Kimberly Kenyon
- Contact
-
- (252) 744-6721
- kimberly.kenyon@dncr.nc.gov
Personal Website - Graduating Year
- 2012
- Degree
- M.A.
- Current Position
- Senior Conservator and Co-Principal Investigator, Queen Anne’s Revenge, North Carolina Office of State Archaeology
Biography
“When I discovered underwater archaeology as a career and specifically the Nautical Archaeology Program as a 7th-grader in Fairfield, Texas, I became determined to get there some day. After high school, I attended Texas A&M University at Galveston and earned a BA in Maritime Studies. My later acceptance to NAP then really solidified the path toward my future career. Through NAP, I joined projects in Texas, Turkey, and Puerto Rico, which broadened my overall knowledge of material culture and made me adaptable to different lab and field environments.
“I now work for the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology, under the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, as the co-Principal Investigator and Senior Conservator for the shipwreck of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, formerly the slave ship La Concorde. My position is unique in that even though it is a government job, we are affiliated with East Carolina University and overlap both the public sector and academia. This connection means that I publish articles, serve on thesis committees and advisory boards, and teach a graduate level course in conservation. Without the experience, skills, and knowledge NAP afforded me, I would not have the foundation I need to effectively lead this project and serve in these many roles.”
Memories
“While I enjoyed the classes, I quickly learned that the practical work in the field and in the Conservation Research Lab was where I really excelled. The control needed in the water and the problem-solving and dexterity necessary in the lab challenged me in new ways. The enjoyment I took from this work led me to consider jobs in the public sector where I could regularly apply my skills. NAP faculty and staff helped me develop varied techniques in truly immersive lab and field settings, which built my confidence in preparing for the competitive job market.
“My fondest memories of my time at NAP are from the Kızılburun excavation in Turkey. It was my first fieldwork experience, and Dr. Carlson placed a lot of trust in me as a brand-new diver by inviting me to join this amazing project. I learned so much from her leadership (organization, preparedness, patience, diplomacy, meticulousness, etc.), which I strive to apply every day in leading my team. The summers were demanding: structured days, remote location, searing temperatures, physically taxing, and very little bottom time in which to accomplish a task. My fellow NAP students, however, made the summers feel more like a long campout with close friends. We worked hard, but we laughed constantly.”