Madeleine Ota

Elle earned a BA in Archaeology and Classics and a MA in Anthropology from Stanford University. After two seasons of fieldwork at Marzamemi, she completed a thesis on the intersections between classical heritage and regional identity in southeastern Sicily. During her graduate degree, Elle explored the socio-politics of cultural heritage and the ethics of world heritage management by semi-judicial bodies like the UN. Her MA thesis examined the management of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Pacific Islands region, and potential areas of growth for institutions seeking to empower local communities. Elle currently works as a Program Officer for the Human Rights Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy in authoritarian regimes.