Do good work

Be good company

RACING THE CLASSICS is a cohort-based fellowship that aims to support practitioners in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies (and adjacent fields) as they navigate the challenges of the discipline, the academy, & this historical moment

Summer Seminar

Racing the Classics began as a conference series. The summer seminar takes up the mantle of that series by inviting fellows to gather in-person for intensive, sustained conversation.

The ten-day seminar is intended to stimulate research and foster intellectual camaraderie amongst the cohort. Sessions will cover issues animating the subfields that comprise Classics as well those germane to research, professionalization, and community building — on and off campus. Fellows will also develop a mentoring plan in conjunction with the seminar leaders and interact with the academic team members.

In 2025, the Summer Seminar will take place between August 4-15.

Academic Year Practicum

The academic year practicum aims to expand the scope of the summer seminar. Monthly online cohort meetings led by the academic team will feature guest appearances by members of the field, artists with an interest in ancient Greek and Roman cultures, administrators with a different vantage point of the academic landscape, and experts in related areas of interest (e.g. museums, non-profit organizations). While maintaining prior connections, fellows will be able to make new ones that can help them think about the contours of their work and their careers.

photo of a dinner

Cohort Cena

Each January, the cohort will gather for an in-person meal during the annual meeting of the Society for Classical Studies to touch base with one another and to celebrate our individual and collective accomplishments.

FAQs

  • The fellowship aims to equip scholars in Classics and closely related fields to produce innovative work and to chart a sustainable, well-supported career that involves scholarship in all its forms. They will be afforded mentorship opportunities from the program directors, the academic team members, and, most importantly, from their cohort peers.

    Fellows will also receive:

    $5.000 stipend;

    Travel, lodgings, and partial board (10 lunches, 4 dinners) during the in-person summer seminar;

    and Registration for the SCS Annual meeting during the fellowship year and dinner with their cohort.

  • The in-person summer seminar will function much like an advanced/graduate-level seminar during the academic year: leaving two days for travel, fellows will attend 4 hours of seminar over 10 total days, one on one hour of mentoring, and 2 (optional) group dinners each week in order to socialize with other fellows. During the week, they may also elect to make appointments with academic team members for further feedback and support. Fellows can expect reading and reflection assignments for each day of seminar.

    Fellows must attend the seminar in its entirety. Fellows have the intervening weekend (August 8-9) free.

    During the academic year (October-May), the practicum will meet online once per month. Each fellow will have an additional bi-monthly mentoring meeting with the program directors.

    In January of their fellowship year, fellows will be expected to attend an in-person dinner during the Society for Classical Studies annual meeting.

  • Those who are Ph.D. candidates (also known as ABD) and degree holders (who have earned a Ph.D. in the last three years) are eligible to apply.

  • Applicant degrees (earned or in progress) should be in classics and related fields, including but not limited to ancient history, classical art and archaeology, Biblical and New Testament studies, and early Christian studies.

    Applicants do not have to be currently employed or affiliated with an academic institution to participate.

    Applications from K-12 practitioners are welcome.

  • Applicants should fill out this questionnaire and ask a recommender to submit a confidential letter directly to our administrator on their behalf by June 1st.

  • There will be fellowship cohorts that begin in 2026 and 2027. However, the in-person seminars will always be in the summer months in order not to interfere with most academic degree and employment commitments. The exact dates of those seminars will be posted here.

  • The fellowship will last one year (from admission in June 2025 to the final practicum meeting in May 2026), but cohorts will have opportunities to meet one another and their respective academic team members in the future.

  • Absolutely, you can reapply as long as you remain eligible (3 years post Ph.D.).

  • Please contact the fellowship administrator for more information.

  • Summer seminars will take place on a college campus each year. Upon acceptance, applicants will be given all logistical information.