Yurie Hong

Dr. Yurie Hong is Associate Professor of Classics and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she also serves as a dedicated educator and mentor. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a B.A. from UCLA. Her interdisciplinary work bridges classical antiquity with contemporary social issues, particularly in the areas of gender, reproduction, and civic responsibility.

• Ph.D., University of Washington, Seattle
• M.A., University of Washington, Seattle
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Her research focuses on ancient Greek representations of pregnancy, childbirth, and gender roles, exploring how these themes inform both ancient and modern identities. She is particularly interested in how ancient medical and literary texts conceptualize the maternal-fetal relationship and how motherhood was experienced by women of different social statuses in classical Athens. Her teaching reflects this interdisciplinary engagement, connecting Greek literature and historiography to modern questions of trauma, identity, and justice.

Dr. Hong’s scholarly work spans ancient medicine, mythology, gender studies, and pedagogy. Her recent publications examine topics such as gender violence in antiquity, the intersection of biology and classical studies, and the relevance of ancient democracy to modern civic life. She emphasizes narrative analysis and close reading, especially in original Greek texts, to foster deep student engagement.

Among her notable recognitions is her role as Chair of the 2017 Nobel Conference, highlighting her leadership in academic discourse. She is also deeply committed to social justice, leading community initiatives on inclusion and democratic values.

Dr. Hong advises numerous students, supervising honors theses and capstone projects. She has collaborated across disciplines, notably with Biology, through the Möbius Initiative, to integrate classical and scientific perspectives on reproduction. Her mentorship extends beyond the classroom into community activism and civic education.

She is actively involved in building interdisciplinary connections across campus and in the wider community, emphasizing that ideas must take root in individuals to effect real-world change. Her work exemplifies the transformative power of the humanities in addressing contemporary challenges.