About Prof. Fennell
Biography
Chris Fennell is a Professor of Anthropology and Law, specializing in historical archaeology, legal anthropology, and African diaspora studies. He was appointed a University Scholar in recognition of excellence in his research, scholarship, and teaching. Fennell has conducted archaeological investigations at 19th-century sites in Illinois, Virginia, and South Carolina with grant support by the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He currently serves as President of the Illinois Archaeological Survey and as a member of the Executive Board of the Collaborative for Cultural Heritage and Museum Practices. He is the founding editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of African Diaspora Archaeology and Heritage (Taylor & Francis). His publications include the book Crossroads and Cosmologies: Diasporas and Ethnogenesis in the New World (University Press of Florida, 2007), for which he received the 2009 John Cotter Award from the Society for Historical Archaeology and the 2010 Gustave Arlt Award from the Council for Graduate Schools for outstanding contributions to the humanities. Fennell’s latest book is Broken Chains and Subverted Plans: Ethnicity, Race, and Commodities (University Press of Florida, 2017).