Officers
Andrea L. Waters-Rist
President (2021-Present)
I am an Associate Professor in the Anthropology Department, Western University. My areas of interest within Biological Anthropology are ancient diet, infant feeding practices, paleopathology, dental anthropology, growth and development, and archaeological science. Much of my recent research is focussed on diet-disease synergies in historical populations from Canada and the Netherlands. I have long valued CABA-ACAB for what it offers to students and scholars and am happy to help steer our organization as our field grows and evolves.
Linda Larcombe
Vice-President (2022–2025)
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Manitoba (UofM) and I am Adjunct with the Department of Anthropology. I have been an active member of CABA-ACAB for many years. I am a broadly trained anthropologist whose work is focused on collaborative health research with northern First Nation communities and organizations in Manitoba. My experience in archaeology (M.A. Department of Anthropology, UofM), ancient DNA (PhD. Department of Anthropology, UofM), history, traditional land use studies, medical anthropology, immunogenetics (Post-Doctoral Research, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, UofM) and research with Indigenous communities, brings a unique perspective to investigating the intersection between biology, environment, cultural and health.
Rebecca Gilmour
Secretary/Treasurer (2022-2025)
I am an Assistant Professor in the Sociology and Anthropology Department, Mount Royal University (Calgary, Alberta). I am a bioarchaeologist and my primary research programme examines the intersection of palaeopathology and biomechanics, with a focus on the long term consequences of skeletal trauma. Some of my other projects involve methods to measure incomplete remains, osteological pedagogy, and experiences of impairment/disability in the past. I am glad to serve on the CABA-ACAB executive, and I look forward to getting to know our membership better.
Katie Brent
Student Representative (2022–2025)
I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology and the School of Biomedical Engineering at Western University in London, Ontario. My research interests span human biology, bioarchaeology, and palaeopathology. Specifically, I am interested in bone functional adaptation, variation, and biomechanics, as well as studies of disability and impairment in the past. I am pleased to be the CABA-ACAB Student Representative, and welcome questions, concerns, and feedback from our student membership. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time!
Iulia Badescu
EDI Co-Officer (2022–present)
My name is Iulia (Julia is good too; she/her) and I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the Université de Montréal. I did my BSc and MA at the University of Calgary, and my PhD at the University of Toronto. I am a biological anthropologist and primatologist who studies the evolution of primate lactation, maternal investment, and infant care and development, using a combination of behavioural and stable isotope data. My students and I have been doing research on chimpanzees in Uganda, colobus monkeys in Ghana, and more recently, baboons in Kenya. I have been a CABA/ACAB member since 2009 when I was a graduate student, and have greatly valued the support of the organization over the years. Alongside my EDI co-officer, Jo Motley, I am happy and eager to take part in further supporting the needs of the diverse members that make up our organization.
Sam Stead
EDI Co-Officer (2023–present)
My name is Sam Stead (she/her) and I am a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto. I am a biological anthropologist and mammologist studying the impacts of early-life conditions on physiology, reproduction, and behaviour in wild animals. Specifically, I have been studying the role of stress in Angolan colobus monkeys in Uganda and flying squirrels in Ontario. I look forward to working with the rest of the EDI committee to identify ways to make our organization more inclusive to current and future members.
Madelyn Hertz
Newsletter Editor (2022-2025)
I am a PhD student in the Anthropology Department at Western University. My areas of interest are functional adaptation, plasticity, human athletic paleobiology, aging, and activity. My current research examines the intersection of activity, plasticity, and aging, with a focus on the effect of impact versus non-impact loading on the musculoskeletal system. I am excited to see how my own research unfolds and am eager to serve on the CABA-ACAB executive committee, both to better get to know our constituents and to contribute to this organization.
Sarah Lockyer
Communications Representative (2021-2024)
I was born in Moncton, New Brunswick. I graduated with BSc in Anthropology from the Université de Montréal and then moved to London, UK to continue my studies. I have a MSc in Forensic Archaeological Science from University College London, and a PhD in Bioarchaeology from Bournemouth University. I now live in Ottawa, ON and work as the Casualty Identification Coordinator for the Canadian Armed Forces. I recently completed a Yoga Teacher Training and am obsessed with being on my paddleboard as much as possible. I aim to bring a francophone perspective to the table and encourage that all communications be in both official languages.