I am currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Virginia, writing my dissertation on ancient Greek etymology in the Hellenistic period. Before coming to UVA, I earned my M.A. in Greek and Latin at Florida State University, and my B.A. in Classics and Art History at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. I am a certified in TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language), and I previously taught English at several universities in and around Shanghai, China.

• Ph.D. in Classics (in progress), University of Virginia;

• M.A. in Classics (Greek and Latin), Florida State University;

• B.A. in Classics and Art History, Trinity College (Hartford, Connecticut)

In my dissertation, tentatively titled ‘How Shall I Sing of You? Divine Etymology in the Hellenistic Period’, I discuss the Hellenistic Greeks’ wide-ranging attempts to ‘etymologize’ or uncover the true and hidden mean of their gods’ names. By examining diverse authors, genres, and disciplines, I aim to provide a comprehensive overview of Hellenistic intellectual and artistic culture. In my work, I ultimately aim to show how the Hellenistic Greeks adopted etymology as a means not only of theorizing but also of praising the divine.

My dissertation points to my broader interests in ancient Greek etymology, linguistic theory, scholarship, and literary criticism, as well as religion and theology. Furthermore, I am interested in many aspects of Hellenistic intellectual culture, including symposia, poetics contests and competitions, and the activities of the Library and Mouseion. Finally, much of my work focuses on the Hellenistic reception of archaic and classical literature, especially the legacy of Plato not only as a philosopher but also as a literary paradigm and model for the scholar-poet.