Laura Jones

Dr. Laura Jones is Director of Heritage Services and University Archaeologist for Stanford University, responsible for stewardship of the University’s nearly 100 archaeological sites and 200 historic buildings.   She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at San Diego in 1983 and a Master’s Degree (1985) and Doctor of Philosophy (1990) from Stanford University. Her archaeological experience includes serving as director of a number of major excavations of prehistoric occupation and cemetery sites in the San Francisco Bay Area where she works closely with the indigenous Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.  Primary themes in this work include mortuary treatment and subsistence strategies among complex hunter-gatherers.  She has also conducted several historical archaeology projects and is currently leading the excavation of the monumental Men’s Gymnasium ruin, a site created by the Great Earthquake of 1906. Laura Jones also has a long-term interest in education.  She served as Senior Scholar and Director of Community Programs at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching from 2001-2006 and is the co-author of a major study of doctoral education, The Formation of Scholars, published in 2007.