Denise Demetriou

Denise Demetriou is the Gerry and Jeannie Ranglas Chair in Ancient Greek History at the University of California San Diego's Department of History. She holds affiliations with the Classical Studies Program and the Center for Hellenic Studies, serving as its director (2016-2020) and co-director (2022-2026). Her research focuses on Mediterranean interconnectedness, particularly Phoenician and Greek interactions, migration impacts, and material culture. She teaches undergraduate/graduate courses on ancient Greek history and contributes to Revelle College's Humanities Program.

Education: Ph.D. in Classics from Johns Hopkins University (2005), preceded by teaching at Michigan State University. Her work integrates archaeology, epigraphy, and historiography to explore cultural exchanges. Major publications include Phoenicians Among Others (OUP 2023) and Negotiating Identity (CUP 2012), supported by prestigious fellowships.

Research emphasizes migrant agency in ancient societies, religious syncretism in emporia, and technological anxieties in classical thought. Current projects address ancient perspectives on technological development and humanism. Awards include grants from the Center for Hellenic Studies and Getty Research Institute.

• Directed major research initiatives on Mediterranean migration patterns
• Co-led American School of Classical Studies summer seminars
• Edited volumes on ancient artifacts and cultural narratives

Lab/Team affiliations include collaborative work with the Center for Hellenic Studies and interdisciplinary projects on material culture. Her work bridges archaeology, history, and classical philology to reframe understandings of ancient globalization.