Staff Information

Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office Staff

Dr. Andrea A. Hunter – Director/ THPO

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Dr. Andrea A. Hunter is an enrolled member of the Osage Nation from the Grayhorse District and an active participant in the In’ Lon Schka dances. Both of Dr. Hunter´s grandfathers, Joseph Cannon and Arthur A. Hunter were full-blood Osage. Hunter received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology with a specialty in Archaeology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Hunter was the first Native American in the United States to receive a Ph.D. in Anthropology with an expertise in Archaeology. After seventeen years as a professor in the Department of Anthropology and director of the North American Division of the Laboratory of Paleoethnobotany at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Dr. Hunter was honored to accept the position of Director and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Osage Nation in 2007. Dr. Hunter also served as the vice-chair for 10 years and chair for 10 years of the Smithsonian Institution´s Native American Repatriation Review Committee and during the same period was appointed a Research Associate at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

Colleen A. Bell – Deputy THPO

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Colleen A. Bell is a Doctoral Candidate in Archaeology at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside and Master of Arts in Anthropology at the University of Tulsa. She is a prehistoric archaeologist specializing in lithic technology and cognitive evolution. She has extensive experience working on block excavations in Oklahoma, Texas, New Hampshire, Armenia, and Jordan.  Additionally, Colleen has worked in cultural resource management for over a decade in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas conducting Phase I and Phase II fieldwork, reporting, and construction monitoring. Beginning in 2015, she has served as an adjunct professor at Tulsa Community College teaching cultural anthropology and sociology. She is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists and the Society for American Archaeology. Colleen has training and experience with GPS, GIS, 3D analysis, residue analysis, use-wear (low and high power), debitage analysis, lithic technological analysis, and experimental archaeology. She began working for the Historic Preservation Office in June 2020.

Sarah R. O’Donnell – NAGPRA Coordinator

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Sarah O’Donnell serves as the NAGPRA Coordinator for the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office, coordinating the NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) responsibilities for the department. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a Master of Science in Applied Anthropology from Missouri State University. Sarah is a prehistoric archaeologist specializing in prehistoric North American ceramics, the Missouri Ozark region in particular. Sarah’s field experience includes excavations at Cahokia Mounds and the East St. Louis Mound Group, as well as several colonial-period archaeological sites in Missouri. This specialization makes her highly qualified in identifying ancestral Osage remains and sacred items for repatriation back to the Nation. She is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists and the Society for American Archaeology. Sarah also uses her experience as an instructor at Missouri State University to assist with public outreach and education programs developed by the Historic Preservation Office. She began working with the Historic Preservation Office in February 2015.

Eden Hemming - Archaeologist

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Eden Hemming received both her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Master of Arts in Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology from the University of Tulsa. In 2010, she created the Facebook page for the Tulsa Archaeological Society and acted as administrator until August 2020, receiving a Certificate of Outstanding Dedication to the Tulsa Archaeological Society in 2012. Her expertise is in lithic analysis, debitage analysis, and low-power microscopic usewear analysis. In 2015, she earned her green belt in Lean/Six Sigma, a method of maximizing process efficiency. Besides archaeology, Eden has also worked on issues that affect contemporary communities. Previously, she worked on a research project called Project REVIVE looking at the adverse effects of neighborhood crime on children. More recently, she has been involved with Transform Tulsa, an advocacy effort to remove the portion of I-244 in Tulsa that destroyed historic Greenwood. She has also worked on surveys and excavations in and around Tulsa. Eden combines her experience in archaeology and her interest in justice in service to the Osage Nation.

Johnnie Jacobs – Archaeologist

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Johnnie Jacobs is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation.  She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Oklahoma in Anthropology.  She attended the University of Arizona’s American Indian Studies Ph.D. program and focused on federal Indian law and policy.  Johnnie has worked in the field of tribal historic preservation for many years.  She began as a cultural assistant in the Historic Preservation Office at the Muscogee Creek Nation in Okmulgee, OK and later served as the director of the Cultural Preservation Office.  She has also worked for the Choctaw Nation and federal agencies to identify and protect cultural resources in tribal homelands and here in Oklahoma.  Johnnie grew up in Holdenville, Hughes County, Oklahoma on her family’s allotment west of town.  Her parents were John and Carol Jacobs, they ran a small dry cleaning/alteration shop in town and had a small farm.  Johnnie is an Archaeologist with the Osage Nation’s Historic Preservation Office.  In her job with the Osage Nation, she reviews various federal projects in Oklahoma and throughout the Osage Nation’s Ancestral Territory to help identify historic properties and Osage burials that may be effected.  She works with federal agencies, other Tribes, states, and other stake holders to avoid those impacts.  Johnnie states, “it is an honor to serve the Osage Nation and to help protect your cultural resources.”

Caitlin Nichols – Archaeologist

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Caitlin Eileen Nichols is an Archaeologist who relocated to Oklahoma from Kentucky.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Geosciences/Geoarchaeology from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and her Master of Arts in Anthropology, emphasis in Archaeology, from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Caitlin is a prehistoric archaeologist whose interests include faunal analysis and late prehistoric social hierarchies. She has significant experience in cultural resource management, working in various areas of the United States including Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. She is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA# 17357), the Midwestern Archaeological Conference, and the Southeastern Archaeological Conference. Caitlin has training and experience with GPS, GIS, faunal analysis, human remains analysis, and documentation and consultation procedure for the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). She started work at the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office as an Archaeologist in January of 2021. Caitlin is proud, honored, and excited to use her position and experience to serve the people of the Osage Nation, working to protect and preserve their archaeological, historic, and sacred sites throughout the Osage ancestral territories and homelands.

Michaela Conway– Archaeologist

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K. Michaela Conway attended the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Sociology, and she received her Master of Arts in Archaeology from the University of Tulsa. Michaela’s research focused on observing changes within precontact ceramic and lithic artifact assemblages for rates of cultural evolution in North America. She has significant experience in cultural resource management, conducting fieldwork in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. She is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists, the Society for American Archaeology, and previously served as the Ozarks Chapter President of the Missouri Archaeological Society. During her time at the University of Tulsa, she assisted with implementing digitization of native cultural objects with the Gilcrease Museum. Before joining the Osage Nation, Michaela was a Research Archaeologist with Missouri State University where she conducted Phase I-III fieldwork, reporting, and assisted with writing and receiving a federal NAGPRA Consultation and Documentation grant. Michaela joined the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office in January 2023. She is proud to advocate for the preservation and protection of Osage cultural resources.

Kathleen Kelley - Archaeologist 

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Kathleen Kelley attended Baylor University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and received her Master of Arts in Anthropology, with an emphasis in archaeology, from The University of Tulsa (2023). Her emphasis was on paleo ecological reconstruction using analysis of faunal remains. In addition to these interests, she was President of the TU Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honor Society where she focused on encouraging community outreach, education, and collaboration. Kathleen is very honored to be working as an Archaeologist at the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office where she has the opportunity to learn about the Osage Nation and be an advocate for preserving their rich heritage and traditions. 

Dr. Edgar Alarcón - Archaeologist

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Dr. Edgar Alarcón holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Anthropology from the University of Georgia. Edgar’s most extensive research has centered on the archaeology and bioarchaeology of Mesoamerica with a particular focus on the Basin of Mexico. Edgar’s field experience and lab experience ranges from the Yucatan peninsula, Oaxaca state, and the Basin of Mexico to California, Maryland, Georgia, and South Carolina. He is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists, the Society for American Archaeology, the American Association of Biological Anthropologists, the Canadian Latin-American Archaeology Society, and the Asociación Mexicana de Antropología Biológica. He began working with the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office in August 2023.

Benjamin Bressoud – Archaeologist

benjamin.bressoud@osagenation-nsn.gov

Benjamin Bressoud attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology, with minors in both Classics and Philosophy. In 2023, he received his Master of Science in Archaeology from the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland with a focus on Human Osteology. His interest lies in the identification and protection of human remains, as well as the study of ailments and diseases of the past. His field experience ranges from the Orkney Islands to Carlsbad, New Mexico, and has conducted cultural resource management work in numerous states including Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Michigan, and West Virginia. He has training in GIS, faunal analysis, human remains analysis, and artifact documentation and cataloging. He began working for the Osage nation in January of 2024. He is extremely honored to be able to serve the Osage Nation in this capacity, and will strive to protect their culture and heritage.

Delaney Cooley - Archaeologist 

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Delaney Cooley is a Doctoral Candidate in Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the University of Iowa and Masters of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on the indirect effects of colonization on communities living on the Great Plains. She has a diverse range of fieldwork experiences in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico, and Sonora, Mexico. Additionally, she has training in GPS, GIS, lithic technological analysis, debitage analysis, and public archaeology. Delaney is honored to serve the people of Osage Nation and help advocate for the preservation and protection of their cultural heritage.

Pascha Enzi – GIS/Computer Technician

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Pascha Enzi has a Bachelor of Science in Scientific and Technical Communications from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Science in Geographic Information Science from the University of Denver. She has unique experience in the intersection of history and geography gained from working as a GIS/Database Manager documenting abandoned mining site locations for the National Park Service. Her knowledge of computer technology was fostered by working in the student technology lab of her university and she is proficient with database and GIS specific software as well as technology used for historic preservation work such as ground penetrating radar, XRF analyzers, and 3D scanners and printers.

Kilan Jacobs – Tribal Research Assistant

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L. Kilan Jacobs is an enrolled member of the Osage Nation from the Grayhorse District and an active participant in the In’ Lon Schka dances and the Osage Native American Church. Kilan is a descendant of the Neka-Thompa, Red Eagle, Cox, Kirk, and Boone families. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Native American and Indigenous Studies from Haskell Indian Nations University. While at Haskell, Jacobs also received a certificate of Records Management Training from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Kilan leans heavily upon the elders and traditions to guide him in his daily work with the construction and management of the ever-growing archaeology reports and research library for the Historic Preservation Office. He began working with the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office in April 2015.

Courtney Neff – Section 106 Coordinator 

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Courtney Neff is an enrolled member of the Osage Nation from the Grayhorse District and an active participant in the In’ Lon Schka dances. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oklahoma State University where she was very active in the Native American Student Association by educating college students and faculty about Native American cultures and traditions. Courtney assists with fieldwork and coordinating cultural resource and Section 106 database management. She also oversees the Traditional Cultural Advisors Committee’s monthly meetings and aids with historic preservation community outreach. Courtney began working with the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office in June 2016.

Chris Iron - Office and Documents Specialist

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Chris Iron is a member of the Osage/Ponka/Sioux/Otoe-Missouri/Ioway Tribes, full blood. She is very active in the community with beadwork, ribbonwork, Moccasin making, Skirts, Shirts, Otter Hides, and Roach making. Her Hamilton Family Camp has been established in Pawhuska Indian Camp since the beginning of time and will remain there until the end of time. Chris started with the Historic Preservation Office in November of 2021 and assists with filing and scanning of archaeological and Osage culture history documents. Chris also helps coordinate the Section 106 database and aids in interoffice projects and other Historic Preservation projects and consultations.

Seth Vincent – Office and Documents Specialist

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A tribal member of the Osage Nation, Seth Vincent has worked with the Osage Nation Historic Preservation since June 2015. In 2020, Seth graduated with his Bachelors in American Studies from Oklahoma State University. Seth provides support in the ONHPO's research library, including filing and scanning of cultural history documents to add to the library and creating detailed abstracts and keywords for future research.

Luke Morris – Contract Archaeologist

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Luke A. Morris attended the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Master of Arts in Anthropology with a specialization in Archaeology. Luke’s studies focused on prehistoric human adaptations to environmental constraints in the Ozark Mountains, and observing changes within artifact assemblages as a result. Creating DEM maps of chipped-stone bedrock resources, lithic analysis, geomorphology, and prehistoric settlement patterns are all pursued research interests. As a proponent of cultural preservation, Luke has conducted non-invasive fieldwork including GPR, conductivity, resistivity, magnetometry, and infrared-imaging with drones. Luke is an independent contractor that has worked with the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office since September 2017. Luke has also contracted for the National Park Service, and worked for several private archaeological firms conducting multi-phase survey or monitoring construction projects in the southern Midwest. Archaeological survey, monitoring, report writing, and reviewing NHPA Section 106 projects are all duties performed for ONHPO.