Emily Smith-Sangster, Cal State San Bernardino’s seventh W. Benson Harer Egyptology Scholar in Residence, will present “Community, Memory, and Adaptation after Strife: Examining a South Abydos Population in the Early New Kingdom,” at 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at the university’s Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art.

Drawing on her recent excavations at Abydos, Smith-Sangster will explore how communities in ancient Egypt adapted and redefined themselves in the wake of social and political upheaval. She will discuss how the Ahmose Cemetery in Abydos reveals the resilience of a non-royal community in the aftermath of conflict with the Hyksos around 1550 BCE.

The program will also be available on Zoom.

Smith-Sangster’s research focuses on the people of the early New Kingdom (c. 1500 BCE), particularly at Abydos, one of ancient Egypt’s most important religious and cultural centers. Since 2022, she has conducted excavations at the site, where she examines tombs to better understand identity, landscape, gender and disability in ancient Egyptian society. Her work stands at the intersection of history, anthropology and archaeology, reflecting a commitment to both scholarly rigor and accessibility. She has published widely on disability and disability theory in the ancient world, helping to broaden the field’s perspectives on diversity in antiquity.

Alongside her research, Smith-Sangster brings teaching experience from both Princeton and New York University, where she previously earned her master’s degree. She completed her undergraduate studies at Monmouth University in New Jersey. Beyond academia, she is dedicated to public history, working with museums, libraries and historical sites to make Egyptology accessible for all ages.

Her residency is made possible through the W. Benson Harer Egyptology Scholar in Residence program, which since 2017 has brought world-renowned and rising Egyptologists to CSUSB. The program is a cornerstone of the university’s growing Egyptology offerings, supported by the Benson and Pamela Harer Fellow in Egyptology, currently held by Kate Liszka. Together, these opportunities have positioned CSUSB as a leading institution for Egyptological study for undergraduates.