As we approach the end of Spring 2021, the Department of Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies would like to recognize our graduating seniors. We are incredibly proud of this group. Despite the many challenges they have faced during the past year, their flexibility, perseverance, and commitment to their education have carried them through.
Read about some of our seniors who share their experience and advice below!
Asher Courtemanche
Bachelor of Arts
Majors: Classical Humanities, Latin, English
What kinds of academic experiences did you enjoy most during college?
I love being challenged. Easily my favorite moments were taking upper-level Latin courses, English seminars, and any course involving a lengthy and thoughtful essay. But I also loved being able to go to lectures from so many guest speakers! I think my favorite was almost two years ago now, about serial killers in antiquity.
Is there something within your Classics experience that you enjoyed best?
Since I also major in English, it was always a blessing to be able to bring my classical knowledge to a different realm of literature—studying classics alongside the Renaissance deepened my love for literature tenfold. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed my time in my independent study with Professor Dressler!
Any advice for continuing students or something you wish you’d known?
As a transfer student and someone who added a major in their last year of undergrad—you’re never too late to develop new passions! Also, check your emails! There are so many opportunities out there waiting for you.
Future plans?
In the fall I’ll be applying to both Classics and English graduate programs, enjoying the bittersweet goodbye to the UW-Madison Classics department and faculty I’ve loved so dearly.
Amol Goyal
Bachelor of Science
Majors: Classical Humanities, Economics, Mathematics
What kinds of academic experiences did you enjoy most during college?
The best way of learning literature from antiquity, in my view, is through discussion. I really value talking at extreme length with faculty and peers about ancient Greek and Roman texts and applying them to our everyday experiences in college. After this, we would go back into the historical time in which the text we were studying was written, to investigate where these applications to our present-day lives could succeed and how they may fail. Eventually, we would develop a more comprehensive understanding of the lived experiences of disenfranchised social groups in antiquity. Not only this, but we would also compare our uniquely developed knowledge about history with scholarly interpretations of them from the past three or so decades. This iterative process of learning makes the professional experience of doing Classics research so personal, in a way that no other discipline can.
Is there something within your Classics experience that you enjoyed best?
I deeply miss studying literature describing etiologies focused on origin. From Hesiod’s Theogony (which I learned with Dr. Dressler) to Ovid’s Metamorphoses (which I learned of through Dr. Pandey), there is something uniquely refreshing about the explosion of a (quiet or disorderly) compact mass of matter to explain the politics of those authors’ times. This type of writing really makes them timeless for a present-day audience. Every time I opened my Classics homework, it felt like I was stepping into a parallel Classical universe that I could escape into whenever I wanted!
Any advice for continuing students or something you wish you’d known?
Take Greek or Latin language classes early. It is completely doable, even if you are a freshman! Courses such as this are smaller in size so that you are guaranteed to get the attention you deserve. The benefits to learning Greek and Latin go well beyond historical research – you become a better legal scholar, you can learn present-day medical terms easier, and you will become the life of any dinner party you want.
Future plans?
I am going to take some time off after my undergraduate degree to fully determine my professional interests. No matter what, though, my career will have something to do with social justice, historical preservation, and systems-change.
Aly Hamrick
Bachelor of Arts
Major: History
Certificates: Classical Humanities, European Studies
What kinds of academic experiences did you enjoy most during college?
Although it’s not strictly academic, I loved showing up a little early to lecture and having the opportunity to chat with professors. They often have such interesting stories and really exciting experiences, and I really enjoyed forming relationships with them. It also didn’t hurt to have those connections when you maybe did need extra support in a class, needed someone to run ideas when completing a project, or wanted career advice later down the line.
Is there something within your Classics experience that you enjoyed best?
I had the opportunity to explore some really special materials that are kept here at UW with a few of my Classics classes. I remember that I had multiple visits the Special Collections in Memorial Library and the Chazen Museum of Art, where we got to actually hold and examine coins from ancient Rome and pottery and art from Greece. The Classics Department really knows how to access the resources we have on campus. It made me feel really lucky to be at UW-Madison and have professors and teaching assistants who really valued those out-of-class experiences.
Any advice for continuing students or something you wish you’d known?
Never be afraid to explore new things. It sounds cliché, but it really is true. UW is a really, really unique place and has so many opportunities for enrichment that go beyond the lecture hall. Talk to your professors, go to office hours, and – most importantly – ask anything. Professors, advisers, peers, etc. – they’re all here to cultivate not only your academic and intellectual progress, but your personal growth as well. If you want to explore something, ask about it! You’ll never regret exploring the paths that you uncover by knocking on a professors door and asking a simple question.
Future plans?
After graduation, I will be attending graduate school at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. I’ll be pursuing a Master of Secondary Education with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction in History and Social Science. If you’re ever in Chicago or looking for opportunities here, please reach out!
Alicia Lawson
Bachelor of Arts
Majors: Anthropology, History
Certificates: Classical Studies, Archeology, European Studies
What kinds of academic experiences did you enjoy most during college?
I enjoyed interacting with my fellow students the most both inside and outside of class. It was amazing being able to meet and befriend a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds and interests, who I might not have met otherwise.
Is there something within your Classics experience that you enjoyed best?
I was fortunate to study abroad in Italy in Summer 2018 through the UW Classics program. This trip was my first experience with CANES, and it impacted me enough that I made the ancient world the main focus of my academic career for my last three years of undergrad. Without this opportunity, I would have had a very different college experience. It allowed me to learn about the world and myself at the same time.
Any advice for continuing students or something you wish you’d known?
STUDY ABROAD! It does not matter if it is only a three-week trip or for an entire semester. This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at UW-Madison, and I highly recommend if people have a chance to do so, take it!
Future plans?
I will be pursuing my MA in Anthropology and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln this fall.
Bailey Nandory
Bachelor of Arts
Majors: Classical Humanities, English
Certificate: European Studies
What kinds of academic experiences did you enjoy most during college?
I loved having the opportunity to learn so many languages (ancient and modern) here at UW. The CANES ancient language classes are so small that they turn into very close-knit, academically rewarding experiences. I also love the small discussion-based classes, like many of my upper-level English, Philosophy, and CANES courses.
Is there something within your Classics experience that you enjoyed best?
The people in our department. It’s impossible for me to decide on a “favorite” professor because all the CANES faculty/staff are brilliant scholars and instructors with such a passion for teaching Classics. Same with my classmates, but the other students in my Greek 305/306 class are particularly outstanding. Greek started to really “click” in Greek 305 with Professor Brockliss, so I’d say the moment I became genuinely comfortable reading Plato was my favorite Classics experience.
Any advice for continuing students or something you wish you’d known?
Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to not know something. Chances are, if you’re confused then someone else is too, so it’s always worth it to ask! Oh, and start learning those languages early in your college career 🙂
Future plans?
I am taking gap year to participate in AmeriCorps, teaching/mentoring at an underserved K-12 school, while applying to graduate school.
Dylan Witte
Bachelor of Science (CALS)
Major: Life Science Communication
Certificates: Classical Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies
What kinds of academic experiences did you enjoy most during college?
The academic experience that I enjoyed the most was being able to take a wide variety of classes that allowed me to explore my academic interests.
Is there something within your Classics experience that you enjoyed best?
I was really excited to see that many of my Classics classes crossed topics with some of my Gender and Women’s Studies courses, which I really liked seeing my interests intersect.
Any advice for continuing students or something you wish you’d known?
Honestly just take the courses that insight the most intrigue and trust yourself and the work you are doing.
Future plans?
I am going to be moving to Milwaukee, where I will be working for AmeriCorps-City Year, in which I will be working in a Milwaukee school district for the next year.
Majors
Holly Defnet: Bachelor of Arts; Majors in Classical Humanities, Latin, History
Dominick Craig Gyland: Bachelor of Science; Majors in Classical Humanities, Anthropology; Certificate in Archaeology
Miranda Victoria Halsey: Bachelor of Arts; Major in Classical Humanities; Certificates in Archaeology, Art History, European Studies
Marina Orozco: Bachelor of Arts; Majors in Classical Humanities, English; Certificate in European Studies
Madeline Elizabeth Rider: Bachelor of Arts; Majors in Classical Humanities, Religious Studies; Certificate in Environmental Studies
Duncan Slagle: Bachelor of Arts; Majors in Classical Humanities, English
Certificates
Aina Athirah Binti Ab Latip: Bachelor of Business Administration; Majors in Actuarial Science, Risk Management and Insurance; Certificate in Classical Studies
Natalie Rose Binversie: Bachelor of Science (CALS); Major in Genetics and Genomics; Certificates in Classical Studies, Criminal Justice
Olivia Grace Chavez: Bachelor of Arts; Major in International Studies; Certificates in Classical Studies, Digital Studies, European Studies
Terry Cleveland Cool, Jr: Bachelor of Arts; Majors in Legal Studies, Political Studies; Certificate in Classical Studies
Kristen Coticchia: Bachelor of Science (EDU); Major in Health Promotion and Health Equity; Certificate in Classical Studies
Maria Rose Ekern: Bachelor of Arts; Majors in Communication Arts, Political Science; Certificates in Classical Studies, Criminal Justice, Gender and Women’s Studies
Emily Kathleen Frey: Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Certificate in Classical Studies
Eva Florence Gretz: Bachelor of Science; Major in Biology; Certificates in Classical Studies, Global Health
Grace Ezmeralda Joyce: Bachelor of Arts; Major in History; Certificate in Classical Studies
Eliza Katherine Kapinski: Bachelor of Science; Major in Neurobiology; Certificate in Classical Studies
Maris Emma Keenlance: Bachelor of Arts; Major in Economics; Certificate in Classical Studies
Karlee Marie Kimberling: Bachelor of Science; Major in Astronomy; Certificate in Classical Studies
Davis Kwinn Klund: Bachelor of Science; Major in Economics; Certificates in Classical Studies, European Studies
Jerry Kou: Bachelor of Science; Majors in Computer Science, History, Mathematics; Certificates in Classical Studies, European Studies
Haley Anne Mades: Bachelor of Arts; Major in English; Certificates in Classical Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies
Daniel Jordan Schaefer: Bachelor of Arts; Major in History; Certificates in Classical Studies, European Studies
Rose Christina Shefka: Bachelor of Science; Major in Neurobiology, Honors in the Liberal Arts; Certificates in Classical Studies, Health and Humanities
Tia Vasen: Bachelor of Arts; Majors in Psychology, Theatre and Drama; Certificates in Classical Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies
We’ll celebrate our graduates on April 29 – see full program.