Jerald Ek Romero

Jerald Ek Romero is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Western Washington University, holding concurrent roles as Senior Instructor and Lecturer. His research focuses on community-based participatory archaeology, particularly in the Salish Sea region through the x̌ʷiq̓ʷix̌ʷalqʷuʔ (Blue Water) Project with the Stillaguamish Tribe and in Mesoamerica via the Proyecto Arqueológico Champotón. He earned a PhD from SUNY Albany, an MA from University College London, and a BA from WWU.

Research Interests: Human-environment interactions, political economy, indigenizing archaeology, remote sensing applications, and resilience science. His work emphasizes decolonizing methodologies and tribal sovereignty in fieldwork.

Key Projects: The Blue Water Project prioritizes Indigenous-led archaeology, while the Champotón Project investigates resilience in the Maya Lowlands' Classic-Postclassic transition. Both projects challenge traditional archaeological paradigms.

• Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles on Maya political dynamics, ceramic analysis, and remote sensing techniques.
• Awards: NSF Dissertation Grant (2009), Fulbright Research Grant (2007-2008), and FAMSI Research Grant (2005).
• Teaching: Courses include Archaeological Method & Theory, Salish Archaeology, and Cultural Resource Management.

Grants & Collaborations: Leveraged funding for field schools and cross-border partnerships with Mexican institutions. Serves as director of WWU's Archaeological Field School.