2012 RAGBRAI Team Roster

Alan Hawkins, Chair and Rider

Hello, I am Alan Hawkins and a Project Archaeologist with the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist, Highway Archaeology Program. I have been professionally involved in archaeology and cultural resource management since 1989. This experience has taken me throughout the Mississippi River Valley and the Midwest including Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. I completed my undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Arkansas. My research interests include historic ceramics and glassware, and settlement pattern analysis. I have also served as the Iowa Archeological Society Membership Secretary since 2005 and Treasurer since 2007. On my down time, I enjoy biking and playing disc golf all around Iowa City and surrounding areas. 2012 will be my 4th consecutive year riding RAGBRAI and being part of Team Archaeology!

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Mark Anderson, Rider
			My name is Mark L. Anderson and I am a Project Archaeologist with the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist, Highway Archaeology Program. I have been active in Midwest and Plains archaeology and cultural resource management since 1986. I began my academic career at the University of Oregon getting familiar with northwest coast archaeology, geology, and eastern religions and completed my undergrad and graduate studies in archaeology, geology, geography, and religious studies at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. I have worked or had some kind of archaeological experience in Oregon, South Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa, as well as two seasons excavating Archaic period sites in Ontario, Canada. My research interests include the prehistory of the Midwest and northern Plains, the Archaic period of the upper Great Lakes, lithic studies, ancient technologies, flintknapping, GPS/GIS, aerial photographic remote sensing, and recently new forays into the use of the Scanning Electronic Microscope. Back To The Top


Kevin "Dogg" Verhulst, Support Crew and Knapper
			My name is Kevin Verhulst. I am from Ottumwa, Iowa. I have worked for the OSA for the last 4 years. I have ridden RAGBRAI four times now, in 2000, 2001, 2008 and 2009. My favorite hobbies are camping, hunting, fishing, and flintknapping. Back To The Top


Rick Beckley, Rider
			My name is Richard (Rick) Beckley. My hometown is Kalona, but I currently live in Iowa City. I’ve worked at the OSA for almost a year with both the Highway Archaeology Program and the General Contracts Program. I graduated from the University of Iowa in 2007 with a BA in Anthropology and minors in Japanese and Biology. After graduation I had the opportunity to teach English in Japan. My wife and I traveled there and ended up staying for 3 years before returning to Iowa. I enrolled in the Museum Studies certificate program at the U of I, which I completed last December, as a way to continue teaching in a more informal setting. My hope is to get back into an educating position at a museum or similar organization sometime. I’m fairly new to cycling, but if an activity is outside, I will likely enjoy it. My newest hobby is working on my new (read ‘old’) house. Back To The Top


Kurtis Kettler, Support
			My name is Kurtis Kettler and I am currently an Archaeological Field Technician at the Office of the State Archaeologist. I have been working at the OSA in Iowa City for 2 years now after graduating from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Anthropology and a Minor in Geoscience. Archaeology has afforded me the opportunity to travel throughout Iowa conducting archaeological survey work, and Namibia, Africa for a field school. I look forward to furthering my career in archaeology wherever that may lead. I recently married Hannah Scates Kettler who I love dearly and am lucky to have the chance to currently work with at the OSA and co-support driver for RAGBRAI. I enjoy outdoor activities like most anthro-nerdy people especially fishing, reading, antiquing and spending time with my wife. Back To The Top

Hannah Scates Kettler, Support
			Hello, my name is Hannah Scates Kettler and I am a Field Technician and Research Assistant at the OSA. I have a B.A. in Anthropology with minors in Art History and Classics, and a Masters degree in Digital Humanities. My goal is to combine the aforementioned degrees into one purpose; public outreach and education via the digital realm and 3-dimentional reconstructions of archaeological material. When I am not being a nerd, I enjoy playing video games (wait, still nerdy?) and being outdoors with my husband. I am a first time Ragbrai Support Team member and I am eager to meet new people on the bike route, assuming I don’t get lost. Hope to see you there! Back To The Top

Lynn M. Alex, Education and Outreach Program Director
			Hello, my name is Lynn M. Alex. I have been Director of Education and Outreach at the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist since 1999 where I’ve published two books, Exploring Iowa’s Past and Iowa’s Archaeological Past (both University of Iowa Press). My research interests include the late prehistoric and Contact periods on the Plains and Prairies, the northern European Neolithic and Iron Ages, and fish bones from archaeological sites. My favorite activities are hiking especially as part of busman’s holidays along Hadrian’s Wall, the western coast of Ireland, and the northern Scottish islands; writing; genealogy; and reading—particularly mysteries. I look forward to meeting folks at OSA’s EXPO exhibit and stops along the RAGBRAI route to share some of the amazing archaeological discoveries Iowa has to offer. Back To The Top

John Doershuk, State Archaeologist

John Doershuk

Hello, I’m John Doershuk. I’ve been State Archaeologist of Iowa for four years and with the OSA since 1995. I’ve had the good fortune to be involved with many fascinating archaeological projects around the state, and I’m eager to once again join Team Archaeology as we hit the road with RAGBRAI. Look for me and my colleagues at our EXPO booth in Glenwood and then again along the RAGBRAI route as we’re planning several venues where we hope to connect with folks about Iowa’s rich archaeological past. When I’m not involved with archaeological work I enjoy spending time with my wife, younger son, and daughter (when she visits from her busy UI life) on our six acres outside Iowa City where we cut and split firewood, raise chickens and geese, and keep our fleet of “lawnmowers” (two sheep and two goats) busy keeping the pastures trimmed.

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Angela Collins, Graphic Designer
			My name is Angela R. Collins and I am a Project Archaeologist with the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist as well as Team Archaeology Graphic Designer. I graduated from Colorado State University in 2000 with a B.A. and received a M.A. from the University of Iowa in 2006. I have worked with the OSA since 2001 as a field and lab technician and office illustrator. Since becoming a Project Archaeologist in the General Contracts Program in 2006, I have led survey and excavation projects in Missouri and Iowa. Occasionally, I have opportunities to apply my graphic and artistic skills to archaeological outreach endeavors. Hobbies include illustration, graphic design, casual bicycling, and any fun activity that includes my husband and daughter. Back To The Top

Mary De La Garza, Systems Administrator
			Mary De La Garza is the Systems Administrator and web master at the Office of the State Archaeologist. She has revolutionized the technical side of the OSA, masterminding the transition to a new server and maintaining the current network. Mary is the team scout and takes her camera as she rides this year's bike route... in her car. In her spare time, she plays fetch with her dogs and frolics with her cat through the daisies. Back To The Top


Rob Flagg, Web Designer
			Hello my name is Rob Flagg and I am a Web Developer and IT Assistant for the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. I am a currently a student at Kirkwood pursuing B.A. in Finance. Born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, California, I moved to Kalona, Iowa at the humble age of 18 and have been enduring the winters and enjoying spring ever since. Although I am studying Finance and work in ITS, I spend a lot of my time in a recording studio as a recording engineer and have a strong passion for the culinary arts. Back To The Top