I’m originally from the North West of Ireland, but have spent much of my adult life in the United States and Canada working or as a graduate student. I’ve worked in places from Silicon Valley during Web 1.0 to the University of British Columbia as a professor.
After a year’s leave of absence so I could return to Ireland to be closer to family during a difficult family moment, I’m now spending a sabbatical year completing an M. Phil in Digital Cultures and Humanities at Trinity College, Dublin. You can see most of my recent work experience below, but before I did my PhD at the University of Southern California I worked for companies in Silicon Valley in the days of Web 1.0, I wrote catalogues, sales, and financial literature as well as a great deal of other material for a range of audiences.
Writing
I’ve done a great deal of writing on different subjects – there are tabs on the main page that take you to my open access source books and to my academic writing. But I’ve also written grant applications, catalogues, book proposals, sales letters, financial literature and more.
Communication
I like to talk about many things, and especially some of the less well-known parts of Roman society, like magic, ghosts, and the like. Some places I’ve given papers: University of Oslo, University of Pittsburgh, Princeton University, UC Berkeley. Though my favourite talks have always been given at the UBC Learning Exchange in the DTES in Vancouver – a wonderful place with wonderful clients.
Teaching
As you can see from below I’ve also done a great deal of teaching to college and secondary/high school aged students and to adult learners. If you’re interested in seeing syllabi and assignments and list of courses click here.
Volunteering
For 14 years I volunteered in the kitchen of WiSH, a drop in centre for women in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. The women of WiSH are wonderful and I loved every minute of my time there. I also learned how to prepare food like a pro in their kitchens.
A selection of my work experience:
Assistant/Associate Professor, Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies, University of British Columbia
(2007 – 2022)
I’ve taught large lecture courses with over 100 students (Greek and Roman mythology, Roman spectacles, Roman army); smaller subject courses (magic and witchcraft in the Greek and Roman world, unRoman Romans (on outgroups and difference in ancient Rome), Latin; and graduate seminars in digital humanities and the ancient world.
I also taught in Arts One for two years – this is an intensive program in reading and writing, where professors work with the same small group throughout the year.
I won the Killam Teaching Prize at UBC – a great honour as you have to be nominated by students.
Interim Director of the Media and Graphics Interdisciplinary Centre (2014-2015), University of British Columbia
MAGIC was a research lab in the Faculty of Applied Science. My work there included overseeing researchers and connecting with those wishing to create new digital tools across campus. One of the projects I was involved with helping launch is an augmented reality app for a Bronze Age site in Cyprus, if you’re interested in seeing the sort of work this lab – now replaced – made possible.
Latin Teacher, Harvard-Westlake School
(2004-7)
Harvard-Westlake is an independent secondary/high school in Los Angeles. I loved my time there as it both fulfilled my love of sharing Latin with truly wonderful students, and allowed me to also share some other subjects like Irish/Gaeilge with a small group of students who otherwise would have no chance to try out the language.
Instructor, University of California, Los Angeles, Extension Program
(2005-7)
This is UCLA’s evening class/adult education program. I taught Latin, Women in antiquity, and warfare in the Greek and Roman worlds (the last was a course I proposed and created). Teaching such a wide variety of adults was pure joy – I even got to meet someone who did graphics for Rome: Total War and an accountant for the film The 300.
Employment before my PhD includes: Office of the Vice President, Stanford University (assistant)
siobhanmcelduff 