The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center has announced that Elizabeth (Liz) Perry, Ph.D., will be the organization’s new president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.

Perry, currently a member of Crow Canyon’s Board of Trustees, replaces Deborah Gangloff, Ph.D., who plans to retire on Oct. 31 after eight successful years at the helm, according to a news release from Jason Vaughn, of Crow Canyon.

“I am honored to serve as the president and CEO of this extraordinary organization,” said Perry. “The research, education, and partnership building being done at Crow Canyon is transformational in the world, and I am proud to have this chance to work alongside our world-class talent to realize our greatest impact, now and in the future.”

Perry, who first joined Crow Canyon as an intern while completing her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University in 1995, received her doctorate in anthropology from the University of Arizona in 2004. She previously worked with SWCA Environmental Consultants starting in 2002, eventually becoming vice president, Pacific West, and overseeing about $40 million in revenue and 350 employees.

In 2014, she left SWCA to become the CEO of Koniag Inc., an Alaska Native corporation with 700 employees nationwide and nearly 4,000 predominantly Alaska Native shareholders. At Koniag, she helped to steer the $270 million corporation through a financial turnaround to four consecutive years of earnings growth.

Perry joined the Crow Canyon Board of Trustees in 2016.

“I am deeply inspired by the work done by Crow Canyon — scientific and educational work that also embraces social responsibility and the important contributions of different voices,” said Perry. “Crow Canyon’s mission to make the human past accessible and relevant is cutting edge in terms of science and technology and its social impact. Everyone benefits from having a nuanced and knowledgeable understanding of humanity to carry with us in our own personal missions to transform, to innovate and to improve the world.”