October 20, 2025
An archaeological “genius”
Alumna receives MacArthur Fellowshipby Allyson Irish
Kristina Guild Douglass’s innovative archaeological work was recognized in October by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A member of the Class of 2002, Douglass was chosen as one of 22 artists, scientists, and authors to receive a 2025 MacArthur Fellowship, often called the “genius award.”
Douglass leads the Morombe Archaeological Project in southwest Madagascar, a biodiversity hot spot. Her work investigates how past societies and environments co-evolved and adapted to climate change pressures. In a 2019 interview with Andover magazine, she explained that her experience living in Madagascar as a child—and especially a middle school field trip through tropical areas—inspired her research.
“Some may think that people arrived in a place and then immediately caused environmental degradation. This suggests the best way to save the environment is to keep people out,” Douglass said. “But people being in a place doesn’t necessarily mean they will use all of the resources.”
Currently an associate professor at Columbia University’s Climate School, Douglass and her research team are considered a leading model of community-engaged archaeology, often collaborating with local residents.
Read more about Douglass’s work here.
Photos Courtesy John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
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This is the first in a two-part series focused on the philanthropic priorities that sustain the Addison Gallery.