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Kelly Goldberg, Ph.D. is a clinical associate professor of anthropology at the University of South Carolina and director of the Public Heritage Lab, where she works with students, K–12 schools, museums and community partners to make archaeology more accessible through hands-on research and digital heritage initiatives.

Kelly earned her B.A. in anthropology from Hofstra University before coming to the University of South Carolina, where she completed both her M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology. As a Fulbright U.S. Student Research grantee, she conducted archaeological fieldwork in coastal Guinea, investigating nineteenth-century transatlantic slave trading sites while collaborating with local communities on archaeological training and a museum exhibit. Today, she is leading the archaeological research project on USC's historic Horseshoe, where she and her students are uncovering new insights into the university's early history and the lives of the enslaved individuals whose labor helped build and sustain the campus. She also collaborates with the National Park Service, South Carolina State Parks and other community partners on projects exploring African American heritage and public history.

For Kelly, the best classroom is often outside of it. She believes students learn archaeology by doing archaeology — excavating sites, analyzing artifacts, building museum exhibits, creating digital heritage resources and working alongside community partners. Many Honors students continue beyond the classroom through field schools, independent research, and paid positions on projects with the Public Heritage Lab and its partners.

Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible, whether hiking, kayaking or attempting to persuade something new to grow in her unintentionally experimental garden. She also loves reading, knitting, cooking and exploring new places — especially if they happen to have an archaeological site nearby.