Research

Ancient Studies Center

The Ancient Studies Center, founded in 2008 by Professor Emeritus William Murray, provides funding and enrichment opportunities for students and scholars studying the ancient Mediterranean world, including western and southern Europe, north Africa, and western and southern Asia. It promotes research from a wide variety of academic fields including ancient history, archaeology, art and architecture, epigraphy, numismatics, papyrology, philology, philosophy, and religious studies. The Ancient Studies Center maintains the Michael Garcia Library in SOC 250. If you would like to peruse the collection, please check out our Librarika.

The Ancient Studies Center maintains a faculty and student email list. If you would like to be added to this list, please contact the director Dr. Jesse Obert. 

The Ancient Studies Center is funded entirely by philanthropic donations. If you would like to support the Center, please follow this link or contact directly the director. Our donors are the heart and soul of our organization — if you have the means, please consider becoming a part of our community. 

 

Associated FAculty

 

Funding Opportunities

The ASC funds students and researchers in a range of endeavors. If you are a USF student planning to carry out research in the Mediterranean or participate in a study abroad program, please contact Dr. Jesse Obert.

Application for Language Training Funding from the Ancient Studies Center (Summer 2026) – Fill out form

The 2025-2026 recipients are: Melanie Wondracek, Emelia Brzakala

Application for Summer Research Funding from the Ancient Studies Center (Summer 2026) – Fill out form

The 2025-2026 recipients are: Madison Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Ryan Hom, Gloria Lopez, Bronte Phillips

 

Sister Organizations at USF and Abroad

- Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx)
- Interdisciplinary Center for Hellenic Studies 
- Tampa Museum of Art
- Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)
- Society for Classical Studies (SCS)
- The Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS)

Cooperating Institution for:
- American School of Classical Studies at Athens
- American Academy of Rome

 

Event Calendar

September 9th 12-1 pm - SOC 254 
Job Market Workshop
This event is primarily intended to help ABD PhD students prepare for the academic job market. If you're thinking about applying for a job in Ancient History, World History to 1500, Classics, Greek, Latin, or any adjacent field, feel free to join us. Everyone is welcome.

September 17th 5-6 pm - SOC 254
Summer Research Symposium 
This event will celebrate and showcase research carried out this summer thanks to the Ancient Studies Research Fellowship and Michael A. Garcia Fellowship for History. Students who received summer funding will give a brief presentation on their work. Everyone is welcome, and snacks will be provided.

September 24th at 6 pm
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) - Tampa Bay Chapter lecture series
CWY 108, University of South Florida Campus, Tampa, hybrid
Beyond the Wall: Discovering the People of Rome’s Northern Frontier
Dr. John D. Wineland  (University of the Cumberlands)

October 22nd at 6 pm
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) - Tampa Bay Chapter lecture series
The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, Florida Southern College Campus, Lakeland, hybrid
Luxury from the Provinces: Reading Morality on the Walls of a Roman Villa
Dr. Andrew Crocker (Florida Southern College)

October TBD
Homerathon 2026
In partnership with the Departments of History and World Languages, the ASC will host a marathon reading of Homer's Odyssey. We have requested to hold this event on steps of the Honors college and are waiting to hear from the administration. We expect it to take 14 hours, so we'll be out there from 7 am. We need volunteers to read in 15-minute blocks, and readers are welcome to use whichever translation they prefer (or even recite it in the original). If you want to reserve a specific time slot, please add your name to ​this form​(anyone with a USF email should be able to do so). Alternatively, feel free to contact me directly and I will add you to the schedule.
Food and drinks will be provided throughout the day.

November 5th at 6 pm
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) - Tampa Bay Chapter lecture series
CWY 108, University of South Florida Campus, Tampa, in-person only
Mirror, Mirror: The Many Lives of an Ancient Greek Wedding Vase
Dr. Sheramy Bundrick (University of South Florida)