Her Story
About Kari
Kari Pittman serves as an archaeologist for the US Army as a Department of Army civilian. Since beginning her work in archaeology around 2008, she has focused on cultural resource management, with particular emphasis on rock art and prehistoric archaeology. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating with military training operations to protect over 12,100 eligible archaeological sites on training lands while enabling more than 6,000 troops to conduct war games effectively. Pittman earned an associate's degree from Pikes Peak Community College before completing bachelor's degrees in anthropology and geography at UCCS. She then obtained a master's degree in geography and information science from UCCS in 2013. She attributes her success to her family and the motivation from early doubters, and she advises women entering the field not to be intimidated despite its historically male-dominated nature.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kari
01What do you attribute your success to?
My children and my family are one of the reasons I get up every day because I love my babies and my grandson. People early on saying I couldn't do it gave me impetus to show them that I could and would.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never doubt yourself or let others cause you to doubt yourself. That confidence gives you the tenacity to push through any obstacles. Even if you think you don't know something, try because what you don't know you can always learn. You gotta believe in yourself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be intimidated. There's a lot more women in it now but it still is kind of a male-dominated industry. Women can do just as well if not better at certain aspects of anthropology and archaeology than men.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include deregulation and the cultural resource industry imploding, with work being undone. Opportunities include positions that allow seeing the world like working on Marine Corps base in Okinawa for two years.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity are very important. I'd rather hear a hard truth than a sweet lie. Integrity and ethics, loving what you do. I do what I love so I feel very fortunate to be able to get paid to do something that I love.
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