Kara Cooney

Dr. Kara Cooney is a Professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA's Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC). Her research focuses on funerary practices, coffin studies, and ancient economic systems, particularly during Egypt's 19th and 21st Dynasties. She holds a PhD in Egyptology from Johns Hopkins University (2005) and co-curated the internationally renowned exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.

Her work bridges archaeology and media through the Discovery Channel series Out of Egypt (2009) and popular books like The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut’s Rise to Power (2014) and When Women Ruled the World (2018). Current research investigates coffin reuse during periods of sociopolitical crisis, involving global analysis of over 300 coffin collections.

Her expertise spans gender studies of ancient queens, craft specialization, and the materiality of funerary rituals. Fieldwork includes excavations across Egypt, with a focus on understanding socioeconomic impacts on burial practices.