Dr. Megan Springate (Ph.D. 2017) is the 2021 recipient of the John L. Cotter Award.  Established in 1998, the award is named in honor of John Lambert Cotter (1911–1999), a pioneer educator and advocate for the discipline of Historical Archaeology. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual at the start of a career in historical archaeology.

Dr. Springate is the sole author of a book and many peer-reviewed articles. She recently co-edited several volumes of a recent LGBTQ study for Berghan Press. This volume is a product of her efforts to lead in the creation of a National Park Service document, LGBTQ America. This work provides a baseline for people to identify, connect with, record, and preserve LGBTQ history in communities across the nation. The study has been downloaded almost twenty thousand times since its release in October 2016, and is currently being used in undergraduate and graduate courses in Anthropology, Geography, History, Gender Studies, and Historic Preservation as well as helping members of LGBTQ communities nominate places important to them to the National Register of Historic Places. Dr. Springate continues working with LGBTQ communities, parks, heritage professionals, and educators on ways to use the report as a springboard for bringing communities together and documenting and preserving LGBTQ history.

Congratulations Dr. Springate!