Graduate Students

Ashley L. Allen
aale78@lsu.edu
B.A. Oklahoma State University;
M.A. University of Wyoming
Advisor: Dr. Dydia DeLyser
cultural geography, landscape, memory, identity, folklore, united states, narrative and rural communities

Alexandria Amaki
B.A. CSU Chico
Advisor: Dr. Ginesse Listi
forensic anthropology, osteology, ancestry

Meredith Aulds
maulds2@lsu.edu
B.A. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. Robert Tague
Osteology, Skeletal biology, pathologies, bioarchaeology, Latin America, South America

 Krista Bennett
kbenn32@lsu.edu 
B.A. Psychology, B.A. Anthropology, University of North Texas
Advisor: Dr. Ginesse Listi
Forensic Anthropology, Skeletal Trauma, Osteology

 
Kyle Bikowski
Kbikow1@lsu.edu
B.A. Anthropology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
B.A. International Studies, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Advisor: Dr. Micha Rahder
Sociocultural Anthropology, Gaymers and Gayming, Science and Technology Studies, Cyborg Anthropology, Virtual Spaces, Nerd Culture, LGBTQ+ Studies

Charles Canan
ccanan1@lsu.edu
A.S. Emergency Medical Services, Nicholls State University (2003);
B.S. Allied Health - Professional Practice, Nicholls State University (2005);
M.S. Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Arkansas Tech University (2017)
Advisor: Dr. Barry Keim
Primary focus is disaster sciences; interests include physical geography, hydrology, and geomorphology

Kathleen Benedetto
kbened3@lsu.edu 
B.S. Psychology, LSU;
M.S.W., Tulane University
Advisor: Dr. Jill Trepanier
extreme climate events, hurricanes

Rupsa Bhowmick
B.S. University of Calcutta     
M.S. University of Calcutta
Advisor: Dr. Jill Trepanier
climatology, applied climatology, extreme climatic events, remote sensing and GIS

Brittney Blevins
bblevi2@lsu.edu 
B.A. Anthropology, University of Louisville  
Advisor: Dr. Ginesse Listi
Forensic Anthropology, Dental Anthropology, Human Osteology

Jason Brooks
B.S. Kennesaw State University;
M.A. Georgia State University
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Saunders
comparisons in power and spatial organization between sugar and cotton plantations in the Lower Mississippi River Valley with a primary focus in historical archaeology

Vincent Brown
vbrow31@lsu.edu 
B.S. Salisbury University;
M.S. University of Tennessee
Advisor: Dr. Barry Keim
Climatology, Physical Geography, Climate Change, Statistics

Elizabeth Cruzado Carranza
ecruza1@lsu.edu 
B.A. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru;
M.A. University of Memphis
Advisor: Dr. David Chicoine
Andean archaeology, mortuary practices, archaeobotany, public archaeology, site preservation, museum studies, identity, cultural heritage

Maggie Cloos
B.A. Sewanee
Advisor: Dr. Brian Marks
coastal Louisiana, environmental change narratives, community participation in environmental management, conservation geography

Audrey DeLuca
adodge2@lsu.edu
B.A. Anthropology and History, University of Alabama;
Advisor: Dr. David Chicoine
Bioarchaeology, Historical Archaeology, Gender Studies, Mortuary Practices

Kevin Durbin
B.S. Louisiana State University;
M.S. Georgia Tech
Advisor: Dr. Fahui Wang
urban and transportation geography, land use patterns and policy, public policy and administration, GIS, urban scenario modeling

 Katherine Elder
B.A. Anthropology and French
Advisor: Dr. Ginesse Listi
Forensics and Bioarchaeology 

Amber Elworth
B.A. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. Jill Brody
linguistic anthropology, applied linguistics, language acquisition, middle east, north africa

Nicholas Enwright
nenwri1@lsu.edu 
B.S. University of North Texas;  
M.S. University of North Texas
Advisor: Dr. Lei Wang
geographic information systems, remote sensing, land use/land cover change, wetlands, barrier islands, restoration monitoring

Shuzhan Fan
B.S. Central South University
Advisor: Dr. Michael Leitner
GIS, spatial statistics, spatial analysis, remote sensing

Monica Fenton
mfento1@lsu.edu 
B.A. University of Pennsylvania
Advisor: Dr. David Chicoine
archaeology, the Andes, Lower Central America, gender, queerness, bioarchaeology, zooarchaeology, mortuary practices

Cheryl M Foster
cfost34@lsu.edu
B.A. University of Central Florida;
M.A. University of Central Florida
Advisor: Dr. Heather McKillop
Maya Archaeology, Underwater Archaeology, Paleoethnobotany, Geology, Herbalism, Environmental Archaeology

Kelsey Fox
kfox26@lsu.edu
B.S. University of Louisiana at Lafayette 
Advisor: Dr. Robert Tague
Forensic Anthropology 

Margaret Furtner
mfurtn1@lsu.edu 
B.A. DePauw University
Advisor: Dr. Juliet Brophy
Paleoanthropology, Osteology, Dental Anthropology

 SK Groll
sgroll1@lsu.edu 
B.A. Case Western Reserve University
Advisor: Dr. Joyce M. Jackson
sociocultural and public anthropology, ethnography of social movements, political economy, geography of resistance, politics of education, medical anthropology, body ideals, gender, sexual health, adolescent cultures

Marena Grondin
mgrond1@lsu.edu 
B.S. Unity College
Advisor: Dr. Kory Konsoer
physical geography, fluvial geomorphology

 
Nick Grondin
B.S Meteorology, University of South Alabama (Minors: Mathematics and Geography), GIS Certificate, University of South Alabama
Advisor: Dr. Barry Keim
climatology, meteorology, tropical cyclones, GIS applications in weather and climate, weather/climate education

 Ya Han
B.S. Geography, Peking University;
M.S. Geography (city and regional planning), Peking University
Advisor: Dr. Fahui Wang
GIS, urban planning, climate change

Kenetha Harrington
khar151@lsu.edu 
M.A. St. Xavier University
Advisor: Dr. Joyce Jackson, Dr. Helen Regis
African diaspora archaeology, historical archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, slavery in America, black culture, space, ethnohistory, and identity

Joseph Harris
B.S. Austin Peay State University;
M.S. East Tennessee State University
Advisor: Dr. Robert Rohli
geohazards (hazard mitigation and emergency planning), hazards (anthropogenic and natural), risk assessment, evacuation modeling, GIS, environmental geography (applied GIS and remote sensing), meteorology, climatology

Juana Ibáñez
B.A. University of New Orleans;
M.A. University of Texas-Austin
Advisor: Dr. Kent Mathewson and Dr. Rebecca Saunders
adaptations of the Marksville culture (2000 BP) between the Mississippi delta and Gulf Coast

Marisa Karpinski
mkarpi1@lsu.edu  
B.S. University of Delaware
Advisor: Dr. Barry Keim
tropical climatology, hurricanes, climate communication, risk perception

Brandy Kerr
bkerr6@lsu.edu
B.A. Anthropology
B.A. Spanish
Advisor: Dr. David Chicoine
prehistoric Plaquemines culture in southeast Louisiana

 Hyunjoong Kim
hkim57@lsu.edu 
B.S. Anyang University, South Korea
M.S. Anyang University, South Korea
Current advisor: Dr. Fahui Wang
Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Simulation Model, Spatial Disparity, Spatial Statistical Analysis Method

Stephen Kreller
skrell1@lsu.edu 
B.S. Atmospheric Science, University of Louisiana at Monroe
Advisor: Dr. Barry Keim
Climate, Meteorology, Storm Surge, Hurricanes

Aubry Kyle
Akyle5@lsu.edu 
M.A. University of New Orleans
M.P.H. University of Illinois at Chicago
Advisor: Dr. Craig Colten
Hazard Planning and Preparedness, Public Health Geographies, Medical Geography, Medical Anthropology, Faith-Based Organization Roles in Disaster Response

Sarah Latham
slatha2@lsu.edu 
B.A. Anthropology, Webster University
Advisor: Dr. Kerry Chance
Political Anthropology, Anarchism and Uprisings, Queer Theory, Critical Race Theory, Political Ecology, and Space, Place and Belonging

Jiyoung Lee 
jlee257@lsu.edu 
B.A. Sungshin Women's University;
M.A. Sungshin Women's University
Advisor: Dr. Michael Leitner
GIS, Geo visualization, Interactive map, Geospatial big data analysis, Remote Sensing 

Cuiling Liu
B.S. Shandong Jiaotong University;
M.S. Capital Normal University
Advisor: Dr. Fahui Wang
spatial analysis, spatial database, urban planning evaluation, urban explanation simulation

Shuxian Liu
sliu52@lsu.edu 
B.S. Sun Yat-Sun University
Advisor: Dr. Lei Wang
Geo-information extraction,RS/GIS application in urban study, Spatial statistic analysis, Natural Disaster in Coastal area

Irene Martí-Gil
B.A. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona;
M.A. University College London
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Saunders
Islamic archaeology, archaeology of Spanish missions, linguistic anthropology

Christopher McCurley
B.A. Vanderbilt University;
M.C.J. Tarleton State University
Advisor: Dr. Kent Mathewson
cultural geography, historical geography, mobility, ethnographic methods, GIS

Brant Mitchell
Advisor: Dr. Barry Keim

Margeaux Murray
mmurr35@lsu.edu 
B.A. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Saunders
Plaquemine/Mississippian culture, Southeast US, Contact archaeology, Historical archaeology, Cultural Resource Management, Public Outreach

Ria Mukerji
rmuker1@lsu.edu 
B.A. Environmental Studies, UC Santa Cruz
Advisor: Dr. Craig Colten
human-environment interaction, community resilience, sea-level rise and floods, human geography, climate change adaptation

Christopher Nicosia
cnicos2@lsu.edu
B.A. Suny Oneonta
M.S. Illinois State University
Advisor: Dr. David Chicoine
Bioarchaeology, Skeletal Biology, Social Landscapes (i.e., Social Identity, Gender), Paleopathology, Mortuary Patterning, Diet

Antonio Otero
aotero5@lsu.edu
B.A. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr.    Robert Tague
Paleoanthropology

Jessi R. Parfait
jparfa6@lsu.edu 
B.A. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. Helen Regis
Environmental anthropology, GIS, ethnographic methods, southeast Native Americans, environmental racism

Alina Prigozhina
palina1@lsu.edu 
B.S. Moscow State University, Russia
Advisor: Dr. Michael Leitner
medical geography, factors affecting diseases spreading, HIV/AIDS geography, diseases dependent on social factors, geography of crime, GIS applications in business and government

Michel F. Pujazón
mpujazon1@lsu.edu
B.A. University of Florida
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Saunders
spectroscopy, artifact sourcing, GIS, sacred landscapes, human-environment interaction

Xiaolei Qiu
xqiu5@lsu.edu
B.L. Shanghai University of
Political Science and Law
Advisor: Dr. Helen Regis
Social Culture; Gender; Globalization and Power; Social Stratification

Sophia Reck
sreck1@lsu.edu 
B.S. Colorado Mesa University
Advisor: Dr. Ginesse Listi
Forensic Anthropology, Bioarchaeology, Human Taphonomy               

Taylor Rowley
B.S. University of Oklahoma;
M.S. Texas AM University
Advisor: Dr. Kory Konsoer
Fluvial Geomorphology, Hydrology, Water Resources

Nan Shang
nshang1@lsu.edu
B.S. Wuhan University;
M.S. Chinese Academy of Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Shelly Meng
UAV, remote sensing and GIS application, 3D topographic mapping

Deirdre C. Smith
B.S. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Advisor: Dr. Jill Trepanier
Latin America, Louisiana Gulf Coast, climatology, hurricanes, lightning, extreme weather, human-environment interactions

Samira Soleimani
ssolei1@lsu.edu 
B.S. Iran University of Technology;
M.S. K. N. Toosi University of Technology
Advisor: Dr. Michael Leitner
Spatial Statistics, Spatial Crime Analysis, Volunteered Geographical Information, Railroad-Highway Crossing Control, Spatial Data Mining

Brett Spencer
bspen13@lsu.edu 
B.A. Kent State
M.A. University of New Orleans
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Sluyter
historical geography of the Mosquitia (Honduras and Nicaragua), indigenous activism, urban geography, Central American Caribbean

Kenny Sutherland
ksuthe3@lsu.edu 
B.S. and B.A Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. David Chicoine
digital imaging, GIS, remote sensing, human-environment interactions, foodways, festivals, religion, material culture, east Asia, Andes

Andreana Tarleton
atarle5@lsu.edu 
B.A. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. Joyce Marie Jackson        criminal justice system, black womanhood, cyber activist culture, critical race feminism

 Ashlee Taylor
atay159@lsu.edu 
B.A California State University, Chico
Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Saunders
Historical Archaeology, Contact Period, GIS, Data Management

Derek Thompson
B.S. Western Kentucky University
Advisor: Dr. Barry Keim
meteorology, climatology, applied climatology, remote sensing, GIS, teleconnections, history

 Dan Tian
dtian2@lsu.edu 
B.S. Sun Yat-sen University
M.S. University of Bristol
Advisor: Dr. Lei Wang
GIS, remote sensing, flooding, natural hazards and risk assessment

 Le Tu
B.S. Anhui University of Architecture
Advisor: Dr. Lei Wang
GIS, information extraction, RS/GIS application in urban area, soil moisture estimation 

Clay Tucker
M.S. and B.S. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. Jill Trepanier
Dendroclimatology, climatic geomorphology, paleotempestology,hurricane impacts on the Louisiana Gulf Coast

Dusty Waltner
B.A. University of Montana, M.S. University of Montana
Advisor: Dr. Kent Mathewson
cultural geography, historical geography, tourism geography, geography of disabilities, performance and identity 

  Jacob Warner
jwarn11@lsu.edu
B.A. Louisiana State University
M.A. Louisiana State University
Advisor: Dr. David Chicoine, Dr. Kristine DeLong
peruvian archaeology, paleoclimate reconstruction, El Niño-Southern oscillation, human-environment interaction

Yaping Xu
B.S. Guizhou University;
M.S. Chinese Academy of Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Lei Wang
remote sensing(RS) of the environment, information extraction, dynamic change analysis, RS/GIS application in natural disaster, cultural relics and heritage

Deborah Loke Wai Yee
dlokew1@lsu.edu 
B.S. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Advisor: Dr. Kristine DeLong
Paleoclimate reconstruction using coral proxies, particularly Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca

  Xukai Zhang
xzhan78@lsu.edu 
B.S. China University of Geosciences;
M.S. Chinese Academy of Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Shelly Meng
remote sensing application, coastal information extraction, 3D topographic mapping, urban development

Zeliu Zheng
B.S. University of Washington, Seattle
M.S. Binghamton University, SUNY;
Advisor: Dr. Fahui Wang
urban planning, public policy, GIS