Personal Summary

Nikki Manning earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology (with a minor in Anthropology) at Boston University in Massachusetts. She completed a master’s degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Cultural Heritage and Urban Archaeology in 2014. Her thesis research focused on the Missoula Historic Underground and providing a fact-based report of the city’s underground features, reconciling oral history with archaeological data. That thesis research was also published in a book that was released in March of 2015 by Arcadia Publishing.

Nikki is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Montana. Her dissertation is entitled Beyond Preservation: Adaptive Reuse, Deconstruction, and the Archaeology of Buildings. Her interdisciplinary approach to historic preservation includes research in the fields of urban archaeology, architectural history, and heritage conservation.  To date, she has completed multiple pre-deconstruction/pre-demolition archaeological survey projects of contributing properties to the Downtown Missoula Historic District. Her passions include public outreach and education in the fields of archaeology and historic preservation. As part of that passion for education, Nikki currently teaches archaeology courses and mentors students in the historical archaeology lab at the University of Montana.

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) - Boston University

Master of Arts (Anthropology, Cultural Heritage option) - University of Montana

Doctoral Candidate (Anthropology) - University of Montana  Beyond Preservation: Adaptive Reuse, Deconstruction, and the Archaeology of Buildings.

Teaching Experience

ANTY 466 - Archaeological Survey

ANTY 456 - Historical Archaeology

ANTY 398 - Historical Archaeology Lab Intern Instructor

ANTY 495 - Archaeological Field Experience (Homestead, Urban Downtown)

Research Interests

Historical Archaeology

Urban Archaeology/Adaptive Reuse

Urban Underground Spaces

Abandoned Spaces

Public Archaeology

Historic Preservation/Adaptive Reuse

Historic Architecture

Cultural Heritage

Field of Study

Urban and Buildings Archaeology

Architectural History

Historic Preservation

Publications

Forthcoming [2020 est. publication] The Evolution of Montana’s Historic Architecture: From Wickiups to Modern Vernacular, co-authored with Michael Monsos.

2015 Historic Underground Missoula. The History Press, Charleston, SC.

Affiliations

GPSA - Graduate and Professional Student Association Senator

Honors / Awards

Lambda Alpha – Anthropology National Honor Society

Golden Key International Honor Society