Alicia Simpson

Alicia Simpson, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Late Antique and Byzantine History at Deree - The American College of Greece, part of The American College of Greece. She has been a faculty member since 2018, teaching courses in Ancient Greek, Byzantine, and Medieval European History. Prior roles include teaching at Koç University, Istanbul, and The Open University of Cyprus, as well as a Research Fellowship at the National Hellenic Research Foundation in Athens.

Her education includes a PhD in Byzantine Studies from King’s College London (2013), an M.A. in Late Antique & Byzantine Studies from King’s College London, an M.A. in Medieval Studies from the University of Bristol, and a B.A. in History from Deree - The American College of Greece.

Professor Simpson’s research focuses on Byzantine literature and culture, with an emphasis on late antique antecedents and interactions with Islamic, Slavic, and Western European neighbors. Current projects include a collaborative study on Byzantine cities in the Balkans from the 9th to 12th centuries. Her work bridges classical traditions and medieval dynamics, examining themes like historiography, cultural exchange, and imperial patronage.

Her recent publications explore topics such as provincial separatism in the 12th century, Byzantine-Hungarian relations, and the reception of classical texts in Byzantium. She has received prestigious fellowships including the Dumbarton Oaks Junior Fellowship, Princeton’s Hellenic Studies Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Humanities award.

• Grants: Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship (2013-2014), Princeton Fellowship (2012), NEH Fellowship (2015)
• Advising: Active mentorship in Byzantine studies through collaborative research projects

She leads a research team exploring Byzantine urban landscapes in the Balkans, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to historical and archaeological evidence. Her work contributes to understanding the region’s cultural and political dynamics during the medieval period.