Every spring, the Graduate Group in Ancient History at Penn hosts a week-long visit by a distinguished ancient historian, made possible by a gift by Walter Woodburn Hyde (1870-1966, Professor of Greek and Ancient History at Penn 1910-1940). During his/her stay, the Hyde Lecturer teaches several graduate seminars, meets with graduate students individually and in smaller groups, and delivers the formal Hyde Lecture.
Sheila Ager is Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo and Director of the Waterloo Institute for Hellenistic Studies. In her research, Professor Ager focuses on Greek history in the Classical and Hellenistic period. She has published widely on interstate relations and peaceful conflict resolution in the ancient world, the history and structure of dynastic rule, and the role of royal women in Hellenistic dynasties. Since 2019, she has served as Dean of Arts at the University of Waterloo. For more information on Professor Ager and her research, see here. Professor Ager was already scheduled to be the Hyde Lecturer in Spring 2020, but her visit had to be canceled because of the pandemic. She has kindly agreed to join us remotely in March 2021 for what will be the first Hyde visit online, to be followed by an in-person visit as soon as the circumstances allow it.