Debra L. Martin (Anthropology), along with Ventura Peréz from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Pamela Stone from Hampshire College, in Amherst; and Samuel Sisneros from the University of New Mexico, have been awarded a 2019–20 community action grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for the Nuestra Señora de Belén Archaeological Project. The goal of the community engagement project, "Archaeology Girls! Excavating Belen, New Mexico’s History," is to provide a hands-on immersive STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) experience with field and lab activities for fifth- through eighth-grade girls as they aid in helping uncover their town’s history. The girls will be working side by side with UNLV anthropology graduate students, including Claira Ralston, Mariah Moe, Justin Goldstein, Diana Simpson, Cristina Freiberger, and Daniel Perez, utilizing scientific methods for recovery and analysis of historic artifacts. The project is taking place throughout the month of July. AAUW is one of the world’s leading supporters of graduate women’s education. Special consideration was given to projects that focus on girls’ and young women’s achievement in STEM. The archaeological project is focused on excavating the original historic mission church, Nuestra Señora de Belén, that was built in the 1700s but was toppled in a flash flood in 1850.
