Megan Crutcher

I am an interdisciplinary historical archaeologist, maritime historian, and public historian/archaeologist studying landscapes, memories, and traces of resistance to colonization in coastal West Africa. My research is based in Liberia, where I investigate how Indigenous Liberians like the Kru (Klao/Krao) used maritime engagements, political and social organizing, migration and immigration, and traditional forms of heritage preservation to resist colonization from both Europeans and the American Colonization Society between the 17th and 20th centuries. I am the co-director, along with Prince Kondeh, of the Kru Coast Heritage Initiative (KCHI), a grassroots community archaeology and heritage project in Sinoe County, Liberia. In addition to KCHI, I have collaborated with international teams from several countries to complete archaeological excavations, monitor archaeological sites, conduct archival research, and curate/analyze material culture across Africa, Europe, and North America. Prior to pursuing my PhD, I worked in historic preservation for Pittsburgh-based firm Pfaffmann + Associates, and in the Section of Conservation at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. I hold an MA in Public History from Duquesne University and a BA in History. I'm also a PADI-certified rescue diver.

Learn more about KCHI and our impact at krucoastheritage.weebly.com.
To view my full CV, publications, and portfolio, visit megancrutcher.com.

Advisor: Dr. Chris Dostal

First Year in the Program: 2020