BRIDGING FRONTIERS, INC.
Promoting the study and preservation of the past, by facilitating student participation on archaeological field excavations abroad.
ABOUT
Founded in 2017, Bridging Frontiers is a non-profit organization based in Alaska and committed to the study and preservation of the past by facilitating student opportunities to participate in archaeological field excavations abroad. Cost is the most prohibitive factor for students who want to train in archaeology, and there are few funding bodies presently supporting undergraduate field training. This is in spite of the fact that prior field experience is crucial for admittance into graduate programs or in obtaining employment as a professional archaeologist.
The goal of Bridging Frontiers is to remove the financial barriers hindering students that wish to pursue scholarship and careers in the field of archaeology. As a non-profit, Bridging Frontiers supports education and hands-on training in archaeology by funding students who wish to obtain training at archaeological sites outside of the United States. Bridging Frontiers has successfully supported student success and training at the Archaeology at Halmyris project in Romania, and is developing long-term funding strategies and scholarships for students interested in projects around the globe.
MEET THE BOARD
Since our founding in 2017, Bridging Frontiers, Inc. has developed and grown in a positive direction. We’re very proud of the diversity of our staff, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success. Find out more about some of our team members below.
President
Brian Buchanan received his PhD in Archaeology at Durham University focused on landscape archaeology of Britain. Prior to his doctoral studies, he obtained an MA in Anthropology from American University and a BA in Anthropology and History from Millersville University. Brian worked in cultural resources management for close to a decade on both coasts of the US, and has worked on archaeological investigations in Europe and Africa. Currently he is an assistant professor at Eastern Washington University, and lives in Spokane, WA with his wife and two girls.
ANDREW GOODWIN (OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON)
Vice President
Andrew Goodwin received a MA in Educational Leadership from Sonoma State University, and a BA in Social Science from the University of South Florida. Andrew has been an educator for 20+ years, serving as a K-12 teacher and administrator.
JAN COX (ANCHORAGE, ALASKA)
Treasurer
Bio coming...
THERESA BUCKLEY-PEREZ (ANCHORAGE, ALASKA)
Secretary
Theresa Buckley-Perez earned her degree in Natural Resource from Cornell University and brings 20 years’ non-profit experience to the Bridging Frontiers board. She has served as a volunteer, an employee and as a board member with several non-profit organizations including Volunteers for Wildlife, Project Owlnet, Bird Treatment and Learning Center, Wildlife Conservation Society and National Audubon Society. Originally from New York she, her husband and her son currently reside in Anchorage, AK.
MICHAEL HANSCAM (ANCHORAGE, ALASKA)
Officer
Michael Hanscam is a retired elementary classroom teacher of 35 years. He spent the first half of his life in Oregon, attending Lewis and Clark College and Southern Oregon University. Michael taught on the Oregon coast prior to moving to Alaska where he and his wife, Alice, raised their two daughters, Emily and Becky, and have spent over thirty years enjoying all things Alaska. His enthusiasm for education, history, and adventure has him excited to take part in the unique learning opportunity and community building that the Halmyris field school embodies. He hopes his time as part of Bridging Frontiers, Inc. helps connect many others to this unique opportunity.
RICK GOULD (POULSBO, WASHINGTON)
Officer
Rick Gould earned his B.A. in Physics from Bowdoin College and M.S. in Physics from the University of Washington. He has been a software engineer for over 30 years in a wide range of fields including aerospace, telecommunications, naval, medical, and engineering. He was introduced to archaeology as a totally voluntary volunteer at Halmyris in 2016 (using his knowledge of physics to swing a pick-ax). Originally from Seattle, after raising two children on Bainbridge Island, he and his bride of 35 years now live in Poulsbo, WA.
Officer
Emily Hanscam received her PhD in Archaeology from Durham University in 2019, focusing on nationalism and the politics of the Roman past in Romania. She has an MA in Social Archaeology from the University of Southampton, and a BA in History and Anthropology from Whitman College. She has worked at Halmyris since 2011 and is currently the Project Manager. Emily founded Bridging Frontiers in 2017 and served as President from 2017-2019. Born and raised in Alaska, she is currently living in Oregon with her two cats while teaching remotely for the University of Amsterdam.
DEBBIE GRIFFIN (KINGSTON, WASHINGTON)
Officer
Debbie Griffin earned her BS in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac College (University) in 1983.  She worked on the East Coast as an Occupational Therapist for 5 years before moving to WA state and now practices in healthcare management.  Debbie and husband Ronn have raised two self sufficient sons. Debbie has served on various boards over the past 20 years, most recently as the treasurer for the Triple Nickel Foundation working on the fundraising arm for the historic preservation of the original Boy Scout building in Kingston, WA. She currently serves on the stewardship committee for the Port Gamble Heritage Park, a recently acquired, 3,700 acre park, now under the auspices of Kitsap County Parks and Recreation.
Debbie was drawn to Bridging Frontiers through long time friendships and hopes one day to visit the archaeological site at Halmyris.
GLOBAL FIELD EXPERIENCES
Through our funding program, Bridging Frontiers remains committed to supporting student fieldwork, and meeting the challenges of pursuing a career in archaeology during and after the pandemic.
GRETCHEN GOULD AWARD
THE GRETCHEN GOULD AWARD FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK
The Gretchen Gould Award for Archaeological Fieldwork
Bridging Frontiers is excited to announce the new Gretchen Gould Award to support undergraduate international fieldwork experience. Bridging Frontiers is a non-profit organization committed to the study and preservation of the past by supporting student opportunities to participate in archaeological investigations abroad.Â
Participation in archaeological investigations is vital for students seeking employment as professional archaeologists, but cost is one of the prohibitive factors limiting opportunities for these experiences. These awards are meant to assist students with expenses related to pursuing fieldwork training experiences outside the United States.Â
The awards, ranging from 200-400 USD, are open to students majoring in archaeology or the related disciplines to help pay expenses related to participation in an archaeological field project. It is open to any US citizen accepted to participate in field investigations in any region or temporal period outside of the United States. The Bridging Frontiers committee will consider both academic merit and financial need in granting the awards.
GET INVOLVED
Your support is important to our work at Bridging Frontiers, Inc.. Learn more about how you can get involved and take advantage of the opportunity to do some good.
HOW TO GIVE
Supporting our future, discovering the past~
Our organization always appreciates the generosity and involvement of people like you, with every contribution going towards supporting student archaeologists. We want to provide you with the correct and appropriate information pertaining to your mode of support, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions.
