About Classics
Learn why our department is a special place for studying classics.
Department of Classics
Who We Are
The University of Mississippi Department of Classics boasts a vibrant community of more than 40 undergraduate students and a group of supportive faculty who teach a rich slate of courses in Greek, Latin, and Classical Civilization each term. Plus, we host lots of events throughout the year to keep students involved in Classics beyond the classroom.
What We Do
The University of Mississippi is classified by Carnegie as an R1 university, a designation reserved for the top 2.5% of universities in the nation. As part of a research-intensive university, our faculty are at the top of their field.
Why does R1 matter to students? They will have professors who bring exciting new discoveries into the classroom and give students a chance to work alongside them as they break barriers.
The Classics faculty includes award-winning teacher-scholars who are ready to support our student’s interests in every aspect of the ancient Mediterranean world. Our archaeologists study Roman graffiti in Pompeii and Greek architectural sculpture in Corinth. In history and literature our research expertise runs the gamut from Homeric epic to Roman early-imperial history and ideology, and from Greek oratory and biography to Latin poetry and gender.
- Professor Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons spoke at TEDxUniversityofMississippi about her research on ancient graffiti in Pompeii and what it can teach us today. Students travel abroad with her to translate, document, and digitally recreate ancient messages.
- Professor John Lobur published his new monograph, Cornelius Nepos: A Study in the Evidence and Influence, with University of Michigan Press. The book offers a fresh look at the literary abilities and cultural understanding of a Roman author whom generations of scholars have dismissed as an inaccurate and simplistic writer. He taught a Latin class based on this new work in the field.
Our Vibrant Community
The Classics Department participates in Mississippi Day, an annual university-wide event held in April.
Archaeology Fair with K-12 students
Dr. Aileen Ajootian meets with students in Bryant Hall
Eta Sigma Phi visits Nashville Parthenon
A student views free books during the Taste of Classics event.
Student conducting a reading at the Taste of Classics event.
Students studying ancient graffiti during a research trip to Italy.
Visiting the Robinson Collection in the UM Museum.
Study Abroad in Rome
Welcome from the Chair
If you are interested in the mythology, archaeology, history, art, literature, or languages of ancient Greece and Rome, then the Department of Classics is the place for you! As Chair, I am proud of the engaged and welcoming community of faculty and undergraduate students our department fosters, as we focus on learning all we can about the histories and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world.
But our studies don’t stay in the past. We visit the places and spaces where ancient history played out in study abroad courses. We debate current questions in archaeological ethics and methods in class and with visiting experts. We participate in ongoing archaeological discovery. We bring our deep understanding of history to bear on questions in world politics, and our immersion in ancient artistic and literary traditions helps us engage the cultural world of the 21st century with a more educated eye, ear, and voice.
I want to personally invite you to come claim your place in the world of Classics!
Dr. Molly Pasco-Pranger
Leadership and Support
Molly Pasco-Pranger
- Chair and Professor of Classics
Brett King
- Operations Coordinator II
Meet our Faculty
Aileen Ajootian
- Professor of Classics & Art
Elizabeth Baxter
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Classics
Brad Cook
- Professor of Classics
Jackie Dibiasie-Sammons
- Associate Professor of Classics and Senior Fellow, North Residential College
Jonathan Fenno
- Associate Professor of Classics
Kerri J. Hame
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Classics
John Lobur
- Professor of Classics
Molly Pasco-Pranger
- Chair and Professor of Classics
The University of Mississippi Museum
Named to EDsmart’s list of 51 Most Astounding University Museums with a ranking of 17—one spot ahead of Princeton University, the University of Mississippi Museum offers student internships and volunteer opportunities where they might work with education programs or curate an exhibit.
The David M. Robinson Memorial Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities at the museum can be described as the finest collection of its kind in the South and one of the finest in the nation.
Museum Studies
Museum studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the world of museums and all they encompass: collections, exhibitions, education, archives, research, and more. Our faculty from five departments—Art & Art History, Anthropology, Classics, History, and Southern Studies—teach a broad range of courses to introduce students to the history and culture of museums and their basic functions as well as current topics and issues facing museums today.
Our Community
Located 70 miles from Memphis and surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Mississippi, Oxford boasts thriving music, art, and literary scenes along with great restaurants. University of Mississippi athletics provides many opportunities to watch and participate in sports—and one of the world’s best tailgating parties.
With everything Oxford offers, it’s no wonder USA Today names Oxford as one of the Top Six College Towns in the Nation.
Come see why.