Sociology and Anthropology

Dr. William Gblerkpor, Assistant Professor

William Gblerkpor

Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, 2017
M.Phil. in Archaeology, University of Ghana, 2005
B.A. in Archaeologywith History, 2001

Contact Info

Office: Morgan Hall 404
Phone: (309) 298-1056
Email: WN-Gblerkpor@wiu.edu

Dr. William Narteh Gblerkpor is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology dedicated to deepening our understanding of human cultures and societies and their relationships with the natural environment over time. His research spans archaeology, applied anthropology, environmental and visual anthropology, cultural resource management, and museum and heritage studies. He employs interdisciplinary approaches in anthropological archaeology, conducting fieldwork and leading community-based, collaborative research projects in West Africa. Dr. Gblerkpor is committed to developing innovative research and learning environments that strengthen training and capacity building for the preservation, ethical use, and sustainable management of global natural and cultural heritage resources. He’s working to improve and expand WIU's Archaeology Lab to include an Integrated Digital Social Lab for Applied Research. He is the founder and executive director of Park Museums & Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit that supports research, conservation, and community development in national parks and neighboring communities. He is also the founding director and curator of The Museum of Natural and Cultural Heritage at Shai Hills in Ghana. Dr. Gblerkpor is a passionate wildlife and nature photographer.

Teaching Areas

Cultural/Sociocultural Anthropology, Biological/Physical Anthropology, Archaeology

Courses

  • Applied Anthropological Methods (ANTH 305)
  • Old World Archaeology (ANTH 381)
  • World Culture Regions: Africa (ANTH 201)
  • Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology (ANTH 111)
  • Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 110)

Journal Articles

Gblerkpor, W. N. (2026). Fortress of culture: Reinterpreting Krobo Mountain site through the perspective of persistent places. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 33 , Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-026-09775-3

Kuma, D., Gblerkpor, W. N., & Nutor, B. K. (in press). The ‘spirits’ of consumers: Alcohol and everyday life in eighteenth- to twentieth-century southeastern Ghana. Antiquity.

Kwayisi, D., Kumah, D., Loh, Y. S. A., & Gblerkpor, W. N. (2026). Exploring the geoheritage potential of the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, Ghana. Geoheritage, 18, Article 73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-026-01307-5

Nyankson, E., Mensah, R. Q., Kumafle, L., Gblerkpor, W. N., Aboagye, S. O., Asimeng, B. O., & Tiburu, E. K. (2020). Dual application of natural clay material for decolorization and adsorption of methylene blue dye. Cogent Chemistry, 6(1), Article 1788291. https://doi.org/10.1080/23312009.2020.1788291

Tiburu, E. K., Asiamah, R., Asimeng, B. O., Kwofie, S. K., Nyankson, E., & Gblerkpor, W. N. (2021). Electrochemical response of cells using bioactive plant isolates. In Biosensors—Current and novel strategies for biosensing. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95360

Book Chapters

Gblerkpor, William Narteh. 2021. “National Parks”. In Ghana Museums and Cultural Heritage – A Presidential Committee on Ghana’s Museums and Cultural Heritage. https://uploadsssl.webflow.com/5f996d35ec5186e5ba489e7a/5fe35e00cc57a455a535b127_National%20Parks%20-%20Museum%20Report%20%20optimised%20(v.2)%20-25-29.pdf

Elvis K. Tiburu, Richard Asiamah, Bernard O. Asimeng, Samuel Kojo Kwofie, Emmanuel Nyankson and William N. Gblerkpor. 2021. Electrochemical Response of Cells Using Bioactive Plant Isolates In Biosensors — Current and Novel Strategies for Biosensing. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95360

Gblerkpor, W.N. and Samuel N. Nkumbaan. “Archaeology and Socio-political Engagement: The Case of the Krobo Mountain Archaeological Research,” In Anquandah, J., Benjamin Kankpeyeng, and Wazi Apoh, eds. 2014. Current Perspective in the Archaeology of Ghana. 304-324. Accra, Sub-Saharan Publishers.

Nkumbaan, S.N. and William N. Gblerkpor. “Cultural Resources Management in Ghana,” In Anquandah, J., Benjamin Kankpeyeng, and Wazi Apoh, eds. 2014. Current Perspective in the Archaeology of Ghana. 304-324. Accra, Sub-Saharan Publishers.

Gblerkpor, W.N. “Material Culture and Ethnic Identity: The Case of the Krobo, Ghana”, In Lauer, H. et al eds. 2011.  Identity Meets Nationality: Voices from Humanities. 149-174. Accra, Sub-Saharan Publishers. 

Encyclopedia Entry

Gblerkpor, W.N. and Kodzo Gavua. “South Sudan,” In Falola, Toyin, and Daniel Jean-Jacques, eds. 2015. Africa: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society [3 Volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society. 1128-1143. ABC-CLIO.

Book Reviews

Gblerkpor, W.N. Peter R. Schmidt, and Alice B. Kehoe (Eds.): Archaeologies of Listening. Afr Archaeol Rev 37, 643–645 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-020-09397-4