The staff of the Shikhin Excavation Project are an eclectic bunch. In many ways, the Project feels like family. Meet our team below.
Motti Aviam
Associate Director
Motti is Professor in the Department of Land of Israel Studies, Kinneret Academic College and Director, Kinneret Institute of Galilean Archaeology
Tom McCollough
Associate Director
Tom is Nelson and Mary McDowell Rodes Professor of Religion Emeritus at Centre College and Professor of Religion (Adjunct) in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, Coastal Carolina University
Randall O’Neill
Field Supervisor
Randy has an undergraduate degree in archaeology from City University of New York and a masters degree in ancient history from New York University. He is pursuing a masters degree in Secondary Education at Northeastern Illinois University. He looks forward to teaching high school history and sharing the work being done at Shikhin with his students.
Carolyn Strange
Mater Castrorum
Carolyn has served as a volunteer, Artifact Registrar, and Camp Manager for digs beginning with the Meiron Excavation Project in the 1970s. At the SEP, she is in charge of just about everything, from second breakfast to Friday night kiddish.
Virginia Skeeter
Assistant Camp Manager
Virginia first dug with the USF Excavations at Sepphoris in the 1990s and has been with the SEP for many years.
Toby Klein
Artifact Registrar
Toby is a Galilean–a resident of Mitzpe Netofa–and a graphic artist. She has volunteered at many sites in Israel and has worked with the SEP since 2015.
Kay Clements
Assistant Artifact Registrar
A 1963 graduate of Howard College (now Samford University), Kay taught high school German in Birmingham, Alabama (USA) for many years. She joined the SEP in 2012.
Claire Oldfather
Assistant Artifact Registrar
Claire is an archaeologist-cum-archivist who first attended the dig in 2012. She has degrees in Classics, Folklore and Mythology, Medieval Welsh Literature, and Archive Administration. She is now pursuing a Masters in Library Science degree. Her goals: to continue to work in libraries and museums and with projects like the SEP, to improve and expand access to research. Oh, and to organize the world.
Joan Keller
Yehi zichrah baruch.
Glass Historian
Trained as a speech therapist, Joan began digging with the Meiron Excavation Project of Upper Galilee in the 1970s. She completed her masters in religious studies at the University of South Florida and began working with the USF Excavations at Sepphoris in the 1980s.
Paulina Wołodźko
Pottery Registrar and Fineware Specialist
Paulina is a Ph.D. student in archaeology at the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on the Gaza jars found in Asyut, Egypt.
Brian Gregory
Chemist
Brian is Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Howard College of Arts and Sciences, Samford University.
Betsy Dobbins
Biologist
Betsy is Director of the STEM Scholars Program and Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Howard College of Arts and Sciences, Samford University.
Walt Harper
Area Supervisor
Walt is a Professor of Bible and Ministry and Director of the Youth and Family Ministry program at Central Christian College of the Bible. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies at Faulkner University. He joined the Shikhin Excavation Project in 2018.
Pamela Reaves
Area Supervisor
Pam is Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Colorado College. She has dug with the USF Excavations at Sepphoris and has been with the SEP since 2016.
Teryn Gilbertson
Area Supervisor
Teryn is Adjunct Instructor in Humanities and Cultural Studies, Anthropology, and Religious Studies at the University of South Florida. She has conducted anthropological research in Peru and joined the SEP in 2016.
Jen Elam
Architect
Jen works as a professional archaeologist in the United States as principal investigator of Commonwealth Heritage Group’s North Carolina office. She has worked in cultural resource management since 1999 in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast United States.
Steven Meigs
Photographer
Steven is working toward a PhD in Philosophy from the University of South Florida. He teaches Religious Studies courses at Pasco-Hernando State College. He has been an archaeological and artifact photographer at both Sepphoris and Shikhin.
The Shikhin Excavation Project 