Sara Bon-Harper has been Executive Director at James Monroe’s Highland since September 2012. The research she has directed in that time has transformed the interpretation of the property, and contributes to a new understanding of James Monroe. Ms. Bon-Harper previously served as Archaeological Research Manager at Monticello, and has conducted archaeological research and trained students in Europe and North America. She has lectured and written on a variety of themes, including the analysis of archaeological data, landscapes of slavery, and the construction of historic narratives. She serves on the board of the Presidential Precinct, and is also a Research Professor of Anthropology at William & Mary and a Faculty Affiliate of William & Mary’s Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC). Ms. Bon-Harper earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. in Anthropology and Classics from the University of Arizona.

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