Breaking Free from the (Institutional) Matrix: Archaeological Career Pathways In and Between Academia, CRM, Non-Profit, and Museum Spheres

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Breaking Free from the (Institutional) Matrix: Archaeological Career Pathways In and Between Academia, CRM, Non-Profit, and Museum Spheres," at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In recent years, the discipline of historical archaeology has made concerted efforts to break down both perceived and real boundaries that have been built between academic, cultural resource/heritage management, non-profit, and museum spheres. Yet, professionals from each of these archaeologically-based careers often feel siloed as they are encouraged by employers to focus their portfolios on increasingly specialized research, policy, teaching, and community engagements. Newly minted and established professionals are equally influenced by this institutional gatekeeping, as they make choices to either stay on a given trajectory or forge new pathways. This session seeks to highlight and offer guidance to historical archaeologists attempting to weave collaborative fluidity, methodological ingenuity, and interdisciplinary practices into the tapestry of their careers. The diverse and creative set of individuals presenting will unpack the complementary yet alternative steps they have taken to center the relevancy and purpose of archaeology in the 21st century.