Join us as we celebrate 70 years of archaeology at Wayne State and honor the upcoming retirement of Professor Tamara Bray, Ph.D. Gather with alumni, faculty, and friends to recognize the impact of our archaeology program and the community that has shaped it.

The afternoon will feature a panel discussion reflecting on the evolution of the archaeology program, followed by time to connect, reflect, and celebrate the legacy we’ve built together. Light bites and beverages to follow.

Panelists include:

Tamara Bray, Ph.D. – Professor of Anthropology whose work focuses on the Inca Empire and late pre-Columbian societies of the northern Andes. Her research explores ancient imperial systems, material culture, and the role of archaeology in the modern world.

Thomas Killion, Ph.D. – Anthropological archaeologist whose work centers on culture, history, and ecology, with a focus on agriculture, settlement systems, and cultural landscapes. He also co-directs an ongoing landscape survey project in Spain.

Krysta Ryzewski, Ph.D. – Professor and Department Chair whose interdisciplinary research examines how people navigate social and environmental change, connecting past human experiences to the present.

Moderator: Dan Trepal, Ph.D. – Senior Geospatial Research Scientist at Michigan Tech specializing in industrial and urban archaeology, historical GIS, and large-scale data approaches. He will join Wayne State’s faculty in Fall 2026.