Dana Ogo Shew

Education: M.A., Archaeology, University of Denver, 2010; B.A., Theatre, University of California, Irvine, 1999

Experience: 15 years in archaeology, 12 years at ASC

DANA OGO SHEW received her M.A. from the University of Denver, where she completed an archaeological thesis that explored the lives of women at Colorado’s WWII Japanese internment camp, Amache. In addition to archaeological data collected in the field, a large component of her master's project involved collecting oral histories and sharing her research with descendant communities and the general public. Her work with Japanese-American history continues today through a variety of projects that range from oral history projects to exhibits to interpretive plans. These efforts have been funded by a California Humanities grant, two National Endowment for the Humanities grants, contracts with government agencies such as the National Park Service, and private donations.  

Dana serves as the ASC Interpretive Specialist and Oral Historian and is a Certified Interpretive Planner (NAI) with over 12 years of experience in oral history and interpretation. Her areas of expertise include archaeological interpretation, interpretive planning, historical research, oral history, and museum exhibit curation. Her experience includes interpretive planning and writing, design concept development, public outreach development and planning, public involvement and meeting facilitation, historical research and writing, oral history interviewing, exhibit design and installation, and cost estimation. Dana has produced a wide range of interpretive products including interpretive plans, panels, museum exhibits, displays, websites, brochures, driving tours, and documentary videos. As an oral historian and archaeologist, Dana strives to include multiple perspectives, voices, and lines of evidence to the interpretive products she creates. She has completed projects for a wide range of clients that include the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Caltrans, California State Parks, the National Park Service, SFMTA, and the City of San Luis Obispo. She has also led projects funded through grants including California Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dana has been an active member of the National Association for Interpretation since 2017.

 In addition to her experience with these aspects of the recent past, Ms. Shew also has archaeological field experience associated with historic and prehistoric sites in California, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.