Staff
Christian New
Executive Director
Christian is an Anthropologist from Houston, Texas. He received his undergraduate degree in Anthropology/Spanish from the University of Houston, as well as his master's in Cognitive Anthropology from the University of Houston. He likes to cook, be out in nature, play guitar, write, and spend time with his family and friends.
Danica Miller
Assistant Director
Danica Miller is a proud member of the Hunk’pati Dakota Tribe in South Dakota. She earned her business degree in 2025 and is continuing her studies in Sociology with a minor in Oceti Sakowi Language at SDSU. Danica has served her community as Miss South Dakota SLICC Ambassador and created a class to support Indigenous youth in the legal system by reconnecting them with cultural values. In her free time, she walks the runway for Indigenous designers across Turtle Island and travels to share her testimony with those struggling with addiction.
Sabrina Strand
Tour Guide
Sabrina is a recent graduate from Mount Vernon High School. She will be attending Black Hills State University in the fall for Business Management and Music Composition. In her free time, Sabrina enjoys playing piano, reading, volunteering locally, and spending quality time with family.
Jana Bell
Tour Guide
Jana is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She received her BA in Business Management from the University of Maryland, and has lived all over the world. She moved to Mitchell with her husband Rick in 2021, and fell in love with the Mitchell Prehistoric Archaeological Site as soon as she visited. In her free time she enjoys family time, playing board games, and gardening.
Dr. Adrien Hannus
Archaeologist
Dr. Adrien Hannus is the former director of the Archaeology Department at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dr. Hannus has been the Mitchell Site’s archaeologist since 1983. His research interests, in addition to the Mitchell Site, are the Paleo-Indian period in North America and Clovis culture.
Dr. Alan Outram
Archaeologist
Dr. Alan Outram is a professor of Archaeology at the University of Exeter in Exeter, England. He is a large mammal zooarchaeologist, and is also one of the world's leading experts in the history of the domestication of the horse.