Rebecca Stone Gordon holds a B.A. in American History and Applied Anthropology, as well as an interdisciplinary M.S. in Audio Technology and Visual Media. She has worked at American University as a library staff member and as an adjunct in the Physics and Anthropology departments, and is planning to resume a nearly-complete M.A. in Biological Anthropology. Her research areas include American nuclear and cold war culture, archaeology in horror fiction, the history of medicine and anatomy, disability history, museum history, and mummies. Her work can be found in Death in Supernatural (2018), Shirley Jackson: A Companion (2021), and The Undead and the Anthropocene (2022).
After presenting at MAPACA for the first time in 2013, she quickly became an active and dedicated member of the MAPACA community. Deeply impressed by the work Meredith Guthrie was doing to grow the Disability Studies Area, Rebecca eagerly assumed a leadership role as co-Chair. Since then, she has worked to expand the area, foster inclusive scholarly dialogue, and mentor new participants. Her ongoing contributions have helped shape MAPACA as a welcoming and intellectually vibrant space for interdisciplinary work.
While she remains active in other professional organizations, Rebecca finds the greatest joy and inspiration in MAPACA’s collaborative, community-centered ethos. She is honored beyond words to be this year’s recipient of the Lorance Award.