Samantha Matera is an MAA student focusing on historical archaeology. She attended the University of Delaware for her undergraduate study and graduated with a BA in anthropology and history. While at the University of Delaware, she gained considerable skills in lab work, spent time in the field, and undertook independent studies on both the role that climate change has played in destroying the African American history of New Orleans and the role that tourism and community involvement play in the memorialization of free African American communities in the Northeast. She also attended the Archaeology in Annapolis field school in Summer 2017. After graduating in 2018, Samantha spent a year working as a tour docent guide at Mount Clare Museum House in Baltimore.