Biography
Isabella, also known as Bella (she/her), is a 5th year PhD student in Archaeology. Her work explores the relationships between animals and humans in an archaeological context while also examining the impact of contemporary human interaction on the care and management of archaeological collections (specifically animal remains).
Research Interests
Archaeological Ethics; Zooarchaeology; Human-Animal relationships; Collections; Collections-based research; Ethical collections care; Collection protocols; Curation; Indigenous collaboration; Legacy collections and data; Archival research; American Southwest.
Education
B.A., University of California, San Diego
Awards and Honors
2026
Forest N. Baker Award in American Archaeology- Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois-Champaign
2025
Joseph Casagrande Award-Department of Anthropology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Summer Research Award-Department of Anthropology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2021
Graduate College Fellowship-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Outstanding Scholar Award- Summer Predoctoral Institute University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Summer Predoctoral Institute Fellow-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship-Society for American Archaeology
Courses Taught
TA Courses (*List of Teachers Raked as Excellent)
* ANTH 220: Introduction to Archaeology
ANTH 454 Field School in Archaeology
ANTH 455: Laboratory Methods in Archaeology
ANTH 246: Forensic Anthropology
ANTH 103: Culture in a Changing World
Recent Publications
In Press
Katelyn J. Bishop, Jennifer Jordan Hall, Jenny L. Davis, Krystiana L. Krupa, Octavius Seowtewa, Steven Concho, Kathryn Felipe, Lydia D. Evans, Isabella N. Garcia, G. Baylee Priest, Aimée E. Carbaugh. Partnering with Archaeological Human Remains Detection (arcHRD) Dogs toIdentify Native American Ancestral Remains in Zooarchaeological Collections. American Antiquity.
2026
Bishop, Katelyn J., Sarah Kurnick, Samantha Fladd, Lydia D. Evans, Isabella N. Garcia, and Sarah Simeonoff. "Gender Inclusion and Representation in the Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology." Advances in Archaeological Practice 14, no. 1 (2026): 33-49.
Fladd, Samantha, Sarah Kurnick, Laura E. Heath-Stout, Nala K. Williams, Sarah Simeonoff, Sasha Buckser, Katelyn J. Bishop, Scott R. Hutson, Jessica MacLellan, Marie Matsuda, Sarah E. Oas, Jocelyne M. Ponce, Bruno Athie Teruel, Jaycee Castro, Breeanna Charolla, Adriana M. de León, Luisa Escobar, Lydia Evans, Isabella N. Garcia, Kelsey Hoppes, Elena Lompe. "From Leaky Pipelines to Watering Cans: Feminist Recommendations for Change." Advances in Archaeological Practice 14, no. 1 (2026): 133-151.
2023
Doubles, Zoe, Isabella Garcia, Em Shirilla, and Brandon T. Ritchison. University of Illinois Southeastern and Midwestern ArchaeologyLab’s 2023 Archaeology Field School. The Current: Newsletter ofIsland & Coastal Archaeology 10(2):10-11.