ASOR FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
MONIQUE VINCENT
Monique at Khirbet al-Balu’a in 2012.
What was your most memorable moment during the excavation season you participated in?
I had taken some Arabic courses before the 2011 season, so one of the more memorable experiences during that season was having discussions with some of our workers at ‘Umayri. Having a chance to share our different perspectives on the archaeological work as well as discuss history and everyday life was a great experience.
What advice would you give a fellow recipient?
Take time to enjoy getting to know the culture and people of the region where you work. Especially the food!
Are you still affiliated with ASOR as a member?
Yes. I presented at the last Annual Meeting in Baltimore on my dissertation research.
What is the current status of your career or education (or other project)?
I am a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, and am currently living in San Diego while working on my dissertation. I work as an Associate Curator for the Center for Near Eastern Archaeology at La Sierra University, and currently am a Visiting Assistant Professor there as well for the Winter and Spring 2014 quarters. I am still a staff member of the Madaba Plains Project – Tall al-‘Umayri excavations, and am part of the directing staff of the Balu’a Regional Archaeology Project, centered on Khirbat al-Balu’a (where the photo was taken). Both of these projects are in Jordan.
How did the scholarship/grant help you with your career?
The Heritage Fellowship allowed to me to excavate and collect data essential for my dissertation research at Tall al-‘Umayri. It gave me the opportunity to continue studying domestic buildings and everyday life, which I am researching in order to answer questions about social identity during the Early Iron Age.
