Campus News

Harrod returns this month as JCLS presenter

'Reading the Bones' will explore pre-contact North American bioarchaeology

Dr. Ryan Harrod certainly knows his bones.

Harrod – whose academic specialization is in biological anthropology – is this month’s presenter in Garrett College’s Joan Crawford Lecture Series. His lecture – Reading the Bones – will examine bioarchaeology in pre-contact North America. His presentation will take place on Wednesday, November 16th at 6 p.m. in Room 111 of the GIEC.

Harrod will explain how researchers studying human skeletal remains have helped enhance understanding of Indigenous cultures living in Canada, Mexico, and the United States prior to the arrival of Europeans. The talk will highlight some of the research, including his own, that has been conducted over the last several decades, with a focus on recent discoveries.

The talk will also discuss the shift in ethical approaches in recent years and why that is critical to developing and maintaining collaborative relationships between Indigenous communities and bioarcheological researchers.

Harrod, who kicked off the 2021 JCLS with a presentation on Chinese immigrants’ role in the transcontinental railroad, is Garrett College’s dean of academic affairs and chief academic officer.

Harrod holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in psychology from the University of Utah, a Master’s of Arts in anthropology from the University of Idaho, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was an adjunct instructor at the College of Southern Nevada and a Barrick Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas prior to accepting a faculty position at the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2013.

Harrod was chair of UAA’s Department of Anthropology prior to becoming Garrett College’s dean of academic affairs in 2021.

The Joan Crawford Lecture Series was created by the Garrett College faculty to honor a dynamic educator who spent more than three decades at the College. Crawford, who died in 2010, came to Garrett College in 1972 and served in a variety of capacities, including head of the Humanities Department.

After her retirement, Crawford was named Professor Emerita by the Garrett College Board of Trustees.

JCLS presentations are offered free of charge, and the public and community members are invited to attend. All presentations from the Joan Crawford Lecture Series will be available to view online through the College's Facebook page. Lectures are live streamed and recordings are posted shortly after the event.