Archaeology PhD w/ classroom, fieldwork, & publishing experience

Shannon D.

Hello! I studied Anthropology and Classics in college and went on to get an MA and PhD in Archaeology. I have a background in ancient Greek and Latin languages and literature, but I focus mainly on the archaeology (material culture) of ancient Greece. I have done research and fieldwork there for many years, and have lived in Athens off and on. While my fieldwork experience is mostly in Greece, I have also worked in Scotland and Lebanon. I also work in academic publishing and have experience giving public lectures on my research, so I am interested in communicating information to diverse audiences and in engaging the public with archaeological work.

I know ancient history can sometimes feel distant or alien, so I look for ways to connect the students to the cultures and materials of the past. I want them to take away not just the necessary information but a sense of enjoyment and a feeling that they have a valued perspective on the material. To foster dynamic engagement and critical thinking I give a lot of class time to student-led discussion and I offer assignments which allow for different types of learning and communication, beyond exams and research papers. I have taught at liberal arts colleges and I love providing opportunities for students to connect with the material through hands-on and student-led assignments and activities. My courses range from specific deep-dives into aspects of Greek history to broader survey courses about the art and culture of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East.

I am here to help you with any courses related to ancient Mediterranean history or art history, archaeology, or Classics. I am also here to help with basic research and writing skills for term papers and presentations. I can guide you with how to approach dense academic articles and get the most out of them, where to find images and appropriate sources for papers, and can suggest further reading for anything you are interested in.