Dr. Michelle Sivilich
Archaeologist | Biologist | Nonprofit Consultant
Dr. Michelle Sivilich is an archaeologist, biologist, and nonprofit consultant with more than 30 years of experience in archaeological research, cultural resource management, nonprofit leadership, environmental restoration, and community engagement. Her work is driven by a commitment to preserving the natural and cultural resources that connect communities to their past and shape their future.
With academic training spanning History, Anthropology, Archaeology, and Life Science, Michelle brings an interdisciplinary perspective to complex projects. Her experience ranges from archaeological investigations of historic military sites to large-scale aquatic restoration initiatives, nonprofit development, grant management, and public outreach.
Michelle has worked with nonprofits at every level—from volunteer and board member to Executive Director—and understands the unique challenges organizations face as they grow, secure funding, manage stakeholders, and turn ambitious ideas into successful projects. She combines technical expertise with practical nonprofit management to help organizations move projects from concept to completion.
Education
University of South Florida
Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology with a focus on Archaeology
Dissertation: “Measuring the Adaptation of Military Response During the Second Seminole War Florida (1835-1842): KOCOA and The Role of a West Point Military Academy Education”
Indiana State University
M.S. in Life Sciences
Thesis: “Determining Familial Relationships Using Ancient DNA from Urban and Rural Historic Burials”.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
BA in Sociology/Anthropology & History
Senior Thesis: “Building a GIS Coverage of Historic St. Mary’s City”.
Career Highlights
Rock Paper Steel, LLC.
One Rake at a Time’s Rainbow River Restoration Project
Grant Manager/Project Manager, 2022-present
Through Rock Paper Steel, Michelle serves as Grant Manager and Project Manager for One Rake at a Time’s Rainbow River Restoration Project. She helped revitalize the organization and develop a large-scale restoration initiative addressing invasive aquatic vegetation and accumulated organic material within the Rainbow River.
Her responsibilities have included:
- Revitalizing and strengthening a dormant nonprofit organization
- Developing and managing the organization’s website, outreach, and stakeholder communications
- Coordinating stakeholders and assisting with regulatory and permitting processes
- Developing legislative funding requests and securing public funding
- Managing project consultants and supporting day-to-day project operations
- Overseeing $6.325 million in project funding
Save Crystal River
Crystal River, FL
Executive Director & Consultant, 2017-2021
As Executive Director and Consultant for Save Crystal River, Michelle helped lead a major restoration initiative in Kings Bay focused on restoring and replanting native eelgrass.
She provided technical and organizational leadership across the project, including research, grant writing, fundraising, public outreach, consultant oversight, board relations, and day-to-day nonprofit operations.
Key accomplishments included:
- Helping secure and manage more than $9 million in funding from the Florida Legislature and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
- Providing oversight of $22.2 million in restoration efforts.
- Supporting the restoration and replanting of 44 acres of native eelgrass.
- Coordinating technical consultants, stakeholders, and project partners.
- Managing the organization’s operations and serving as liaison to its Board of Directors
Gulf Archaeology Research Institute
Crystal River, FL
Executive Director, 2016-2019, 2023-2026
As Executive Director of the Gulf Archaeology Research Institute, Michelle managed the full range of nonprofit operations, including grant development and administration, financial planning, human resources, payroll, communications, fundraising, public outreach, and staff and volunteer management.
She managed a professional staff of eight and supervised interns and volunteers while continuing to conduct archaeological research and fieldwork.
Highlights include:
- Managed more than $400,000 in grant funding over four years.
- Directed archaeological research and field projects.
- Specialized in Phase III archaeological investigations of historic military sites.
- Managed staff, interns, volunteers, consultants, and research partners.
- Developed grants, partnerships, public programs, and educational initiatives
Assistant Director, 2014-2016
Michelle managed archaeological fieldwork and research at Fort King National Historic Landmark and continued her research into Florida’s Second Seminole War.
Highlights include:
- Secured a $67,700 American Battlefield Protection Program grant in 2015 to support research on the Second Seminole War.
- Managed archaeological excavations, personnel, and research activities at Fort King.
- Conducted historical and archaeological research into Florida’s historic military landscape
Other Experience
College of Central Florida – Ocala, FL
Adjunct Instructor, 2015-2017
Michelle taught courses in Anthropology and Archaeology, including Introduction to Anthropology, Introduction to Archaeology, and Archaeology Field School.
She was recognized as Adjunct of the Year for the Humanities and Social Sciences Department in 2016–2017.
The History Channel and Granada Television
Aired November 26, 2004
Expert Consultant
Michelle served as an expert consultant for the History Channel and Granada Television’s Battlefield Detectives episode “American Revolution: The Battle of Monmouth,” which aired November 26, 2004.
As part of the program, she conducted DNA analysis of purported Revolutionary War bloodstains associated with a church that had served as a field hospital during the Battle of Monmouth.