Biography
Dr. Groff is a senior lecturer of anthropology who specializes in archaeology and bioarchaeology. Dr. Groff received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida in 2015. Her primary area of research utilizes stable isotopes to determine migration and social mobility of ancient individuals. Since 2002, Dr. Groff has participated in many archaeological investigations, including work in Australia, Belize, Egypt, and Italy. Currently, Dr. Groff participates in research associated with the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project (CCAMP) in Florida and serves as the excavation director for the Kerkenes Archaeological Project in Turkey. In addition to teaching, Dr. Groff also serves as the Online Undergraduate Coordinator for the UCF Department of Anthropology.
Dr. Groff teaches:
- ANT 2511 The Human Species
- ANT 2000 General Anthropology
- ANT 2410 Cultural Anthropology
- ANT 3017 Muggle Studies: Anthropology of Harry Potter
- ANT 3145 Archaeology of Complex Societies
- ANT 3158 Florida Archaeology
- ANT 3163 Mesoamerican Archaeology
- ANT 3164 Ancient Incas
- ANT 3168 Maya Archaeology
- ANT 3176 African Archaeology and Prehistory
- ANT 3179 Australian Archaeology and Indigenous Cultures
- ANT 3212 Peoples of the World
- ANT 3241 Magic, Ritual, and Belief
- ANT 3302 Sex, Gender, and Culture
- ANT 4153 North American Archaeology
- ANT 4861 Beyond the Anthropology Major: Careers in Anthropology
Research Interests/Specializations
- Archaeology
- Bioarchaeology
- Stable Isotopes
- Ancient Migration
- Biological Anthropology
- Mortuary Studies
- Regions: Africa, Anatolia, Central America, Mediterranean, United States
- Online and Mobile Learning
- Student Online Technology Preferences
- Instructional Design
Working with Dr. Groff
Undergraduates: As the undergraduate online advisor, I offer hands-on guidance for online majors as they navigate the online world. We have a detailed Virtual Advising webcourses section which provides our majors advising at their fingertips 24/7! I prioritize open communication, helping students navigate their educational pathways, choose appropriate courses, and explore research or professional development opportunities. My approach is student-centered, so I am happy to support your goals and needs! Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Graduates: While I don’t currently take on students as a primary advisor in our MA and PhD programs, I do offer my support by serving on thesis and dissertation committees. I love acting as a sounding board for ideas or helping organize your research program.
Awards & Honors
Internal UCF Honors and Awards
| 2024 | Recipient of Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award; University of Central Florida. |
| 2023 | Recognition for Outstanding Instruction; College of Sciences Celebration (April 13); High Impact and High-Quality Instruction (for work with Cape Canaveral Internship) |
| 2023 | AIM HIGH Impact Group Award; awarded along with GEP faculty colleagues in the Department of Anthropology for our efforts to make required course materials affordable for students in ANT 2000 and ANT 2511 |
| 2021 | Outstanding Faculty Advising Award, University of Central Florida Advising Leadership Council (awarded in 2022) |
| 2021 | University Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of Central Florida. |
| 2021 | University Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising Award, University of Central Florida. |
| 2021 | College of Sciences Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of Central Florida. |
| 2019 | Recipient of Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award; University of Central Florida. |
| 2017 | College of Sciences Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of Central Florida. |
| 2016 | Outstanding AlumKnights Award; College of Sciences, University of Central Florida. |
| 2014 | Recipient of the Scholarship for Teaching and Learning (SOTL) Award; University of Central Florida. |
| 2014 | Recipient of Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award; University of Central Florida. |
| 2012 | Inaugural Award Winner: Chuck D. Dziuban Excellence in Online Teaching Award; University of Central Florida. |
| 2010 | Online Innovator, recognized by the Center for Distributed Learning. |
External Honors and Awards
| 2022 | National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) GLOBAL Award for Outstanding Faculty Advising |
| 2022 | National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)- Region 4 Excellence in Advising – Faculty Advisor Award. |
| 2019 | Second Place, Open category, for paper “Mobile Learning or Mobile Assumption? Examining Student Preferences for Using Mobile Phones for Academic Work” to be presented at the Course, Curricula, and Administration Division of the 2019 Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada. |
| 2015 | Recipient of the Cockburn Student Prize for Best Podium Presentation; Paleopathology Association Annual Meeting, March 25. |
| 2013 | Ranked among the Top 25 Female Professors in the State of Florida; Online Schools Florida. |
| 2010 | First Place, Open category, for paper “Micro-Blog or Major Assumption? How Student Motivation for Social Networking Tells Us We May Need More Than 140 Characters” presented and submitted to the Course, Curricula, and Administration Division of the 2010 Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada. |
