The Archaeological Conservancy’s Board of Directors provides strategic direction, oversight, and make all major organizational decisions.
Board of Directors
Cory D. Wilkins is the President and Western Regional Director for The Archaeological Conservancy (TAC). He came to TAC via the land trust community, where he served as an Executive Director for a regional land trust in northern California. Based in Reno, Nevada, Mr. Wilkins’ region includes California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada.
Mr. Wilkins served in the United States Coast Guard for over twenty years as a search and rescue air crewman and aircraft mechanic. His duty stations included two tours each at air stations Barber’s Point, Hawaii, and Sacramento, California. While in the USCG, Mr. Wilkins earned his BA degree in Business Communications and his MBA.
Vin Steponaitis is a professor of archaeology and anthropology and the former director of the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on the ancient history of the American South, particularly the mound-building cultures of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and is a past president of the Society for American Archaeology.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Alexander lives in northern Virginia. She holds a B.A. degree from Boston University and a law degree from Georgetown University. She has practiced law in Virginia and served as an aide to the Virginia Senate and in various political positions. She is a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at American University and has been doing research in Egypt. She serves on the board of the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Shane Doyle is a Crow tribal member and educational consultant who hails from the Crow Agency in Montana. Along with his educational consultant work in Montana public schools, the National Park Service, and Yellowstone Forever, Shane is currently the Montana Resource Coordinator for the TEDNA-NYCP 2015 program, as well as an advocate and spokesperson for the Montana Wilderness Association. Shane lives in Bozeman, Montana where he also works as an adjunct instructor for Montana State University-Bozeman.
Jim Galloway, a resident of Jackson, Mississippi, lived most of his life, prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, in Gulfport. Jim is a former lawyer, who was a litigator, and who represented the boards of directors of many municipal, county, and regional governmental entities. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in English and Sociology, and of the University of Mississippi School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree.
Robert Gelb is an attorney and archaeologist who lives in San Carlos, California. His archaeology master’s thesis was on the protection of Mono Lake Paiute Kutzadika sacred sites in California. He has taught criminal and constitutional law at the college level and introductory archaeology and physical anthropology at community colleges. He also serves as a volunteer site steward for the Conservancy.
Jerry Golden is a retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Shell Chemical Company. Since retirement he lives in California and Boulder, Colorado where he pursues his interest in Southwestern archaeology. He holds a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and has studied anthropology at the University of Colorado and corporate finance at the London Business School.
Jeffrey M. Mitchem retired in 2022 from his positions as an archaeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey and Research Associate Professor in Anthropology at the University of Arkansas. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1989, and since 1990, he has been directing research at Parkin Archeological State Park in northeast Arkansas. Since 1976, he has participated in fieldwork in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and the country of Jordan. He currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida. Learn more about Jeffrey Mitchem in our blog series The People Behind TAC: Surprises Around Every Corner: Archaeology, The Parkin Site and The Archaeological Conservancy
Leslie Masson lives in Lexington, Massachusetts where she is active in the community. She is retired from the software industry and currently collaborates with her mentor in costume study and design. She has had a passion for archaeology since childhood and holds a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from University of California at Berkeley.
Bill Thompson spent decades in the corporate world, owning and operating companies. Since 2009 he has been a published novelist, and now he has more than two dozen books in print, archaeological thrillers and ghost stories, all available on Amazon. He attended Tulane University, is a graduate of the University of Tulsa and lives in Dallas, Texas.
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Janet Creighton (1995-2023)
Roddy Stanton ( 2000 -2021)
Bill Lipe ( 2013-2024)
James Walker ( 2020 -2024)
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Mark Michel (1980-2024)
Staff
The Archaeological Conservancy staff come from all walks of life and have expertise in art, design, music, archaeology, land preservation, higher education administration, publishing, the military, and K-12 through higher education instruction. Many of our regional staff members are archaeologists with experience in field archaeology and CRM work and have won awards acknowledging their expertise in preserving archaeological sites across the country.
Jessica Fleming Crawford is Vice President and Southeast Regional Director for The Archaeological Conservancy, a nationwide, non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and preserving the country’s most significant archaeological sites. The Conservancy preserves these sites by acquiring title to them through purchase, owner donation, and occasionally holding easements. The Conservancy has five regional offices and owns over 500 archaeological preserves throughout the country. From her office in Batesville, Mississippi, she is responsible for managing the Conservancy’s properties in eight Southeastern states, overseeing research on those sites, and acquiring additional sites. She develops land management plans and works with various government agencies on the incorporation of selected Conservancy properties into State and National parks. She also plans and guides a week-long educational tour of Southeastern archaeological sites. She attended the University of Mississippi where she obtained a BA in English and a MA in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology.
Kelley began working with The Archaeological Conservancy in 2013 and currently serves as the Eastern Regional Director, managing over 90 properties from Maine south through North Carolina while working to preserve additional sites. Previously she worked as a field archaeologist in the CRM Industry, educator, and museum interpreter in the Eastern United States, Michigan, and Canada. She has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Toronto and an MA in Historical Archaeology from The College of William and Mary. Her interests include public archaeology, community engagement, preservation, and archaeology of the northeastern United States and Canada.
Lindsay Scott received her MA in Anthropology from the University of Montana, Missoula. Lindsay is a Registered Professional Archaeologist with years of experience as a principal investigator at cultural resource management firms and in educational outreach, interpretation, and curation. As TAC’s Midwest Regional Director, Lindsay preserves and manages archaeology sites as well as provides educational tours, outreach, and collaboration throughout her region.
April Brown is the Southwest Regional Director for the Archaeological Conservancy. She began her archaeology career at the University of Louisville in the 1990s, conducting field work and research around the northern Kentucky region. She later finished her degree at the University of New Mexico, where she received a BS in Anthropology with a minor in Geographic Information Science. Archaeological preservation and non-invasive research techniques were central to her undergraduate research at UNM. Her honors research focused on documenting rock imagery in the Jemez Mountains and studying environmental impacts at archaeological sites using drones and other 3D modeling techniques.
April has over 35 years of business experience, where she has worked as an Executive Assistant, Graphic Designer, Journalist, Filmmaker, Advertising Executive, and Digital Outreach Professional for a variety of organizations, including Harrah’s Entertainment, the Los Alamos Monitor newspaper, Hutton Broadcasting, Bechtel Nevada, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Since her tenure as Southwest Regional Director, April has aided in the preservation of several cultural properties that include a portion of the San Lorenzo de la Cruz Mission site in east Texas, Cottonwood and Sagrada Jardin de Piedra Petroglyph Preserves at Mesa Prieta in northern New Mexico, and the large Pueblo I village at Knuckles Preserve in southwest Colorado.
Linsie joined the TAC team in 2022 as Western Field Representative and became Western Regional Director in 2025. She brings 25 years of archaeological experience to the mission of site preservation and share the importance of archaeology with the public.
Nikki received both a BA and MA in anthropology from the University of Mississippi. Her research focused mainly on public archaeology outreach and education in the southeastern US which culminated in assisting the city of Batesville, Mississippi in opening the Batesville Mounds site as a public park in 2017. Her first field school experience as an undergrad was at the Conservancy's Carson Mounds preserve. Before starting with the Conservancy, she worked as an independent contractor for a cultural resource management firm. She is a member of the Mississippi Archaeological Association.
Tracy Loe brings more than 20 years of journalism and niche publishing experience to her role as editor of American Archaeology, carrying a bachelor’s degree in media advertising and a master’s degree in higher education administration. She worked in student affairs at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she served as assistant director of student publications and media adviser to journalism and advertising students working at the student newspaper and magazine.
American Archaeology magazine's editor since 2022, she aims to create an educational publication sophisticated enough to not only be enjoyed by archaeological professionals, but by anyone with an interest in North American archaeology.
Tamara has an MA and a BS in Archaeology and many years of experience conducting cultural resource management projects in the American Southwest. Seeking a more preservation-based focus on archaeology, she joined The Archaeological Conservancy back in 1996, first to create a Feasibility Study for the then-proposed American Archaeology magazine, then to work on the magazine and assist with the Conservancy’s Southwest Regional grants, management plans, and National Register nominations. She currently serves as Assistant Editor for the magazine and loves the endless challenge of researching new topics, consulting with researchers, and providing (hopefully!) fascinating content for the Conservancy’s valued membership almost as much as she loves to hike and explore.
Vicki is the art director for The Archaeological Conservancy. She began designing our American Archaeology magazine in 2001 and has won three Folio Magazine Design Excellence awards for her work. She studied at the University of Pittsburgh and Central New Mexico Community College. Vicki serves as President of the Board for the Albuquerque Theater Guild and spends the weekends running agility courses with her yellow lab, Ladybug.
As Membership Director for The Archaeological Conservancy, Kyle leads the organization’s efforts to build and sustain a strong community of supporters dedicated to preserving America’s archaeological heritage. This role encompasses managing membership recruitment and retention, developing and implementing outreach campaigns, and ensuring members are informed and engaged through regular communications and special initiatives.
Working closely with staff across the Conservancy, the Membership Director oversees member services, coordinates benefits such as publications and events, and helps connect supporters to the Conservancy’s mission through meaningful opportunities for involvement. By maintaining accurate membership records and analyzing trends, the director plays a key role in guiding strategic growth and fundraising efforts. Serving as the primary liaison between the Conservancy and its members, the Membership Director fosters long-lasting relationships that strengthen the Conservancy’s ability to acquire, protect, and steward archaeological sites nationwide.
Sarah has served The Archaeological Conservancy for more than 20 years, bringing expertise, dedication, and deep institutional knowledge to her dual roles as Special Projects Director and Office Manager. She oversees a wide range of responsibilities critical to the Conservancy’s success, including writing grants, managing bequests and annuities, and handling the organization’s complex administrative and legal paperwork.
As Office Manager, Sarah ensures the Conservancy’s daily operations run smoothly, supervising administrative staff and coordinating essential functions that keep the organization effective and efficient. Her leadership, attention to detail, and longstanding commitment have made her an indispensable part of the Conservancy team, contributing both to its financial sustainability and its mission to preserve and protect America’s archaeological treasures.
As Associate Membership Director for The Archaeological Conservancy, Justin supports the organization’s membership program by working closely with the Membership Director to recruit, retain, and engage supporters. Justin helps manage daily membership operations, including processing renewals, maintaining accurate records, and assisting with member communications and outreach campaigns.
Serving as the right hand to the Membership Director, the Associate Membership Director provides critical administrative and programmatic support, coordinates membership benefits such as publications and events, and responds to member inquiries.
The administrative specialist for The Archaeological Conservancy supports the organization’s operations and helps ensure the smooth flow of day-to-day activities, assisting with membership processing, correspondence, and record-keeping, while also providing support to staff and regional offices on special projects.
Kevin serves as an Administrative Assistant for The Archaeological Conservancy, where he provides vital support to ensure the organization’s daily operations run smoothly. He assists with a wide variety of administrative tasks, including managing correspondence, maintaining records, processing membership information, and supporting staff across departments. Kevin also assists the Conservancy’s regional directors in coordinating both domestic and international tours.
How does The Conservancy raise funds?
Funds from the Conservancy come from membership dues, individual contributions, corporations and foundations. Membership dues, gifts and bequests of money, land, and securities are fully tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Planned giving provides donors with substantial tax deductions and a variety of beneficiary possibilities. For more information, call Mark Michel at (505) 266-1540.
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