People, Staff
Coordinating Center Staff
Dr. William B. Lees, RPA
Executive Director
(850) 595-0051
wlees@uwf.edu
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Dr. Lees has been Executive Director of FPAN since 2005. He is a Registered Professional Archaeologist and a member of the Florida Archaeological Council. He has a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the University of Tulsa and a Master’s and Doctorate in Anthropology with a specialization in Historical Archaeology from Michigan State University. Dr. Lees has served as president of the Society for Historical Archaeology, Plains Anthropological Society, the Society of Professional Archaeologists, and the Register of Professional Archaeologists, and has served on the Florida Historical Commission. Throughout his career he has focused on public, historical, and conflict archaeology in the Great Plains and Southeastern US, with specialization in the Antebellum Period and the Civil War.
Dr. Della Scott-Ireton, RPA
Associate Director
(850) 595-0050 Ext: 102
dscottireton@uwf.edu
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Dr Della Scott-Ireton graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a Master's degree in Historical Archaeology. She also has a Master's in International Relations from Troy University, and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Florida State University. Della is certified as a Scuba Instructor with the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). She worked with the Pensacola Shipwreck Survey, West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc., Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, and the government of the Cayman Islands before joining the Florida Public Archaeology Network where she serves as Associate Director. Della is a Registered Professional Archaeologist and member of the Florida Archaeological Council, and has served on the board of the Society for Historical Archaeology, the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology, and the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee. Della's research interests include public interpretation of maritime cultural heritage, both on land and under water, and training and engaging avocationals in archaeological methods and practices.
Mari Thornton
Office and Contracts Manager
(850) 595-0050
mthornton@uwf.edu
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Mari has worked at the University of West Florida since 1997 in an administrative support staff role. Twenty years of that time was as Administrative Specialist on a grant contract with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) which was later changed to AdvancED. This SACS CASI/AdvancED Florida Office supported school improvement and accreditation at Florida’s PK-12th grade schools until the end of the grant in 2018. In February 2019, Mari moved downtown to the Florida Public Archaeology Network where she is excited to learn about the fields of history and archaeology while providing administrative support to FPAN’s Staff and Graduate Assistants.
Mike Thomin
Manager, Destination Archaeology Resource Center
(850) 595-0050 Ext: 105
mthomin@uwf.edu
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Mike Thomin is the manager of the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s Destination Archaeology Resource Center and a Faculty Research Associate at the University of West Florida. Mike has a M.A. in history/public history and has spent over a decade working as a museum professional in public archaeology. He is a Certified Guide with the National Association for Interpretation, and has worked on a variety of heritage interpretative and heritage tourism projects across the state with local, state, federal, and international agencies. Most recently he is working on a multidisciplinary and collaborative project to designate the Florida Panhandle into a National Heritage Area. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Trail of Florida Indian Heritage, on St. Michael’s Cemetery Foundation Inc. as Vice President, and the Panhandle Historic Preservation Alliance as Secretary. Mike has a passion for maritime history and is a certified computer nitrox/scientific diver. His research interests include public history, maritime history, maritime archaeology, public archaeology, museum studies, and heritage interpretation. His published articles have appeared in Legacy, Interdisciplinary Journal of Maritime Studies, The Museum Review, and the Journal of the American Revolution.
Regional Staff
To see staff members in other regions, please visit the corresponding regional website:
