George Baroud

George Baroud is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His work bridges classical scholarship and modern critical theory, focusing on Roman historiography, rhetoric, and cultural memory. He holds a PhD from NYU (2015) and previously taught at Emerson College and NYU’s Liberal Studies program. His research explores how ancient historians like Tacitus crafted immersive narratives to shape historical understanding, with implications for contemporary media and historiography. He also engages with Arabic-Islamic classical traditions and documents archaeological heritage in Lebanon through photography.

• Education: BA, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2008); PhD, NYU (2015)
• Key Roles: DAAD Fellow at Humboldt University (2013-14); Postdoctoral Fellow at NYU (pre-Emerson)
• Photography Projects: 'All That Remains' documents endangered classical sites in Lebanon; 'Siberian Summer' explores multicultural Siberia

His research integrates ancient and modern theories of presence (enargeia) to argue that Tacitus’ Annals deliberately evokes emotional engagement to convey historical truth. Current projects include examining intersections between philosophy, science, and history in Roman thought, and challenging Eurocentric narratives by highlighting Middle Eastern contributions to classical heritage.

Baroud’s publications span Brill, Cambridge University Press, De Gruyter, and the Tacitus Encyclopedia. He advocates for a global humanities approach, teaching courses that juxtapose Greco-Roman traditions with African, Asian, and Middle Eastern perspectives.