Graduate Alumni Reflections

Washington University Classics graduate students and alumni speak about the department’s training, community, special opportunities, and support for career planning

Tori Lee

“The MA program at WashU was perfect for someone like me: I had just graduated from college with a Classics degree and was interested in learning more, but I was unsure if I wanted to commit to a PhD program and potential academic career.  Although it only took a few months for me to decide to pursue academia, my two years at WashU proved valuable over the course of my PhD and on the job market this past year. In particular, the depth and variety of teaching experience I got as a TA in four different courses was a boon to my CV and, more importantly, to my development and confidence as a scholar.”

MA Washington University 2016
Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston University Society of Fellows

David in glasses holding a mug

David Armstrong

"I found so much more than I set out looking for in Umrath Hall. The grad program gave me great relationships with amazing professors and a wonderful cohort of friends. The best part of humanism is surely the humans you share it with, and I promise you’ll find that to be true here. I know I did."

MA students and alumni:

“In the long term, improving my language skills will help me carve out a niche in the field and be competitive on the job market, whether applying for high-school teaching jobs or going on to a PhD program and eventually applying for tenure-track positions, as I plan to do. I am very thankful to the Classics Department for always supporting me in my passions and plans.”

“As I reflect on my two years at WashU, my predominant emotion is gratitude … I’m feeling truly prepared (and so excited!) to start my PhD this fall.”

“Wherever I end up, I know the education WashU Classics provided me will be indispensable. I can confidently say the last two years were among the best of my life, and I’m so grateful to have been part of such a fantastic and supportive community.”

 

PhD students and alumni:

“Being a PhD student is a constant challenge, but one that has led to an enormous personal and academic growth. I am extremely grateful for all the support I received from my professors and my classmates.”

 

 

“I was delighted to attend SCS 2024 in Chicago this year as my first ever in-person Classics conference. One of the great standouts of my time at the conference were the many productive panels, roundtables, and discussions about digital endeavors in Classics … it was valuable for me to connect with so many other scholars.”

 

 

“I jumped at the opportunity to teach high school students in WashU’s Summer Pre-College Program because I love outreach and it was a chance to design my very own course … I am especially thankful to the department for letting me teach an expanded version of this very course as a First-Year seminar.”

 

 

“In my new job as a Senior Associate Dean, I lead the strategy for my school, advise the dean, run business development, oversee multiple units, and, when I can, evangelize for the humanities … No matter my role, I’m grateful to be a classicist. I consider there to be no finer training and I will always be grateful for the time I have spent with our extraordinary faculty.”

 

 

“Since earning my PhD, I am working in graduate student affairs … focusing on mentoring initiatives and international student support. It has been incredibly rewarding so far to support grad students in this capacity. I'm enjoying learning a new field while staying plugged into Classics.”