Students

Ph.D. Students

*in alphabetical order

Emma Augustin Knelange

Personal Bio: Emma Augustin is from St. Louis, Missouri and received her BS in Music Business from Greenville University. In 2020, she studied Historical and Geographical Bible Settings at Jerusalem University College (JUC) in order to complete her minor in Theological Studies. JUC is where she began to develop her passion and love for the historical, social, and cultural contexts of the Bible. She graduated with her MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Lipscomb University and one day plans to teach in postsecondary education.

Research Interests: Levantine archaeology, the historical context of the Bible, the geopolitical landscape and international influences of the southern Levant in the Late Bronze and Iron Age

Field Experience:
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2024- volunteer)

Publications & Presentations:
-2024: “The Reliability of Josephus' Account of the Mass Murder-Suicide at Masada” - Thirteenth Annual Student Scholar Symposium, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN

Marcella Barbosa Rigsby

Personal Bio: Marcella Barbosa Rigsby brings nearly 20 years of archaeological experience and a passion for engaging audiences to her work. As a Ph.D. candidate in Archaeology of the Ancient Near East at Lipscomb University and the full-time Curator and Educator at the Lanier Center for Archaeology, she possesses a deep understanding of the field and a proven ability to communicate its complexities in an accessible and compelling way.

Beyond academia, Mrs. Barbosa Rigsby has a strong track record in museum settings, including work as a docent and artifact handler for the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible exhibit, Curator and Educational Coordinator for the Tandy Institute for Archaeology, and consultant to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. This experience translates directly to the skills needed for communicating effectively on camera and in a narrative format. A skilled educator, she has engaged diverse audiences, from elementary students to seniors, in a variety of settings, demonstrating her ability to connect with viewers of all backgrounds.

Research Interests: Late Bronze Age, early Iron Age, the transition between the LB and Iron Age, Canaanite culture, cultural identity during the LB-Iron Age transition, pottery of the LB and early Iron Age

Field Experience:
-Sanisera: The Roman City and Necropolis Dig (2005- volunteer)
- Tel Gezer Excavation Project (2007- volunteer; 2008-2015- Square Supervisor; 2015-2017- Assistant Project Administrator; 2016-2017- Field Archaeologist)
- Gezer Survey Project (2012- Supervisor)
- Kourion Urban Space Project (2016- Lab Director and Volunteer)
- Tel Burna Excavation Project (2018-2024- Area Supervisor)
-Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project (2019- volunteer)

Publications:
- Forthcoming: "The Late Bronze Age Canaanite Town at Tel Burna" as co-author
- 2025: "Archaeology of Hezekiah" in Brio
- 2023: “Cypriot and Northern Levantine Influences on the Cult of the Canaanite Town of Tel Burna” in Transcultural Mobilities and Memories as co-author
- 2023: “The chronology of Gezer from the Late Bronze Age to Iron Age II: a meeting point for radiocarbon, archaeology, Egyptology and the Bible” in PLOS One as co-author
- 2020: “Women’s Fashion in the Old Testament World” in Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary
- 2015: “Elath”, “Lebanon”, “Palestine”, and “Timnah” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary as editor
- 2015: “Zarethan” and “Zoar” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Presentations:
- 2025: "Reframing the Cultic Complex at Tel Burna" accepted for the annual National SBL Meeting
- 2025: "Who We Are and What We Do at the Lanier Center for Archaeology" and Panelist presented at the 252 Conference at the First Free Will Baptist Church of Waverly
- 2025: "A New Understanding of the Cultic Complex at Tel Burna" presented at the Southeast Regional AAR Meeting
- 2024: "Is the Bible Historical?" presented at the 252 Conference at the First Free Will Baptist Church of Waverly
- 2024: "How to Bring Biblical Archaeology to Life for Students" and Panelist presented at the Digging Deeper Education Conference at the Museum of the Bible
- 2024: "Tel Gezer: From a Canaanite City to a Solomonic Administrative Center" presented at The Bible and Its World Conference in Jerusalem, Israel
- 2023: "Cultic Auxiliary Buildings: A View from Tel Burna" accepted for annual National SBL Meeting, though later the session was canceled
- 2023: "Tel Gezer: The Ups and Downs of the Canaanite City" presented at the LCA’s “The Western Boundaries of Ancient Judah”
- 2023: "Tel Burna: Recent Work and the 2022 Season" presented at the Southeast Regional AAR Meeting
- 2023: "Merenptah’s Campaign- The Evidence from Gezer" presented at the LCA’s “The Final Days of the New Kingdom”
- 2022: "Canaanite Gezer in the Iron Age I: New Evidence from the Most Recent Excavations" presented at the Student Scholars Symposium at Lipscomb University
- 2021: “Subduer of Gezer”: Recent Evidence of Pharaoh Merenptah’s Campaign" presented at the Student Scholars Symposium at Lipscomb University
- 2018: "The Gezer 2017 Results" presenter at the meeting of the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies
- 2017: "Merneptah’s Destruction at Gezer" presented at the Tandy's “Foothills of Judah” Conference
- 2017: "The Gezer 2016 Results" presented at the meeting of the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies
- 2016: "The History of the Tandy Institute for Archaeology" presented at the meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research
- 2012: "The 'Fortresses' of the Negev" presented at the meeting of the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies
- 2011: "Miqva’ot" presented at the Annual Southwestern Archaeological Society Symposium

Awards:
- 2021: Outstanding Graduate Session Presentation, Student Scholars Symposium, Lipscomb University
- 2019: “Sandwich” Doctoral Scholarship at Ariel University (1-year grant for research abroad)
- 2017: Eisenbrauns Best Student Paper, Southwestern Commission on Religious Studies
- 2007: Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Archaeology, Lycoming College
- 2007: Eduardo Guerra Prize in Biblical Languages, Lycoming College
- 2006-2007: Dean’s List, Lycoming College

Matthew Bronson

Personal Bio: Matthew Bronson, originally from Salinas, CA, studied Near Eastern archaeology and biblical studies at Southern Adventist University in Chattanooga, TN. In 2014 he lived and worked in Pucallpa, Peru for a humanitarian, non-profit organization. After receiving a master's degree in biblical studies from Liberty University, he returned to Tennessee to continue his studies in archaeology at Lipscomb University. He is now an Assistant Professor at his alma mater Southern Advenitst University. He is married and in his free time enjoys travel, guitar, and all things archaeology.

Research Interests: Iron Age, Bronze Age, Hebrew, Biblical Studies

Field Experience:
-The Fourth Expedition to Lachish (2014- Square Supervisor)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022- Volunteer)

Erika Brown

Personal Bio: Erika Brown, a veteran of the U.S. Army, is married to Lonnie Brown and they have two sons. Erika received her BA in Ancient Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and her MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Along with being a PhD student and working wife and mom, Erika also runs her own production company that puts out the YouTube series, Just So You Know, which aims to bring biblical archaeology to the average evangelical, especially people of color.

Research Interests: sex in the ancient Near East, archaeology and the media

Field Experience:
- Tel Gezer Excavation Project (2017- volunteer)
- Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022- volunteer)
-Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project (2024- volunteer)

Andrew Cahill

Personal Bio: Andrew Cahill was born and raised in Columbus Ohio and probably watched The Prince of Egypt a few too many times growing up. He received his B.S. in Film Production from Huntington University in May 2014, and his M.A. in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Lipscomb University in December 2021. He currently works as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of History, Politics & Philosophy at Lipscomb University.

Research Interests: Archaeology of ancient Egypt and ancient Israel, Ramesside Period, New Kingdom Egypt, Semitic Population in the Nile Delta, Relationship between Egypt and Canaan during the Late Bronze Age, Scarab Seals

Field Experience:
-Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project (2021- volunteer, 2024- assistant epigrapher)
-Kourion Urban Space Project (2022- volunteer)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022- volunteer; 2023-2024- assistant square supervisor)

Publications & Presentations:
-2023: “Relations Between Canaan and Egypt During the Middle Kingdom” - Twelfth Annual Student Scholar Symposium, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN

Kristen Flake

Personal Bio: Kristen Flake is from Bossier City, Louisiana and works as the Admissions Representative to Texas for Lipscomb University. She received her BA in Ancient Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and her MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Research Interests: New Testament, early Church, mosaics

Field Experience:
-Tell es-Safi Excavation Project (volunteer)
-Tel Gezer Excavation Project (2017- volunteer)
- Kourion Urban Space Project (2019-volunteer; 2022 & 2024- square supervisor)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022- volunteer)
-Abila Archaeological Project (2023- square supervisor)

James Gilbert

Personal Bio: James Gilbert is from Ruston, Louisiana, but spent most of his childhood in Kazakhstan, as his parents were missionaries there. He received his BA in Christian Studies and Global History from North Greenville University and his MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Lipscomb University. James is married to Emilie Gilbert and they have one daughter, Eleanor.

Research Interests: Early Christianity, early Christianity in Central Asia

Field Experience:
-Ilibalyk Expedition
-Kourion Urban Space Project (2022 & 2024- volunteer)

Gabrielle Graber

Personal Bio: Gabrielle (Gabbi) Graber is from Alabama and received her B.S. in Interpreter Training at Troy University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is highly proficient in American Sign Language, working as an interpreter. After receiving her B.S, she then spent 2021-2023 studying abroad in Israel at Jerusalem University College, where she earned her M.A. in Biblical History and Geography, while also working as the Teacher's Assistant for the Physical Settings course. Aside from this, Gabbi is also advanced in biblical Hebrew, worked on the Tekoa Artifact Project, and worked as a private tour guide in Jerusalem during her time studying abroad. All this cemented her interest in biblical archaeology, leading her to join the PhD program at Lipscomb.

Research Interests: Iron Age; historical geography

Field Experience:
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2024- volunteer)

John Harmon

Personal Bio: John Harmon is married to Michelle Harmon and together they own a farm in Texas. He received his BA in History from Indiana Weslyan University and his MA in Old Testament from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Research Interests: Old Testament, Iron Age, the Kingdom of Israel, Arameans, monumental architecture

Field Experience:
-Abel Beth Maacah Project
-Tel Gezer Excavation Project (2017- square supervisor)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022- volunteer)
-Nuri Archaeological Expedition (2023- supervisor)

Benjamin Hatfield

Personal Bio: Benjamin Hatfield is from Laceys Spring, Alabama. He received his BS in Anthropology from Troy University and his MA in Anthropology from Mississippi State University.

Research Interests: Old Testament; Iron Age kingdom dynamics

Field Experience:
-Khirbet Summeily Excavation Project (supervisor)

Nancy Heeren

Personal Bio: Nancy Heeren has lived in several states, most recently Geneseo, Illinois. She received a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Arizona, her B.A. in Biology from Marycrest International University, her B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science with Cytotechnology from Eastern Kentucky University, and her B.A. in Ancient Civilization, Classical Studies, and Religious Studies with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Iowa. She also received her M.A. in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. She has excavated at sites in the USA, Sicily, and Israel, enjoying her time excavating and especially learning about archaeobotany.

Research Interests: bioarchaeology, archaeobotany

Field Experience:
-Gangivecchio Archaeological Field School (2015- volunteer)
-Woodpecker Cave Project (2017- volunteer)
-Tel Abel Beth Maacah Project (2017- volunteer)

Katherine Hesler

Personal bio: Originally from Chattanooga, TN, Katherine received her BA in Biology, Archaeology, and Biblical Studies from Southern Adventist University. Fortunately, while in undergrad she was able to participate every summer in an excavation season at Tel Lachish. She also had the opportunity to be a teaching assistant in biology labs and a tutor for Greek and Hebrew while at Southern. After a year abroad in Austria she began her MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and completed it at Lipscomb University. Currently she is beginning her PhD coursework at Lipscomb University. Favorite pastimes include traveling, rock climbing, and studying classical Hebrew.

Research Interests: Late Bronze/Iron Age transition in ancient eastern Mediterranean, MB cult in southern Levant

Field Experience:
-The Fourth Expedition to Lachish (2014, volunteer; 2015-2017- square supervisor)
-The Dinosaur Project (2018- volunteer)
-Pilot season to Hazor (2019- volunteer)
-Khirbet Safra Excavation (2022- square supervisor)
-Kourion Urban Space Project (2022- volunteer)
-The Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022-2024- square supervisor)
-Nuri Archaeological Expedition (2023- supervisor)

Publications & Presentations:
-2022: “New Identifications of Votive Vessel Fragments from the Temple at Tell el-Hayyat" Paper presented at the 11th Annual Student Scholars Symposium, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN.
-2018: Hesler, Katherine and Aaron G. Corbit, "The Impact of Human Traffic on Wildlife Abundance on a Recreational Trail System in Southeastern Tennessee". Research in Biology. 9.
-2017: “The Impact of Human Traffic on Wildlife Abundance on a Recreational Trail System in
Southeastern Tennessee.” Paper presented at the Association of Southeastern Biologists
Annual Meeting, Montgomery, AL.

Elijah Hosse

Personal Bio: Elijah Hosse is from Tennessee and is married to Megan Hosse and together they have three children, one son and two daughters. He received his BS in Religion from Liberty University, his MDiv in Christian Apologetics from Liberty University, his MA in Church History from Liberty University, and his MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, Elijah and his family are living in Israel for year under a doctoral fellowship awarded to Elijah to pursue his dissertation research.

Research Interests: Old Testament, Iron Age, disability in the ancient Near East, archaeological survey

Field Experience:
- Tel Gezer Excavation Project
-Tel Gezer Regional Survey
-Ilibalyk Expedition
-Tel Burna Excavaton Project

Awards:
-2022: Ariel University Sandwich Doctoral Fellowship

Scott Huff

Personal Bio: Scott was born and raised in the American Southeast. He did his undergraduate studies at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN, completing a BS in Biblical Studies. He stayed at FHU to earn his first MA, with a concentration on New Testament Studies. His first archaeological experience with the Tel Beth-Shemesh project thrilled him so much that he continued to volunteer on that and other excavations every year he could until he earned his second MA in Archaeology & Biblical Studies with the Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University. Scott has stayed with the Lanier Center to pursue his PhD and is now adjunct faculty for Lipscomb.

Research Interests: Biblical exegesis, lithics, daily life in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean

Field Experience:
-Renewed Excavation Project at Tel Beth-Shemesh, Israel (2010, 2014- volunteer; 2015- Ceramic Analysis Lab Assistant; 2016- Square Supervisor/Ceramic Analysis Lab Supervisor; 2017- Square Supervisor/Artifact Lab Supervisor)
-Atlatl Archaeology Ltd. Fort McLeod Excavation, Canada (2016- Field Archaeologist/Recording Assistant)
-Tel Gezer Excavation and Publication Project, Israel (2017- volunteer)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project, Israel (2022-2024- Square Supervisor)
-Kourion Urban Space Project, Cyprus (2022- Square Supervisor)
-Nuri Archaeological Expedition (2023- supervisor)

Publications & Presentations:
-2022: Bronze Age Bible: Historical & Archaeological Reflections of Passages from Genesis to Judges (Bellevue church of Christ, Tennessee)
-2022: Archaeological Theology: An Instance of Further Exegesis in a Pauline Homology (11th Annual Student Scholar Symposium, Lipscomb University, Tennessee)
-2021: 1 Corinthians (Parts I & II): A Full Translation and Exegesis with Its Early Roman Context (Bellevue Church of Christ, Tennessee)
-2016: Temple as Identity: A Pauline Homology for Christians and the Church, MA Thesis, Freed-Hardeman University

Christopher M. Jenkins

Personal Bio: Christopher Jenkins graduated from Andrews University in 2018 with a B.A. in Religion and Theological Studies and a B.S. in Anthropological Archaeology. In 2021. he graduated from Andrews University and received a Master's degree in Religion with a concentration in Archaeology and the History of Antiquity. In 2022, Christopher went to Yale University and completed a Post Baccalaureate program in Egyptology. Currently, he is working toward a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Archaeology at Lipscomb University. Christopher is originally from Northern California and developed a love for archaeology during his childhood from one of his favorite childhood heroes- Dr. Indiana Jones.

Research Interests: Egypt and the Levant, Archaeology of Syro-Palestine, Egyptology

Field Experience:
-Tal Hisban (2011, 2014, 2018- Square Supervisor)
-Tal Jalul (2015- Square Supervisor)
-Khirbet Safra (2021- Square Supervisor)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2023- volunteer)
-Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project (2024- assistant epigrapher)

Publicatons & Presentations:
-2021: “Framing the Bigger Picture” (Andrews Autumn Conference on Religion & Science)

Rebecca Leavell-Kizzia

Personal Bio: Rebecca Leavell-Kizzia is from Oklahoma and is married to youth pastor James Kizzia and together they have twin boys. She received her BA in Christian Ministry from Bacone College and her MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Research Interests: physical anthropology, forensic anthropology, disease in the ancient Near East, Cyprus

Field Experience:
-Tel Gezer Excavation Project (volunteer)
- Kourion Urban Space Project (volunteer)

Terrence J. Nichols

Personal Bio: Originally from Syracuse, NY, Terry Nichols is a PhD Candidate at Lipscomb University’s Lanier Center for Archaeology currently in his dissertation phase. He received his undergraduate degree from Clarks Summit University in PA, majoring in Pastoral Studies. He spent much of the last 20 years serving as a student pastor, which led him back to seminary. During this time, he completed two residential Master's degrees from Liberty University (M.A. -2013 and M.Div.-2016). His time in seminary opened the door to biblical languages, historical theology, and historical biblical cultural context, which led to an interest in biblical archaeology. He began his PhD studies in Archaeology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and will complete it at the LCA at Lipscomb University. Terry is also a certified IT computer technician, working in IT much of the last 15 years (to help support his job as a pastor/student), and uses that expertise in the intersection of archaeology and digital technology.

Research Interests: the archaeology of the Southern Levant in the Late Bronze through Iron Age and its intersections with Egypt in the New Kingdom through the Third Intermediate Period; the Herodian Period in Israel during the 1st centuries; the intersection of archaeology and digital technology.

Field Experience:

-Tel Gezer Water System Excavation Project (2014- Volunteer; 2015- Field Crew; 2016- Area Supervisor)
-Tel Gezer Excavation Project (2017- Square Supervisor)
-Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project (2017- Project Administrator and Student Epigrapher, Visual Artist, Photogrammetry; 2019- Project Administrator and Lead Student Epigrapher, Lead Visual Artist, Photogrammetry; 2021- Project Administrator, Epigrapher, Lead Visual Artist, Photogrammetry)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2018- Square Supervisor; 2019-2024- Assistant Area Supervisor, Photogrammetry team and drone pilot)

-Khirbet ‘Eter, Survey Team (2019)

-Tel Gezer Lab Intern (2019- Separation/Reorganization of bone material)

Publications:

Janzen, Mark D. and Terrence J. Nichols, “Not Just Another Photogrammetry Project: Using Modern Technology to Help Solve Ancient Riddles.” Ancient Egypt – New Technology, eds. Joshua Robertson et al, (Boston: Brill, forthcoming)

Presentations:

ASOR National Meeting (2022); forthcoming. "To Be or Not To Be... A Digital Archaeologist".

NT-ARCE Chapter Meeting (2022); “The Impact of the Pharaoh Merneptah on Lands Outside of Egypt”.

ASOR National Meeting (2021); “Using Photogrammetry to Help Solve Ancient Puzzles at the Karnak Temple”.

ARCE Virtual National Meeting (2020); “The Third Season of Epigraphic Work at the Cour de la Cachette, Western Exterior Wall”

ASOR National Meeting (2019); “The Private Spaces of Herod the Great.”

ARCE National Meeting (2019); “The Second Season of Epigraphic Work at the Cour de la Cachette, Western Exterior Wall”

NT-ARCE Chapter Meeting (2019); “Using Modern Technology to Solve Ancient Riddles.”

Egypt and Ancient Israel Conference (2019); “Using Digital Technology to Record Ancient Monuments.”

Ancient Egypt and New Technology Conference (2019); "Not Just Another Photogrammetry Project: Using Modern Technology to Help Solve Ancient Riddles".

NEAS/ETS Annual Meeting (2018); “Herodium-The Likely Resting Place of Herod: A Response to Patrich and Arubas.”

ASOR Southwest Regional Meeting (2018);

Awards:

-Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)- Best Photos of 2022 Award Recipient and Feature.

-P. E. MacAllister Excavation Fellowship (ASOR)- 2019.

-Liberty University School of Divinity Biblical Languages Greek Award- 2016.

-High Honors (Magna Cum Laude) graduate- Liberty University- 2013, 2016.

Henry Padilla

Personal Bio: Henry Padilla is from Chile and is married to Mary Josephine Weaver. He received his BA in Theology from Seminario Bautista de Chile, his Master of Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Lipscomb University. Currently, he teaches at Cleburne High School and is a Professor at Seminario Teologico Bautista. Henry is called to ministry and has a heart to make biblical archaeology more accessible to Evangelicals in Latin American countries.

Research Interests: New Testament, early Church, the Roman period in Israel

Field Experience:
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022- volunteer; 2023- assistant square supervisor)

Elisabeth Pollard

Personal Bio: Elisabeth Pollard is from Clarksdale, Mississippi. She received her BA in Christian Studies and History from Mississippi College and her MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Research Interests: Persian Empire, art history

Field Experience:
-Tel Gezer Excavation Project (2016- volunteer; 2017- assistant square supervisor)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (volunteer)
-Kourion Urban Space Project (2022- volunteer)

Jeffrey Prager

Personal Bio: Jeffrey Prager is married to Kendall Rae Prager and they have two sons. He received his BA in Sociology and Philosophy from Covenant College, his MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary, and his ThM from Trinity International University.

Research Interests: New Testament, early Church, Islamic period, Jordan

Field Experience:
-Abila Archaeological Project
-Kourion Urban Space Project

Rebekah Ross

Personal Bio: Rebekah Ross is from Woodstock, Georgia. She received her BA in English and History from the University of North Georgia, her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and her MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Research Interests: New Testament, early Church, Roman period, glass in the ancient world, exterior lighting in the ancient Mediterranean region, Cyprus, experimental archaeology

Field Experience:
-Kourion Urban Space Project (2012- volunteer; 2013-2024 square supervisor)

Bruno Soltic

Personal Bio: Bruno Soltic is from Croatia and is the father to three children. He received his MA in Theology from Abilene Christian University and his MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Bruno has his own YouTube channel where he posts the videos he makes about ancient sites, archaeology, and LCA archaeological projects.

Research Interests: Old Testament, ancient Israel, ancient religion, ancient Israelite religion and religious sites, archaeology and media

Field Experience:
-Tel Gezer Excavation Project
-Ilibalyk Expedition
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2019-2024- volunteer)

Arthur Viola III

Personal Bio: Arthur Viola III is married and currently works as a substitute teacher. He received his BA and MA in History from Rhode Island College and his MA in Egyptology from the University of Memphis. He currently works for CRM while working on his PhD.

Research Interests: ancient Egyptian relations with the Levant during the Iron Age II

Field Experience:
-South Kingstown Historical Cemetery #90 (2013- field technician)
-Madaba Plains Project: Khirbet Safra (2022- square supervisor)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2023-2024- volunteer)

Evie Wilson

Personal Bio: Evie Wilson is from Missouri and received her BA in History from the College of the Ozarks. She currently works for Admissions at Lipscomb.

Research Interests: biblical archaeology, archaeology of Israel, Old Testament, Iron Age

Field Experience:
-Tel Gezer Excavation Project (2017- volunteer)
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2022- volunteer; 2023-2024- assistant square supervisor)

M.A. Students

*in alphabetical order

Samuel Becker

Personal Bio: Samuel (Sam) Becker is from Texas and received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Criswell College, where he became proficient in Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek. He served as a Criswell College Ambassador 2022-2024, while also working to support himself through college. Now an MA in Biblical Archaeology he is focused on learning more about material culture while working as a High School teacher at Gateway Academy in Brentwood Tn teaching History and Finance classes.

Research Interests: Philistine Material Culture, Second Temple Period, Greek and Hebrew

Field Experience:
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2024- volunteer)

Leona Cicone

Personal Bio: Leona Cicone is from Maryland and received her BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Ursinus College. She has worked several jobs, including as an Educational Assistant for the Walters Art Gallery and the Digital Content Coordinator for the Hartford County Public Library. She currently works as a private tutor and a tutor for Lipscomb Academy.

Research Interests: biblical archaeology

Field Experience:
-University of Arizona Archaeological Field School (2016- volunteer)

Claire Edmondson

Personal Bio: Claire Edmondson is originally from Murfreesboro, TN and moved to Dubuque, IA in 2017. She took a Greek civilization course during freshman year at the University of Iowa and developed a passion for ancient Greek culture and literature, which led to two study-abroad trips to Greece in the winter of 2022-2023 and the summer or 2024 to gain firsthand experience with ancient monuments and sites of Greece. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Ancient Civilizations in the fall of 2023.

Research Interests: Classical Period archaeology; ancient Greek culture; sports in the ancient world

Awards:
-2024: Carin M.C. Green Memorial Scholarship

Caleb Fields

Personal Bio: Caleb Fields is from Indiana and graduated with his bachelors degree from Johnson University, where he double majored in Religious Studies and Bible and Theology. He worked at the Johnson University Archeology Museum for four years, as well as with Team Expansion where he worked with missionaries and Turkish believers.

Research Interests: archaeology of religion

Dominick Hernandez

Personal Bio: Dominick Hernandez is from New Jersey and received his BA in History from Lipscomb University. It was while working on his BA that he happened to take some undergraduate archaeology classes, which sparked his interest in archaeology and convinced him to return to Lipscomb to pursue his MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies. Aside from his love of history, Dominick also enjoys playing basketball and has regularly participated in mission trips to France.

Research Interests: Classical periods, Roman archaeology

Field Experience:
-Tel Burna Excavation Project (2024- volunteer)

Amber Holt

Personal Bio: Amber Holt recently graduated with her Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Wyoming with two minors in anthropology and dance. She is from Berthoud, Colorado, and just started the MA program in Archaeology and Biblical Studies at Lipscomb University. While ancient Egypt is her favorite area of study, she loves learning about anything in the ancient Near East and look forward to getting to dig in a place she has been fascinated by her whole life.

Research Interests: ancient Egypt; Greece; and Rome

Field Experience:
-University of Wyoming Archaeology Field School at Quartz Lake, Alaska (2023- volunteer)

Aubrey Huth

Personal Bio: Aubrey Huth is from Tennessee and graduated with her BA from Lipscomb University with a major in history. She decided to join the MA in Archaeology and Biblical Studies at Lipscomb after taking some archaeology courses during her undergrad. She hopes to continue on to a PhD after completing her MA and eventually teach and/or work in a museum and/or lab.

Research Interests: museum studies, archaeological lab work

Faizan Khan

Personal Bio: Faizan Khan is originally from Pakistan, where he first fell in love with and worked in archaeology. He then moved to the United States where he earned his Associate of Science degree in Archaeology from Austin Community College and then his BA in Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is fluent in in English, Urdu/Hindi, and Punjabi; and he is familiar with Arabic, Persian, Greek, and Pashto. He is worked as an intern for several archaeological institutes and is an active member in local archaeological societies and in his Muslim community.

Research Interests: ancient pathways and trade routes; interactions of the Near Eastern world with Central and South Asia; GIS; remote sensing; digital archaeology

Field Experience:
-Programme for Belize Archaeological Project (2023)

Publications & Presentations:
-2023: "Identifying Ancient Intra Monastic Pathways through GIS"/Capital of Texas Undergraduate Research Conference
-2023:"Identifying Ancient Intra Monastic Pathways through GIS"/Longhorn Research Poster Session. Austin, TX
-2023:"Identifying Ancient Intra Monastic Pathways through GIS"/University of Texas Geography Undergraduate Symposium. Austin, TX
-2023:"Identifying Ancient Monastic Pathways Among Gandharan Buddhist Sites Through GIS"/Annual Meeting of the American Society of Overseas Research. Chicago, IL
-2024:"Identifying Ancient Monastic Pathways Among Gandharan Buddhist Sites Through GIS"/Annual Meeting of the Archaeology Institute of America. Chicago, IL

Awards:
-2021: Texas Archaeological Society Collegiate Scholarship for Field School
-2021: Austin Community College Foundation Open Scholarship
-2022: Texas Archaeological Society Collegiate Scholarship for Field School
-2022: Jack Cooke Kent Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship
-2022: President's Award for Exemplary Service to the Texas Archaeological Society
-2023: Belize Field School Study Abroad Scholarship
-2023: Texas Archaeological Society Collegiate Scholarship for Field School
-2024: Jack Cooke Kent Foundation Graduate Scholarship
-2024: Distinguished Scholar of College of Liberal Arts at University of Texas at Austin

Jessica Miller

Personal Bio: Jessica Miller is from Charleston, South Carolina, and recently completed her B.A. in History with minors in Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek at Charleston Southern University. Her love for biblical archaeology, particularly relating to the Old Testament, grew through her experiences as a volunteer and assistant at Tel Shiloh. Outside of her studies, she enjoys working, traveling, reading, and exploring connections between history, faith, and culture.

Research Interests: Old Testament, biblical languages, biblical archaeology

Field Experience:
-Tel Shiloh Excavation Project (2024- volunteer; 2025- Assistant Square Supervisor)

Awards:
-2025: Outstanding Student in History Award from Charleston Southern University

Joseph Sommervold

Personal Bio: Joseph (Joe) Sommervold is from South Dakota and earned his BA from Morningside University with a major in Studio Art and Minors in Religious Studies and Elementary & Secondary Art Education. He is excited to dive more into archaeology of the ancient world and is hoping to move into a PhD program once he completes his MA.

Research Interests: ancient art, religious studies

Awards:
- 2020-2024: Academic Scholarships
- 2022 & 2024: Dean's List
- 2023: Outstanding Junior Artist Award

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