I am a PhD student at the Department of Anthropology at Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas. My research focuses on Paleoamerican settlement and mobility patterns, and I will be approaching these processes through behavioral ecology and landscape theory. I believe that by studying how these populations moved across the landscape we can better understand how they used and adapted to the land, colonized the continent, and defined and marked a particular area or space as their own. Beyond the ability of my research to yield valuable data about the early peoples of Central America, I consider public outreach and community participation a fundamental component of my career. With this in mind, I have strived to develop and support mechanisms and processes whereby local communities can assist in the preservation and promotion of their cultural heritage, all while upholding national and international principles and laws.
Contact Information
Office: 429 Heroy Hall
Phone: 817-417-5528
Email: afigueroa@smu.edu
Website: http://smu.academica.edu/AlejandroFigueroa
Entered program in 2011
Regional of Study:
Central America, Mesoamerica
Awards and Honors:
Gary Weber Pre-Dissertation Award for Archaeology Doctoral Studies, Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University. (2013)
Steed Travel Award, Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University. (2013)
Institute for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean (ISLAC) Mini Research Grant, University of South Florida. (2010)
Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. (2010)
Samuel L. Fustukjian Memorial Scholarship, USF Libraries, University of South Florida. (2009)
Institute for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean (ISLAC) Research Grant, University of South Florida. (2009)
J. Raymond Williams Scholarship in Public Archaeology, University of South Florida. (2008)
Franz Boas Award for Excellence in Anthropology, Saint Lawrence University. (2004)
Excellence in Service Award, Caribbean and Latin American Studies Department, Saint Lawrence University. (2004)
Romeo-Gilbert Intercultural Research Grant, Saint Lawrence University. (2003)
Sol-Feinstone Award for Academic Research, Saint Lawrence University. (2002)
Publications:
Mayanizing Tourism in Roatan, Honduras: Archaeological Perspectives on Heritage, Development, and Indigencity. In Economic Encounters in the Age of Global Tourism, edited by S. M. Lyon and E. C. Wells. Society for Economic Anthropology Monograph Series. Altamira Press, Lanham, MD. Co-author with Whitney A. Goodwin and E. Christian Wells. (2012)
The Clash of Heritage and Development on the Island or Roatan, Honduras. Unpublished M.A. Thesis, University of South Florida, Tampa. (2011)
Comment on "Casualties of Heritage Distancing: Children, Ch'orti' Indigencity, and the Copan Archaeoscape," by P. A. McAnany and S. Parks. Current Anthropology, in press. Co-author with E. Christian Wells. (2011)
Manual Basico de Arte Rupestre de Honduras. Basic Guide to Honduras' Rock Art. Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Collaborator. (2009)
Manual Basico para el Guardarecursos Cultural Local de Honduras. Basic Guide for the Honduran Local Cultural Resource Manager. Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Collaborator. (2009)
El Arte Rupestre en Honduras: Metodologia para su Estudio, Conservacion e Interpretacion. In Yaxkin, Vol. XXII, No. 1, pp. 74-91. Instituto Hondureno de Antropologia e Historia. Co-author with Francisco Rodriguez and Ranferi Juarez. (2005)
Membership in Professional and Honorary Organizations
World Archaeological Congress - Student Committee, Representative for Central America & the Caribbean
Society for American Archaeology
Society for Applied Anthropology
American Anthropological Association
Alpha Lambda North American Society for Anthropology Honors Students, Iota Chapter
Phi Beta Kappa National Honors Society, Lambda Chapter, Saint Lawrence University