News & Updates

Congratulations to our Class of 2020 Graduates!

Watch a special message to the class of 2020 from Professor David Leitao, Department of Classics chair.

Infusing Ancient Lit with Hip-Hop to Create an Epic Mashup

"Ancient Epic Tales," a class taught at SFSU by Prof. Alexandra Pappas, Assistant Professor and Raoul Bertrand Chair in Classics, breathes new life into Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" and Virgil’s "Aeneid" by exploring the similarities between the classics and contemporary hip-hop and pop music.  Please visit http://news.sfsu.edu/news-story/infusing-ancient-lit-hip-hop-create-epic-mashup to read an interview with Prof. Pappas regarding the connections between the two artistic forms.

Eta Sigma Phi induction

On Friday, December 11, The Department of Classics was pleased to induct 20 students into Eta Sigma Phi.  This induction ceremony was the first of SFSU's newly created chapter of the Eta Sigma Phi, the Honorary Society for Classical Studies.

The students inducted into Eta Sigma Phi along with faculty advisors, Profs. McIntosh and Pappas.

Thanasis Maskaleris (1930-2017)

We are sad to announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Thanasis Maskaleris.

Students Head on to Ph.D. Programs

Four students have been accepted, with full funding, to doctoral programs in classics this fall. Ian Tewksbury (Stanford), Christy Schirmer (University of Texas at Austin), Michael Moore (University of Chicago), and Alice Chapman (University of Buffalo).

Latin teaching credential

On November 10, Tuesday, from 12:30 – 2:30, the Graduate College of Education hosted a recruiting session for undergraduate students interested in teaching careers. 70 Metro undergraduate students in their first semester at SF State, as well as upper division transfer students from community colleges were invited to attend, and gather information on single-subject teaching credential options. After a brief panel on GCOE credential programs, there were break-out rooms sorted by department. Classics participated in the Secondary Education room. Our students – undergrad, grad, and some in the College of Education – came along, set up the best table in the room (without doubt), and were available to promote and inform prospective and interested future teachers of Classics.

Undergraduate Classics students Will Chadwick and Sarah Mabie with graduate students Serena Crosson, Kerry Gray and Leah Schocket

Will Chadwick and Sarah Mabie

11th Bertrand Lecturer Announced

Joseph Farrell, Professor of Classics at the University of Pennsylvania, is scheduled to give the 11th annual Raoul Bertrand Lecture in Classics on November 18, 2015.

Scholarship Winners Announced

The department is pleased to announce this year’s scholarship winners. The Richard Trapp Scholarship is awarded to Samantha Alfonso (graduate: Latin), Kevin Hunter (undergraduate), and Nick Pukstas (graduate: Greek). Raoul Bertrand Graduate Scholarships were awarded to Meaghan Anderson, Leah Schocket, Kimberly Paton, and Nick Pukstas. The Ungaretti Prize was awarded to Alice Chapman (first place) and Kevin Hunter (second place). And the Travel Scholarship was given to Samantha Alfonso and Kevin Hunter.