Rate My Professor Dawn Rutecki

Dawn Rutecki is an Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies within the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology with a concentration in Archaeology and Social Context from Indiana University, Bloomington. Her research specializations include zooarchaeology, religion and iconography, social organization and complexity, gender, social justice issues, feminist and decolonializing theory, with an areal focus on the Southern Plains and Southeast United States. Rutecki's academic interests also center on the intersections of food, religion, and social organization, particularly ethics, power relationships, sovereignty, and resistance movements. She has contributed to advancing queer archaeology through her scholarly work, including co-organizing the special section 'Towards an Inclusive Queer Archaeology' in the SAA Archaeological Record (2016).

In her career at Grand Valley State University, Rutecki progressed from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor upon receiving tenure and promotion in 2025. She serves as Course Coordinator for INT 201 in the Integrative Studies Program and teaches the first-year interdisciplinary sequence 'Power and Freedom: Decolonization in Theory and Practice' in the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Rutecki received the Pew Teaching Excellence Award in Integrative Studies for her transformative pedagogy, which employs Reacting to the Past simulations, engages students with challenging texts and ideas, and promotes inclusive, equitable learning environments that empower students as change agents. She participates in university service as a member of the Faculty Research and Development Committee representing Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies and as a Faculty Associate in the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. Additionally, Rutecki serves as co-principal investigator on a Native American Heritage Fund grant to embed Indigenous knowledge into courses. Her commitment to ethical archaeological collaborations and social justice is evident in her teaching and committee roles.