“In 1972, Dr. Bass’s first book hooked me instantly, so I was thrilled when he began the NAP in 1976.  I have fond memories of our small classes at the annex, and of working weekends out there – even a couple of occasions when Dr. Bass joined us and recounted stories from the early days at Yassi Ada.  Among my most unforgettable experiences in the program were three summers on the Serçe Limanı shipwreck excavation and a season on the Mombasa shipwreck, both alongside fellow student Sheila Matthews. I was also fortunate to have the assistance of former NAP student Dick Swete during my underwater survey of the ancient Etruscan port of Gravisca in Italy.

Since the A&M PhD program had not yet been established, I continued at UC Santa Barbara, completing my doctorate in 1982 with a dissertation titled Etruscan Maritime Activity in the Western Mediterranean (ca. 800–400 BC).  Although academic positions in underwater archaeology were scarce at the time, the PhD did help me secure an excellent position at a software development company, where I went on to have a successful career. I was also fortunate to have a few other underwater archaeology opportunities, including on the Uluburun shipwreck, the Port Royal excavation, and the Saint Anne’s Bay surveys in Jamaica.

I remain deeply grateful for the foundation the NAP program provided – it shaped both my intellectual passion and my professional life.”