UCF Department of Anthropology

05/21/2026

CCAMP is in the news again!

The Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project (CCAMP), housed within UCF Anthropology, is featured in a recent Fox News story highlighting archaeological discoveries at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Researchers have uncovered pottery fragments, shell tools, shark tooth artifacts, food remains, and other evidence of Indigenous life along Florida's Atlantic coast. The findings are helping archaeologists better understand the communities that lived in the region centuries before the Space Age. One particularly intriguing discovery continues to puzzle researchers and may represent either a fossil or a whale bone.

We're proud to see the important work of CCAMP and UCF Anthropology recognized on a national platform and helping bring Florida's rich cultural heritage to a broader audience.

Read the full story: https://www.foxnews.com/travel/ancient-artifacts-found-cape-canaveral-space-force-station-one-mystery-stumps-researchers

05/19/2026

05/14/2026

📂 From the archives: revisiting a 2017 UCF Anthropology feature highlighting the work of Dr. Sandra Wheeler and her research on infants and children in ancient societies.

Through the study of burial practices, care, diet, health, and social roles, researchers can uncover powerful insights into family life, belief systems, personhood, and childhood in the past. Even the smallest lives can reveal meaningful stories about culture, community, and what it meant to grow up in ancient societies.

Anthropology tells stories that span a lifetime—even the very beginning of one.

🔗 Revisit the article here: https://sciences.ucf.edu/news/another-side-anthropology-infants-children/

05/11/2026

Summer 2026 Anthropology registration is still open at University of Central Florida!
 
From Biological Anthropology and Archaeology to Language, Culture, Media, and Theme Parks 🌎📺🏺 — there’s still time to enroll in exciting Anthropology courses this summer.
 
⚠️ Summer A classes begin May 13!
Students can still register through May 19 during Late Registration on myUCF. A $100 late registration fee applies.
 
Summer A
• Registration Open Through: May 12
• Late Registration: May 13 – May 19
 
Summer B
• Registration Open Through: June 23
• Late Registration: June 24 – June 30
 
Register through myUCF before classes fill up!
 
🔗 UCF Registration Link:
https://my.ucf.edu/
 
📅 Summer 2026 Academic Calendar:
https://calendar.ucf.edu/2026/summer
 

05/10/2026

From the diverse maternal traditions studied across cultures to the maternal figures supporting our students here at home, the bond of “motherhood” is a cornerstone of the human experience. 🌎✨

Today, the UCF Department of Anthropology celebrates all the mothers, grandmothers, and maternal mentors in our Knight community. Thank you for your strength, your guidance, and for inspiring the next generation of ! ⚔️

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Mother’s Day. 🌹


ChargeOn

05/08/2026

Today and tomorrow, we celebrate our graduating M.A. students, undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate students 🎓✨

The Department of Anthropology is incredibly proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where your next chapter takes you.

Congratulations, graduates!

04/29/2026

Long before rockets launched from Cape Canaveral, Indigenous communities were shaping and sustaining life along its shores. Today, UCF Anthropology students are uncovering that history, excavating sites filled with shells, pottery, and animal remains that reflect centuries of human activity. Some findings even point to meals and daily practices from hundreds of years ago, offering a rare tangible connection to the past.

Through the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project (CCAMP), students are not only gaining hands-on field experience but also helping preserve and interpret a landscape where prehistory and modern science exist side by side.

📰 Article: https://tinyurl.com/3enbc4u4
📸 Photo gallery: https://tinyurl.com/nkpxtm6z
🎥 Video: https://tinyurl.com/585feuj5

04/28/2026

Anthropology isn’t a “risky” major — it’s an essential one.

Thurka Sangaramoorthy’s new Washington Post op‑ed highlights how anthropology teaches one of the most crucial skills in the age of big data: understanding human experience in all its complexity.

As she writes, anthropology helps us “translate the complexity of human experience into knowledge that institutions can act on.” That’s exactly what our students and alumni do every day.

At UCF Anthropology, our graduates put these skills to work across tech, health, policy, museums, nonprofits, and global development.
If you’re looking for a major or minor that prepares you for a changing world, we invite you to explore our programs.

- Find the (pay-walled) op‑ed: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/27/anthropology-teaches-an-essential-skill-era-big-data/

- Learn more about UCF Anthropology: https://sciences.ucf.edu/anthropology/

04/28/2026

Bones, brews, and big ideas — what more could you want on a Saturday night.

Science on Tap is back on May 2, 2026, at Brewlando Brewing (6820 Hoffner Ave., Orlando, FL 32822). Registration opens at 5:30 p.m., the event runs 6–8 p.m., and tickets are just $10.

Hear from:
🦴 Rachael Kangas, M.A., RPA — exploring cemeteries as outdoor museums
🔬 Matthieu Baudelet, Ph.D. — showing how chemistry helps identify remains

Grab a drink, grab a snack, and get ready to nerd out with fellow science fans.

Included with your ticket:
🍺 First drink on us
🍽️ Pub‑style bites
🎁 Science on Tap swag (yes, the Cup of Knowledge is back)
👋 Meet‑and‑mingle with our speakers

🎟️ Tickets available here: https://foundation.ucf.edu/ScienceOnTap

Come for the brews. Stay for the bones.

04/24/2026

We’re excited to recognize our Anthropology faculty honored at this year’s UCF College of Sciences Faculty Awards, celebrating excellence across research, teaching, mentorship, and service.

These awards highlight the many ways faculty contribute to advancing knowledge, supporting student success, and strengthening the university’s mission.

OSCAR Award
Recognizing outstanding achievements in research, scholarship, and creative activity:
Drs. Donovan Adams, Marla Toyne, and Sarah Freidline

TONI Award
Honoring impactful teaching, course innovation, and student mentorship:
Drs. Monica Rodriguez and Scott Branting

EMI Award
Celebrating exceptional service and contributions that support the university’s broader mission:
Dr. Brigitte Kovacevich

Together, these recognitions reflect the depth and diversity of work happening across our department, from the classroom to the field to the wider community.

Congratulations to our faculty for their continued impact and leadership!

📸 See highlights from the event on the College of Sciences page: facebook.com/ucfsciences