Bethany Simpson

Dr. Bethany Simpson is an Assistant Professor of Art History at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar. Her research focuses on ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern art and archaeology with specialization in Greco-Roman Egypt. She directs the Northeast Fayum Lakeshore Project investigating sites like Karanis, examining cultural, environmental, and social dynamics from 300 BCE to 600 CE.

• Ph.D., UCLA Archaeology (2014)
• M.A., UCLA (2008)
• B.A., UC Berkeley (2002)

Her research explores domestic architecture's role in shaping cultural identity, particularly through wall paintings and religious imagery. Current projects include monographs on Greco-Roman Egyptian wall paintings and social networks in Late Roman Karanis. She has received funding from the Rust Family Foundation for archaeological work in Egypt's Fayum region.

Dr. Simpson has participated in major conferences including the Archaeological Institute of America meetings and the Getty Research Institute's programs. Her work bridges archaeological fieldwork with digital humanities through projects like 3D documentation of ancient settlements.