Beth Severy-Hoven

Beth Severy-Hoven is a Professor of Classics at Macalester College specializing in Roman history, gender studies, and archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean world. Her interdisciplinary scholarship bridges historical analysis with social theory to examine power structures in Roman society.

Her educational background includes:

• AB from Bryn Mawr College (1990), summa cum laude
• MSt from Oxford University (1991)
• PhD from the University of California, Berkeley (1998)

Professor Severy-Hoven's research centers on the intersection of gender, sexuality, and political power in ancient Italy, with particular expertise in imperial family dynamics and slavery. Her methodological approach combines textual analysis with archaeological evidence to reconstruct social histories of marginalized groups in the Roman world.

Her publications reveal consistent engagement with pedagogical innovation alongside scholarly rigor, exemplified by her award-winning textbook that transforms Petronius' complex text into accessible learning material while her monograph on Augustus demonstrates how familial relationships shaped imperial governance structures.

She has earned significant recognition for teaching excellence:

• Pedagogy Book Prize (2015) from the Classical Association of the Middle West and South
• Jack and Marty Rossman Award for Excellence in Teaching (2016)

At Macalester, Professor Severy-Hoven teaches advanced courses including "Women, Gender & Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome" and "Roman World," develops Greek/Latin language curriculum, and directs immersive January programs in Rome and Egypt that connect classroom learning with archaeological sites and cultural contexts.