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| Dr. Alexandra Jones (Image Source: PBS) |
Dr. Alexandra Jones has dedicated her career to public archaeology, working in museum, public school, and university settings. Her archaeological career began when she pursued degrees in Anthropology and History from Howard University, but it was during the pursuit of her Doctoral degree from the University of California-Berkley that Jones was inspired to begin a public archaeology organization. While teaching in Washington, D.C. in 2006 she realized that her students, who were largely urban youth, had never heard of archaeology despite the rich cultural histories that surrounded them in their urban neighborhoods. She was inspired to provide her students various programs to not only learn about but study archaeology. These programs allow her students to study their own communities’ archaeological history and their own family histories. In 2009 the Archaeology in the Community, or AITC, was founded as a non-profit organization, which provides various types of archaeological educational programming to students of all ages and in various mediums. This effort has since taken off throughout the D.C. area, as well as Virginia and Maryland.
In addition to her responsibilities with AITC, Dr. Jones is also the Field School Director on the PBS show, Time Team America. This PBS television series focuses on a field school experiences for middle and high school students, who get to work at some important sites across the US. Individuals can still participate in archaeology through the Time Team America’s interactive website. While she is not working with PBS or AITC she teaches as an Assistant Professor of Practice in History and Anthropology at Goucher College.
References
Archaeology in the Community. (2021). About AITC. Retrieved from Archaeology in the Community: https://www.archaeologyincommunity.com/about-aitc/
Oregon Public Broadcasting. (2014). Field School Director: Dr. Alexandra Jones. Retrieved from Time Team America: https://www.pbs.org/time-team/meet-the-team/alexandra-jones/
Weissburg, L. (2021). Alexandra Jones . Retrieved from Trowelblazers: https://trowelblazers.com/alexandra-jones-community-spirit/?fbclid=IwAR3sSc2En66voaGjV1pTFEYExf0KJUUF9Jyoyf2k2w7DS7y5HGBB0rjFk78
13 comments:
It is amazing that Dr. Jones is not just doing one thing with her career. She using her skills in museums, public schools, and universities. She teaches young students about archaeology and inspires them to become archeologists themselves. They learn a lot about the history of their communities and their own families. She not only works with children in person she is also the director on the PBS show, Time Team America. She has the opportunity to teach kids about archaeology everywhere through the screen.
Before this article I had no knowledge of Dr. Alexandra Jones. It was intriguing to learn how she took the intuitive to teach her students her archaeology in Washington DC. Also it was cool to learn that she has her own pbs show.
I think it is pretty cool that Dr. Jones is taking advantage of all her skills! It is also cool that she is inspiring the next generation of future archeologist. Archaeology is something that is not as mainstream as other classes.
I think its amazing the Dr. Jones is it taking the time to educate her students about an area that is not usually taught. Personally, I did not know much about archaeology and anthropology before enrolling in DR. Boston's Intro to Anthropology course.
This was a great artcile and that is cool that she was teaching in D.C and most of her students was largely urban youth.
-Jaden Clark
What a wonderful experience. I can only imagine how excited I would have been to have these opportunities when I was in middle and high school.
As I read the blog post I thought to myself and said that Dr. Jones reminds me of Dr. Boston. They both took what they loved the most and taught it to students. I’ve never been a fan of history nor museum but it’s rubbing off on me. - Maka’la Reynolds
I personally think Dr. Jones is an inspiration and I'd love to be in the same league as her, although I definitely don't believe I'm any where close. Thank you, Maka'la, for thinking otherwise.
Dr Jones is and inspiration especially being a woman of color. I am a African American Woman as well and she had definitely expanded my view on archaeology. My Professor Dr Boston has also broaden my knowledge on Archaeology as well.
-Jasmine Hill
That is a great thing for Dr.Alexandra Jones to put together a program in hopes to educate more kids about anthropology. With me never even hearing the term anthropology until this course, the program would have been very beneficial for me.
-Jayla Templeton
The blog piece on Alexandra Jones piqued my interest. I admire how she developed a Public Archeology Program for people in urban areas who are interested in the history of their neighborhood. It's motivating to see people from urban areas create ways and opportunities for other people in metropolitan commutes.
I always love reading blogs that feature black women or men and their journey on how they got to where they are in their career. It is great that she works with students and is able to provide and inspire them with much of her knowledge in the field. It is also cool that she works for PBS and focuses on experiences for younger students as well.
-Keira Robinson
Graduates that are active in their career fields and teach their field to students receive the upmost respect from me! I also can relate to Dr. Jones because she went to an HBCU for her undergrad. I think it is amazing that the show Time Team America provides fieldwork opportunities to middle school and high school students because field work is not typically emphasized until college. -Tala Caples
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