Welcome to the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology’s website!
My name is Nic Terrenato, and I have served as the Kelsey Museum’s director and its curator for the archaeology of the Italian Peninsula since 2020. It is thrilling to lead an institution like the Kelsey, where stewardship of a wonderful collection, ongoing fieldwork, and community outreach on all levels lie at the heart of our work.
I am honored to be at the helm of the museum at this time—a period marked by the transformation of our exhibitions, fieldwork, and educational programs. Throughout my tenure as director, museum staff and faculty have made tremendous strides in developing the first new permanent exhibition in almost 20 years, Crossroads of Culture, 400–1800 CE. Another exciting current initiative is the Klinsky Expeditions: a group of five fieldwork projects sponsored by a major gift that has invigorated Michigan-led archaeological research around the globe. Additionally, the constant expansion of student participation in museum initiatives and fieldwork projects is a further boon to the Kelsey Museum and to the future of archaeology itself, as these up-and-coming scholars take active roles in shaping the discipline.
I invite you to explore all the Kelsey Museum has to offer, from cutting-edge field projects that center local knowledge and voices to our rich exhibitions that explore daily life in the ancient world to educational programs that aim to teach and inspire learners of all ages.
Nic Terrenato
Director, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Curator for the Archaeology of the Italian Peninsula
Esther B. Van Deman Collegiate Professor of Roman Studies
