George J. Gumerman
Arizona State Museum Director 1998–2002

Dr. Gumerman spent more than thirty years researching the archaeology of the southwestern United States before becoming Arizona State Museum's fourth director. Well-known to those in the field is Dr. Gumerman’s pioneering archaeological work at Black Mesa in northern Arizona, one of the largest archaeological projects ever undertaken in the Southwest. He is also noted for his research on Oceania, Micronesia and Mexico.

George Gumerman brought to ASM not only a broad and distinguished background in archaeology but also a wealth of experience in institutional administration, fundraising and successful cooperative endeavors in many contexts. He came to ASM from the Santa Fe Institute where he developed and directed a program in cultural evolution over several years.

He is author and editor of many well-known publications in southwestern archaeology including A View from Black Mesa; Exploring the Hohokam: Prehistoric Desert Peoples of the Southwest; and Understanding Complexity in the Prehistoric Southwest.

Early in his career he was the curator of anthropology at the Museum of Northern Arizona, taught at Prescott College and at Southern Illinois University, where he was chairman of the anthropology department and the founding director of the Center for Archaeological Investigations. He received a B.S. from Columbia University and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Arizona.

Dr. Gumerman left ASM in 2002 and continues his duties as senior scholar at the School of Advanced Research in Santa Fe.