Dr. Nicole R Grinnan

Nicole Bucchino Grinnan serves as the Assistant Director of the University of West Florida’s Archaeology Institute, bringing over 12 years of professional experience in coastal archaeology. Her expertise spans terrestrial and underwater archaeological research, with a particular focus on maritime archaeology, coastal heritage management, and the interpretation of maritime cultural resources.

Before joining the Institute, Nicole worked as a Faculty Research Associate and Public Archaeologist with the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), where she led public engagement initiatives and facilitated the preservation of Florida’s rich archaeological heritage. Her early career included a three-year graduate assistantship with FPAN and internships with Biscayne National Park and NASA’s History Division in Washington, D.C., broadening her expertise in cultural resource management and historical research.

Nicole is a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA), a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), a Florida Master Naturalist, and a SCUBA Instructor with SCUBA Diving International (SDI). She is deeply involved in the professional community, serving as the Webmaster on the Board of Directors for the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) and as Membership Chair on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS).