The Gault School of Archaeological Research has announced the appointment of Raegan King as Executive Director and Meranda Goodwin as Education Program Coordinator, signaling a new phase of public education and engagement at the Gault Archaeological Site in Central Texas.
“The Gault site is one of the most significant archaeological resources in the Americas, and I’m honored to join the leadership team at such an exciting time,’’ King said. “I look forward to building on Gault’s legacy through innovative research, education, and community engagement.”
King most recently served as Site Manager of the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a nationally recognized paleontological site that protects and preserves the only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of giant Columbian mammoths that roamed this region during the Ice Age. With more than a decade of leadership at the Waco Mammoth National Monument, she helped elevate the site’s profile and substantially increased visitors, while maintaining the highest standards of stewardship and interpretation of the prehistoric site. King’s work earned her recognition as a leader in public history and site-based museum management.
In her role as Executive Director of the Gault School, the non-profit that manages the Gault site, King hopes to increase national visibility and public access to the site, guide Gault’s strategic direction and preservation, and expand academic partnerships.
State Archaeologist Brad Jones described the Gault site as “the most important prehistoric archaeological site in Texas.” Researchers found evidence at Gault showing human presence up to 20,000 years ago which changed our understanding of some of the earliest cultures in the Americas. The site is located near Florence, Texas, about 50 miles northwest of Austin.
Also joining the leadership team is Meranda Goodwin, who will serve as Education Program Coordinator. Goodwin is a proud educator with a background in the public school system and informal teaching at various nonprofits in the Austin area for the past five years. She brings experience in education, curriculum development, public programming, and community outreach. She will lead the expansion of educational initiatives designed to connect students, educators, and the public with the significance of the Gault site.
Jon Lohse, president of the Gault School, said these hires reflect the organization’s commitment to strengthening its role as a hub for archaeological research and public education, while building new pathways for collaboration and discovery.
"The Gault School has been fortunate to receive grant support from major foundations in the statewide heritage education and preservation communities, including the Summerlee Foundation and the Texas Preservation Trust Fund,” Lohse said. “These awards also show that the organization is on the right path to filling an important role in the field of heritage education in Texas."
Since the 1990s, the Gault School has conducted groundbreaking research at the internationally significant Gault site. Today, the Gault School sponsors international research that helps broaden an understanding of the peopling of the Americas. The Gault School is committed to innovative and impactful educational programming, vibrant research and conservation of archaeological and cultural sites. The founder of the Gault School, Dr. Michael B. Collins, and the inspirational story of how he saved the Gault site, are the focus of an award-winning documentary, The Stones Are Speaking, currently available on Amazon, Apple TV and YouTube.
For more information about the site and tours: www.gaultschool.org