Bria Brooks

Position: Coordinator
Department: Florida Public Archaeology Network
Office Location: 207 E Main Street, Pensacola, Florida, 32502
anthropology@uwf.edu
Campus: 850.595.0050

Biography

Bria Brooks is the Public Archaeologist for the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), where she works to engage communities with Florida’s rich archaeological heritage. With a passion for making archaeology accessible to the public, Bria is dedicated to sharing the stories of the past with a diverse audience. She holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of West Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from The University of Memphis.

Bria’s academic interests center on coastal and underwater archaeology, focusing on submerged cultural landscapes and their role in shaping human history. She is particularly interested in Marronage, the study of communities formed by escaped enslaved people and how these communities navigated the challenging environments of coastal and maritime landscapes. Her work also explores African diaspora studies and the complex legacy of slavery in the Western hemispheres, aiming to highlight the resilience and resistance of enslaved peoples and their descendants.

Throughout her career, Bria has sought to bridge the gap between academic research and public education, working closely with local communities to raise awareness of archaeological preservation efforts. She is passionate about using archaeology as a tool in bringing understudied histories to the forefront.