Zev holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and is a former Terp (BA in Anthropology). He was most recently a Lecturer in Anthropology at American University (AU). Zev co-directs two community driven archaeological and anthropological projects. His work in Ecuador (Proyecto Arqueologico Pambamarca) investigates how the Spanish colonial hacienda system shaped the conditions for today’s export flower industry and struggles for environmental justice. His work in Minnesota (Archaeology of Winnipeg Junction) explores life in the first Gilded Age (ca. Late 19th century), the impact of the transcontinental railroad, and the origins of single-use commodities and consumerism. His expertise in experiential learning led to an award for Outstanding Faculty Mentorship of Undergraduate Research at AU, and publications concerned not only with scholarship but also with pedagogy. In addition to his research, he loves getting out to cruise the local watersheds and hiking trails.