Department of Anthropology

Alexandra C. Kelly
Assistant Professor

I am a historical anthropologist/archaeologist interested in Africa, capitalist expansion, imperialism, exchange, material culture and heritage. My current research is an interdisciplinary project that highlights the historical ivory trade between East Africa and New England as an important site of colonial and neoliberal social production. I use the object biographies of a collection of ivory artifacts from two ivory-cutting factories in Connecticut to explore forgotten histories of global connection and problematize contemporary heritage discourse concerning elephants and ivory in East Africa.

Prior to coming to the University of Wyoming, I received a PhD in Anthropology at Stanford University, an MA in Social Sciences and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. I hold a dual appointment between the History and Anthropology Departments.

Research Interests: Africa/East Africa, Historical Anthropology/Archaeology, Capitalism, Globalization, Exchange/Circulation, Consumption, Material Culture, Heritage

Courses Taught:

HIST/INST 1330: World History Since 1750

HIST/ANTH 2600: Forgotten Africa: Introduction to African Civilizations

ANTH 4010: History of Anthropological Thought

HIST 4990/5400: Civil War as Global Conflict

HIST 5900/5910: Seminar on the History Profession