Stephen Acabado Named Chair of the Archaeology Program at the Cotsen Institute

Stephen Acabado, associate professor of anthropology and core faculty member of the Cotsen Institute, has been named chair of the Interdepartmental Program (IDP) in Archaeology for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2022. Acabado also is director of the UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies, a position that he will maintain during his tenure as chair.

Darnell Hunt, dean of Social Sciences, made the announcement in which he said that “I’d like to thank all of you who have shared your thoughts with me about archaeology’s most pressing needs and about who is best situated to serve as chair over the next few years. You have aided me greatly in identifying Stephen as the colleague to lead the IDP in this moment, as we endeavor to build on excellence. I am also especially grateful to Professor Greg Schachner for his service as chair of the IDP since 2019. Greg’s visionary leadership has served the IDP well over many years, and I have truly enjoyed working with him these past three.”

Schachner, who is associate professor of anthropology and core faculty member of the Cotsen Institute, added that “I extend my congratulations to Stephen on his appointment as the next chair of the Archaeology IDP. I am confident in his ability to guide the program onward and look forward to his leadership.”

“I’m looking forward to working closely with colleagues at the Cotsen Institute and the Archaeology IDP,” Acabado responded. “I hope that my appointment as chair will strengthen my contributions in keeping UCLA archaeology more accessible and inclusive.”