Joanne M. A. Murphy is a professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Archaeology at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she has worked since 2008 and serves as Department Head. She is also the current Director of the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies and President of The American Friends of the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies (a 501c non-profit). She received her BA and first MA from University College Dublin, Ireland, and an MA and PhD from University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses primarily on religion and death, and how they connect with identity, community, and political economies. As well as giving lectures both nationally and internationally, she has published over 30 papers and five edited volumes on these and related topics. Joanne also has one monograph in press and two other volumes underway. She has led two major research projects: a legacy study on the tombs around Pylos in southwestern Greece and an archaeological survey on the Greek island of Kea. Joanne has received awards for her research and for initiatives at UNCG and non-profits from various foundations including INSTAP, the Mellon Foundation, the Onassis Foundation, the NEH, and the Loeb Foundation. In 2023, she was awarded the Archaeological Institute of America’s Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award. She has a great love of sharing the past and has led tours in Greece, Ireland, France, England, Italy, and Turkey, as well as running an annual archaeological field school in Greece.

Language spoken: English