Sarah Walshaw

Sarah Walshaw is a University Lecturer in the Department of History at Simon Fraser University (SFU), affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from Washington University in St Louis, with prior degrees from the University of Calgary (BSc Archaeology) and University of Alberta (MA Anthropology). Her research focuses on African history and archaeology, particularly the Swahili Coast, ethnobotany, and oral traditions.

Her academic journey includes a SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellowship at SFU's Archaeology Department and sessional teaching roles at SFU and UBC since 2006. Her work bridges historical and archaeological methods, examining topics like crop domestication, urbanization, and cultural exchange in East and West Africa. Notable publications include studies on Austronesian expansion, Swahili trade networks, and dietary shifts in Gambian and Tanzanian contexts.

• Awards: 2016 Cormack Award for Teaching Excellence (SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
• Teaching: Courses include HIST 200 'Making History: Introduction to Historical Research'

Dr. Walshaw's interdisciplinary approach integrates botanical evidence, ceramic analysis, and oral histories to reconstruct complex societal dynamics. Her research emphasizes Africa's global interconnectedness and environmental adaptations across millennia.