Diane Zaino Chase
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Diane Zaino Chase (born 1953) is an American
anthropologist An anthropologist is a person engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropology is the study of aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms and ...
and
archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
who specializes in the study of the Ancient Maya.


Career

Chase attended the
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
, graduating with a BA in anthropology in 1975. She completed her PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in 1982 with a dissertation on ''"Spatial and Temporal Variability in Postclassical Northern Belize"''. Chase taught anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania,
Princeton Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine ...
, and
West Chester University West Chester University (also known as West Chester, WCU, or WCUPA, and officially as West Chester University of Pennsylvania) is a public research university in and around West Chester, Pennsylvania. The university is accredited by the Middle ...
. She now teaches at the
University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university whose main campus is in unincorporated Orange County, Florida. UCF also has nine smaller regional campuses throughout central Florida. It is part of the State University ...
. From 1985 to 1995, Chase served as a guest
curator A curator (from la, cura, meaning "to take care") is a manager or overseer. When working with cultural organizations, a curator is typically a "collections curator" or an "exhibitions curator", and has multifaceted tasks dependent on the parti ...
for the
Orlando Museum of Art Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures rele ...
. In 2000, she was appointed the interdisciplinary coordinator of academic affairs at the University of Central Florida. In 2003, she was awarded the honor of Pegasus Professor. According to the office of the provost, "the Pegasus Professor Award recognizes a faculty member who has made a significant impact on the university and will have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service." She has continued to take on administrative positions. She has served as interim assistant vice president of academic affairs, assistant vice president of academic affairs, the interim chair for the Department of Theatre in the College of Arts and Humanities, associate vice president of planning and evaluation for academic affairs, vice provost for academic affairs, and the interim provost and vice president of academic affairs. In 2010, Chase was appointed executive vice provost for academic affairs of the University of Central Florida. In April 2014, she was appointed interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at the same institution. In 2015, Chase argued against eliminating three degree programs from the University of Central Florida's curriculum. In 2016, Chase was appointed executive vice president and provost at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).


Archaeological career

Chase has been conducting archaeological excavations since the 1970s, with a focus on the Ancient Maya. From 1979 to 1985 she conducted archaeological excavations with her husband at
Santa Rita, Corozal Santa Rita is a Maya civilization, Maya Maya ruins of Belize, ruin and an List of protected areas of Belize#Archaeological reserves, archaeological reserve on the outskirts of Corozal Town, Corozal, Belize. Historical evidence suggests that it w ...
. Since 1985, Chase and her husband have been the directors of the
Caracol Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in what is now the Cayo District, of Belize. It is situated approximately south of Xunantunich, and the town of San Ignacio, and from the Macal River. It rests on the Vaca Plateau, ...
Archaeological Project in
Belize Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
. Their fieldwork conducted at Caracol over the past 30 years has resulted in significant contributions to the ongoing research into the Ancient Maya. Dr. Diane Chase has identified and excavated several burials. Significant finds at Caracol include the 1986 field season discovery of Altar 21, which recorded the defeat of
Tikal Tikal () (''Tik’al'' in modern Mayan orthography) is the ruin of an ancient city, which was likely to have been called Yax Mutal, found in a rainforest in Guatemala. It is one of the largest archeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Co ...
by Caracol. The same year Altar 21 was discovered, two intact tombs were uncovered along with an intact tomb of a royal woman that was dated at 634 CE. Another royal tomb was discovered in 1993 that was dated to 537 CE. In 2008 Chase and her husband, along with biologist John Weishampel, received a grant from NASA to conduct a canopy penetrating radar called
LiDAR Lidar (, also LIDAR, or LiDAR; sometimes LADAR) is a method for determining ranges (variable distance) by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. It can also be ...
. LiDAR uses remote sensing to see through the canopy and penetrate the ground to detect the archaeological ruins beneath the canopy. Chase has authored and co-authored many literary publications on
Mesoamerican Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. Withi ...
archaeology. Her knowledge in the field of Mayan archaeology has led to television programs to feature her in documentaries featuring Mayan history and archaeology. Drs. Diane and Arlen Chase's archaeological fieldwork at Caracol included the stabilization of the structure Caana, the largest man-made structure in Belize. This led to the Belizean government to declare Caracol a National Park, and to pave a road into Caracol to allow for easier access for tourists. The site currently has nearly 20 visitors daily, with increased visitation in the spring. In a 2013 talk at the
University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...
, Diane and Arlen Chase talked about their most recent work at Caracol, including unexpected findings (such as cremated bodies and burned mirrors). They also showed the ways in which LIDAR has been critical in mapping the area, and showing the extent of the Caracol urban area. In an interview, Chase spoke at length about her career as an archaeologist.


Personal life

She is married to Dr.
Arlen F. Chase Arlen F. Chase (born 1953) is a Mesoamerican archaeologist and a faculty member in the anthropology department at Pomona College, Claremont CA. Previously, he was a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and served a variety of adminis ...
, who is also an archaeologist whose work focuses on the ancient
Maya Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a populat ...
. Their eldest child, Adrian, is pursuing a career in Mesoamerican archaeology as well. They have two other children: Aubrey and Elyse Chase. All three children have accompanied their parents to the archaeological site of
Caracol Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in what is now the Cayo District, of Belize. It is situated approximately south of Xunantunich, and the town of San Ignacio, and from the Macal River. It rests on the Vaca Plateau, ...
in
Belize Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
, where they have been conducting excavations for over thirty years.


Honors and awards

* 2009 Elected as Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science * 2006 Research Incentive Award * 2004 Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi honor society * 2003 Awarded the status of Pegasus Professor, which is given to professors who have demonstrated distinction in research, teaching and service. This is the highest tribute that a faculty member may receive at the University of Central Florida. * 2001 Research Incentive Award * 1999-2001 Distinguished lecturer for Sigma Xi * 1998 Teaching Incentive Award * 1998 Web Site Excellent Award- Anthropology: for www.caracol.org * 1995–present Trevor Colburn Endowment (Co-Beneficiary with A. Chase) * 1994 Teaching Incentive Award * 1987 Elected to Quill – the literary society of the University of Central Florida


References

* * * * * * * * * * *


External links


List of Diane Z. Chase's publications

Diane Z. Chase's Curriculum Vitae
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chase, Diane American archaeologists 1953 births Living people American women archaeologists University of Pennsylvania alumni West Chester University faculty University of Pennsylvania faculty University of Central Florida faculty American women academics 21st-century American women