Rate My Professor Alex Woods

Dr. Alex Woods is a Senior Lecturer in Egyptology in the Department of Ancient History, Faculty of Arts, at Macquarie University. She earned her BA in Ancient History in 2003 and BA (Hons) First Class in Egyptology in 2004 from Macquarie University, followed by a PhD in Egyptology in 2008 with a thesis entitled 'A Day in the Marshes': A Study of Old Kingdom Marsh Scenes in the Tombs of the Memphite Cemeteries. Appointed as Associate Lecturer in Egyptology in March 2008 upon PhD approval, she advanced to Senior Lecturer and has taught for over 15 years across art history, archaeology, ancient languages, gender studies, research methodology, and methods of archaeological practice in Egyptology. Woods has participated in Macquarie University archaeological expeditions at Saqqara (tombs of Mereruka and Remni), Deir el-Gebrawi, and Meir, contributing as an epigrapher and team member from 2003 to 2008.

Her research focuses on ancient Egyptian visual culture in temple and tomb environments during the Old to Middle Kingdoms (Dynasties 3-13, c. 2686-1650 BCE), examining context, function, iconographical significance, artisan practices, and archival documentation through a post-colonial lens, alongside digital humanities in higher education. As academic lead of the student-led Beni Hassan Research Group since 2017, co-founded with Dr. Brian Ballsun-Stanton and Nicolle Leary, she oversees collaborative research under Macquarie's Beni Hassan concession as part of an ARC Discovery Project 'Measuring Meaning in Egyptian Art' (2016-2018), developing online visual archives and employability skills. Key publications include co-authored books Artists in the Old Kingdom: Techniques and Achievements (2009, with N. Kanawati), Beni Hassan: Art and Daily Life in an Egyptian Province (2010, with N. Kanawati), Mereruka and his Family Part III:1 The Tomb of Mereruka (2010) and Part III:2 (2011, with N. Kanawati et al.), and editor of Egyptian Culture and Society: Studies in Honour of Naguib Kanawati (2010). Notable articles encompass 'Drawing the Bow: A Re-examination of the Desert Hunt Scene in the Tomb of Khnumhotep II at Beni Hassan' (2018), 'Further Evidence that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were Twins' (2016, with L. Evans), and contributions to tomb dating and scene analyses. She has secured local learning and teaching grants and awards, co-developed Ubisoft-Google Arts & Culture partnerships for AI hieroglyph translation, and designed the Australasian Women in Ancient World Studies Academic Mentoring Program (2020).