Kristrina Shuler

Kristrina Shuler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work at Auburn University's College of Liberal Arts. Her research focuses on bioarchaeology, particularly reconstructing health and nutrition of past populations in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Southeastern U.S. She teaches core anthropology courses including Biological Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology, and Bioarchaeology.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
• MA from the University of Southern Mississippi
• BA from the University of South Carolina

Shuler's research centers on biological anthropology and bioarchaeology, with extensive fieldwork examining enslaved African communities in Barbados. She integrates skeletal analysis with historical records to investigate how social inequality manifests biologically, focusing on health impacts of slavery, nutritional stress, and labor conditions. Her work bridges archaeological evidence with historical documentation to reconstruct lived experiences of marginalized populations.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on Caribbean bioarchaeology, particularly Barbados plantation contexts. Recurring themes include skeletal evidence of lead exposure, alcohol-related birth defects, and nutritional deficiencies among enslaved populations. She also examines health transitions during agricultural shifts in the Southeastern U.S., using musculoskeletal stress markers to infer labor patterns. Her methodological contributions include studies on stature estimation and entheseal change reliability.

Dr. Shuler's teaching excellence has been formally recognized through:

• Auburn University Honors College Professor of the Year (2015)
• College of Liberal Arts Award for Teaching Excellence (2015)
• Induction into the College of Liberal Arts Academy of Outstanding Teachers (2023)

As an active researcher and educator, she mentors anthropology students in bioarchaeological methods. Her extensive publication record spanning three decades indicates sustained research funding, though specific grant details are not provided in available materials. She co-edited the significant volume Bioarchaeology of the American Southeast (2018), demonstrating leadership in her field.