovation, advancing methodologies in artifact preservation and interpretation.