Trent University Mourns the Passing of Dr. Anne Keenleyside
Respected Anthropology professor and researcher served as department chair and on numerous University and departmental committees
The Trent University community is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Anne Keenleyside on October 27, 2022. Professor Keenleyside joined the University in 2002 as an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and was promoted to associate professor in 2005. Prof. Keenleyside was also chair of the Department of Anthropology from 2013 to 2017 and served on numerous University and Departmental Committees.
Trained as a bioarchaeologist, Prof. Keenleyside’s research focused on the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological and historical contexts. More specifically, she studied the health, diet and mobility of past populations using macroscopic, microscopic, and chemical analysis techniques. As noted in her obituary, she dreamed “since grade 10 of becoming an anthropologist” and accomplished this through a career at Trent. She also travelled the world conducting fieldwork in central and eastern Nunavut, Tunisia, and Bulgaria, exploring the biological impact of European contact on Inuit populations, and the health and dietary practices of Greek and Roman populations of the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
In collaboration with Trent alumnus Dr. Douglas Stenton, her most recent research focused on the analysis of skeletal remains associated with the 1845 Sir John Franklin Expedition to navigate the Northwest passage. In addition to publishing numerous peer-reviewed articles, conference abstracts and book chapters, Prof. Keenleyside co-authored, with Prof. Richard Lazenby (University of Northern British Columbia), the popular biological anthropology textbook A Human Voyage: Exploring Biological Anthropology.
Prof. Keenleyside was dearly loved and highly-respected by the many students she taught at Trent University throughout the course of her career. She also trained and mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, many of whom went on to successful careers in anthropology and beyond. Prof. Keenleyside is survived by her partner Pat Butler of Trent’s Facilities Management department.
The University extends heartfelt sympathies to Prof. Keenleyside’s family and friends, and to all who knew her at Trent University. For friends, co-workers, and family in Peterborough, a reception will be held in town at a later date.