ASU archaeology center recognized for first-of-its-kind training program

The Center for Archaeology and Society Repository within Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change developed the first-of-its-kind Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act learning track to address one of the most widely acknowledged challenges facing museums today — a critical shortage of well-trained NAGPRA practitioners and the lack of formalized, hands-on NAGPRA education in anthropology programs.

Since its inception in 2022, the program has seen noteworthy success, not only in meeting institutional repatriation goals, but in training a number of students on working in museum repositories and equipping them with wider career-ready skills. Over 70 students have participated in at least one semester of the four-semester program, and five students have completed all four semesters of the program.

The success of the NAGPRA learning track was recently recognized by the Museum Association of Arizona for the 2026 Institutional Award of Excellence. The award is given to a museum that has exhibited leadership qualities by achieving excellence in its work, including in the areas of collection, preservation, research, interpretation and education.

“This program represents an extraordinary model of museum education through collections-based, ethically grounded, community-engaged practices,” said Christopher Caseldine, assistant research professor in the school and curator of collections for the center. 

As mentioned, the program lasts four semesters and embeds structured student learning into active repatriation work, providing undergraduate students with experience in collections care, artifact documentation, consultation preparation and repatriation compliance through guided mentorship by NAGPRA practitioners. The learning track culminates with an external internship with the goal of providing students with an opportunity to apply their learned skills in a non-university setting.

Brooke Blaszynski serves as a NAGPRA inventory specialist at the Center for Archaeology and Society Repository, where her primary responsibility is supervising students during their first semester in the NAGPRA learning track. She describes it as a mix of teaching, mentoring and working alongside students as they learn.

“My goal every semester is to ensure students understand not only how to do the work, but why it matters,” said Blaszynski.

Ella Zeiders, whose involvement with the center began as an undergraduate when she completed all four semesters of the NAGPRA learning track program, is now a full-time NAGPRA project lead and serves as a mentor to student interns in their third semester of the learning track. Zeiders said the most rewarding part about working on the learning track program is the relationships and active collaboration between the team, students and community partners, which makes the work incredibly meaningful.

“I am deeply grateful to have experienced the NAGPRA learning track firsthand; the team at (the center) and our community partners have taught me the importance of pursuing these efforts with respect and dignity,” said Zeiders. “I feel lucky that I get to return the favor by supporting the next generation of students as they learn and become passionate about repatriation.”

Scott Hartman, a NAGPRA project lead who facilitates the repatriation of ASU’s national forest collections with tribal partners and teaches students about the practical application of NAGPRA as it relates to those collections, says the most rewarding part of his job is working with students who are passionate about the work.

“It takes a specific type of person to become involved in this discipline, and seeing them become proficient and invested in this process is extremely rewarding,” said Hartman.

Staff members at the center say the work of the NAGPRA learning track program is important on multiple levels. 

“At its core, repatriation is about fulfilling legal and ethical responsibilities to return ancestors, belongings and cultural items to their descendant communities, and doing so in a way that respects tribal sovereignty and priorities,” said Allisen Dahlstedt, head of repatriation at the center, who oversees the center’s NAGPRA and repatriation efforts, including leading consultations with tribal and federal partners.

The learning track program also addresses the need of well-trained NAGPRA practitioners by giving students direct, supervised experience in real repatriation work.

“It helps ensure that the next generation entering this field is not only technically prepared, but also grounded in the ethical and relational aspects essential to doing this work responsibly,” said Dahlstedt, who works closely with students in the last two semesters of the program to ensure their work meets both professional standards and ethical responsibilities while also helping students understand the broader context of repatriation work.

Members of the Center for Archaeology and Society Repository team shared that being recognized for the award not only acknowledges the importance of the work they are doing and the value of investing in thoughtful, hands-on training — it also emphasizes the importance in continuing the support and expansion of this work.

“To me, this award honors the dedication of our entire team, our students and the communities whose partnership guides every step of this process,” said Blaszynski. “It motivates me to continue strengthening the program and advocating for the resources needed to carry this work forward with integrity and care.”