SUNY Oneonta Students Accepted into Renowned Paleoanthropology Field School

Two SUNY Oneonta students, Saranna Shevalier and Jonathan Saminski, have been accepted to George Washington University's Koobi Fora Field School (KFFS). This renowned paleoanthropology field school offers a prestigious seven-week supervised research experience in northern Kenya, where participants collect hominin fossils.

Shevalier and Saminski were selected among 20-25 students globally to participate in the 2025 field school, from June 13 to July 26. Since 2012, George Washington University has partnered with the National Museums of Kenya to offer students on-the-ground experience in paleoanthropology at the Koobi Fora Field School (KFFS). Located on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana, Kenya, KFFS is the world's premier field research and training program in paleoanthropology.

Throughout the program, students earn credit through lectures, specialized laboratory exercises and one-on-one training with senior scientists on-site. They explore remote and dramatic landscapes and search for evidence of hominins going back millions of years. Additionally, students benefit from the interaction with their international peers, which can broaden their worldview and enhance their future working relationships.

SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dr. Kaedan O'Brien got his career start as an undergraduate via this program and is mentoring Shevalier and Saminksi.