Alexandra Kelly

Assistant Professor of History and Anthropology

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.

Dr. Kelly is also the Director of the UW Anthropology Museum (click here for more information.)

Research Interests

Africa/East Africa

Historical Anthropology/Archaeology

Capitalism

Globalization

Exchange/Circulation

Consumption

Material Culture

Heritage

Courses Taught

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