U of A Graduate Named MacArthur Fellow

Forensic anthropologist Kate Spradley, who received both a B.A. and M.A. in anthropology from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas, was named a 2026 MacArthur Fellow. The honor, popularly known as a “genius award,” comes with an $800,000 grant.

“Fulbright College congratulates Kate Spradley on this extraordinary honor,” said Brian Raines, dean of Fulbright College. “A MacArthur Fellowship recognizes exceptional creativity, and she has put hers to work for something deeply human: giving dignity to the dead and answers to the living. Her work goes beyond laboratory skill. It takes an anthropologist's understanding of culture and community, the ability to work alongside county officials and landowners, and the conviction that every life deserves to be accounted for. Solving complex problems such as these are what the liberal arts prepare people to do, and we're so proud to call her one of our own.”

Each year, the MacArthur Foundation honors a group of scholars, scientists, writers and artists who “show exceptional creativity in their work.” The foundation places no restriction on how the recipients spend their grants, which are paid out over five years.

Spradley, a professor of anthropology at Texas State University in San Marcos, works to identify and repatriate the remains of migrants who died along the Texas-Mexico border. She created a dataset that helps specifically identify the DNA of skeletal remains of Latin American origin. Operation Identification, which she founded in 2013, has identified the remains of nearly 300 people and returned them to their home countries.

Spradley also co-founded the Forensic Border Coalition, which works to develop local and national policies that help family members find loved ones who died along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The work underscores that forensic anthropology plays a huge role in helping people in tragic circumstances, and Dr. Spradley is a model for translating her career into a compassionate service,” said J. Michael Plavcan, chair of U of A’s Department of Anthropology.

To learn more about Spradley’s work and the MacArthur Foundation, visit MacFound.org.

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart and soul of the University of Arkansas — where discovery, creativity, and curiosity meet to create a transformational education. Encompassing three schools, 16 departments, and numerous programs and research centers, Fulbright College connects the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences to advance knowledge, discovery, and serve Arkansas and the world. Discover more at fulbright.uark.edu.