CHERYL MULLIGAN
Healdsburg,CA
Summary
Cultural heritage and Anthropology professional with over five years of experience growing partnerships with Tribal communities and two years leading NAGPRA-related initiatives at the California Academy of Sciences. Experienced in tribal consultation and outreach, collections stewardship, project coordination, and community-centered cultural heritage preservation.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Curatorial Assistant, Department of Anthropology
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco, CA
01.2017 - 01.2026
- Manage a FileMaker database of over 17,000 cultural items in the Anthropology research collection
- Processes specimens, including sorting, preparing, cataloging, labeling and integrating existing or incoming material, and assists with the maintenance of preparation and collections storage areas
- Manage NAGPRA-related projects and department compliance; Coordinate Tribal outreach and consultation, conduct cultural affiliation research, and verify archival documentation.
- Coordinate cross-departmental projects involving curators, researchers, collections staff, and community partners
- Prepare reports, correspondence, and project materials supporting consultation, collections stewardship, cultural heritage initiatives, and community gatherings
- Facilitate communication among community partners and institutional stakeholders to advance shared project goals and strengthen long-term partnerships
- Supply technical information, specimens and design input for Academy exhibits, to other departments, or to other institutions
- Participate in the preparation and presentation of grant proposals
- Discretion in dealing with sensitive personal information from donors
- Train and supervise new staff, interns and volunteers in the processing, preparation and maintenance of research collections
- Mentor for high school students as part of the Academy's Careers in Science program
Adjunct Professor
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA
2018 - 2020
- ANTH C1001L - Biological Anthropology Lab
- Facilitated classroom discussions that encouraged critical thinking and hands-on learning
- Developed and implemented course curricula aligned with educational standards.
- Assessed student performance through assignments, exams, and feedback mechanisms.
- Transitioned to fully remote instruction during COVID pandemic
Education
Master of Arts - Anthropology
San Francisco State University
San Francisco2017
Bachelor of Science - Physical Anthropology
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA2012
Accomplishments
- NAGPRA lead for California Academy of Sciences Anthropology Department. Responsible for consulting with tribal representatives and preparing formal NAGPRA inventories and summaries. Extensive research and provenance investigation, review and update collections records, and collaborate with curators and other collections staff. Currently working on a repatriation of seven items of cultural patrimony to the Cahuilla Band of Indians.
- Founding member of Indigenous Solidarity Committee at the California Academy of Sciences. We advocate for respectful partnerships with Tribal communities and have helped to reshape institutional policies and practices to reflect greater accountability and cultural sensitivity. We have grown relationships with Tribal representatives, community members, researchers, and institutional stakeholders to support collaborative projects. This work has been cross-departmental as well as public facing.
- Coordinator for collaborative projects between California Academy of Sciences Anthropology department and Bay Area Tribes. These projects have included listening sessions with the Ramaytush Ohlone and Cafe Ohlone, hosting workshops for the Native American Museum Studies Institute, an internal Indigenous Speaker Series, hosting field trips for Redbud Resource Groups training programs, and hosting Native Gatherers for community conversations on traditional ecological knowledge and the stewardship of natural cultural resources.
Trainings
Right Relations - Redbud Resource Group
With the California Academy of Sciences Indigenous Solidarity Group, I participated in Redbud's nine month, cohort-based program to help Bay Area organizations move beyond surface-level engagement and build lasting partnerships with Indigenous groups.
Timeline
Curatorial Assistant, Department of Anthropology
California Academy of Sciences
01.2017 - 01.2026
Adjunct Professor
Santa Rosa Junior College
2018 - 2020
Master of Arts - Anthropology
San Francisco State University
Bachelor of Science - Physical Anthropology
University of California, Santa Barbara