University of Florida

Profile

Year Program Established: 1980

Approximate Number of Students Enrolled (per academic term): 65

Level of Program Offered (and when established):

Major in Modern Greek (through Classics) (2011)
Elective undergraduate courses and a minor in Modern Greek (1980)

Faculty

Robert Wagman, Associate Professor, Classics
Ph.Ds Univeristà di Pisa & Johns Hopkins University

Wagman writes on ancient healing cults and the inscriptions about them, as well as the cult of Pan; he has worked extensively at Epidauros. He is currently doing archaeological work at Isola Tiberina in Rome. He teaches courses on the ancient Greek world, epigraphy, a course on ancient Egypt, and many languages classes, including one on Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Prof. Kostas Kapparis
Associate Professor, Classics & Greek Studies
Ph.D. Glasgow University.

A specialist in ancient oratory and ancient medicine, Kapparis has published extensively on both topics; his most recent book is on abortion in the ancient world. He serves as Associate Director of the Center for Greek Studies and its webmaster. He teaches courses on ancient Greek prose and on modern Greek literature, with an emphasis on subversive poetry and women poets.

Prof. Gonda Van Steen, Cassas Prof. in Greek Studies

Gonda Van Steen studies classical drama, nineteenth and twentieth-century receptions of the classics, and modern Greek intellectual history. Her first book, Venom in Verse: Aristophanes in Modern Greece (PUP, 2000) was awarded the John D. Criticos Prize from the London Hellenic Society. In her book of 2010, Liberating Hellenism from the Ottoman Empire, revolutionary uses of Aeschylus' Persians (1820s) take center stage. She recently published Theatre of the Condemned: Classical Tragedy on Greek Prison Islands (OUP, 2011), which discusses the ancient tragedies that were produced by the political prisoners of the Greek Civil War.

Tom Kostopoulos, Assistant Professor, Greek Studies
Ph.D. University of Wisconsin

Kostopoulos works in Latin, Greek, and modern Greek. With a joint appointment in the Center for European Studies, he offers a course on Greece in the context of the European Community, as well as courses in beginning and advanced modern Greek.

Eleni Bozia, Visiting Lecturer, Classics
Ph.D. University of Florida

Bozia specializes in Imperial Greek and Latin Literature, and Literary and Cultural Theory. She teaches courses on the Greek and Roman world and many language classes.

Emeriti

Karelisa Hartigan, Professor, Classics →
Ph.D. University of Chicago

Hartigan’s research is primarily in ancient Greek literature, especially drama, and the interface between the ancient Greece and the modern world. Her publications include books on Greek drama, ancient Myth and modern advertising, and she is currently working on the role of drama in ancient healing cults and the contemporary hospital. She is co-founder and co-director of the Center for Greek Studies. She teaches Mythology, courses on ancient cities, and Greek drama, and the Greek language at all levels.

Nicholas Kontaridis, Lecturer, Greek Studies
M.ED

After his retirement from a long career with Walt Disney, Mr. Kontaridis taught the modern Greek language sequences for the Center for more than 15 years and created a loyal following of students who took every course he offered. He himself both writes and translates poetry.

Leonidas Polopolus, Professor (ret) Food & Resources Engineering
Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Polopolus came to the University of Florida in 1965 as assistant dean in the Graduate School. He is distinguished in the field of agricultural economics, in teaching, research, and academic administration, as well as in public and professional service. Dr. Polopolus is also a co-founder of the Center for Greek Studies. Although he retired officially in 2000, he continues to actively support the Center's mission.

Supporting Faculty

James Babanikos, Professor, Journalism and Telecommunications
Ph.D. University of Austin.

Babanikos, who joined the faculty of Florida's Department of Telecommunication in 1993, has been working as a writer/director in video and film since 1984 He has produced at least six videos, projects have won a number of awards in various production competitions. Babanikos teaches courses in the production sequence.

Barbara Barletta, Professor Art History
Ph.D. Bryn Mawr

Barletta’s research has centered on Greek art, particularly that produced by the colonists of Southern Italy and Sicily She is currently working on a project using remote sensing to identify the location of an early temple at Sicilian Morgantina, with support from the University of Florida Opportunity Fund. She teaches all the ancient art courses, ranging from Egyptian/Near Eastern through Etruscan/Roman art.

Florin Curta, Associate Professor, History
Ph.D. University of Western Michigan

A specialist and recognized leader in Late Antiquity and Medieval History, Curta has done archaeological field work in addition to his teaching and publications. He has published one book, over thirty articles, with well over a dozen in press. He teaches many courses in Medieval and Byzantine history.

Elias Dinopoulos, Professor, Economics
Ph.D. Columbia University

Dinopoulos is a specialist in International Economics, Economic Growth, Economic Development. His publications range widely; many focus on legal and employment issues of international trade. He teaches courses in international economics, trade and finance.

Mary Ann Eaverly, Associate Professor, Classics
Ph.D. University of Michigan

Eaverly’s publications focus upon archaeology and ancient art, especially sculpture and vase painting. She has published on Greek equestrian statues and the use of color to denote gender and race on Greek vases. She has served as Chair of the Classics Department since 2000 Her teaching includes courses on ancient monuments and archaeological sites.

Panos Pardalos, Professor, Industrial & Systems Engineering
Ph.D. University of Minnesota

Pardalos is a world leading expert in global and combinatorial optimization. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Global Optimization, managing editor of several book series, and a member of the editorial board of ten international journals. He is the author of 7 books and the editor of more than 40 books. He has written numerous articles and developed several well known software packages. His recent research interests include network design problems, optimization in telecommunications, e-commerce, and massive computing.