Jon Frey

Jon Frey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with the College of Arts and Letters. He holds a BA from The Ohio State University and MA/PhD from UC Berkeley. His research focuses on classical archaeology, spoliation in late antiquity, and the interplay between early travelers' accounts and modern archaeological practices. He leads the Ohio State University Excavations at Isthmia and organizes annual study abroad programs in Greece.

Education:

• BA in Ancient History and Classics, The Ohio State University
• MA and PhD in Classical Archaeology, University of California, Berkeley

Research emphasizes architectural reuse (spolia), Byzantine fortifications, and the social dimensions of material culture. Recent work explores how early travelers' observations shape contemporary archaeological agendas. His excavations at Isthmia and Crete apply geophysical and digital methods to ancient sites.

Key contributions include studies on Pausanias' influence, Roman fortification aesthetics, and digitization of archaeological records. His fieldwork integrates 3D imaging and GIS for spatial analysis of sacred spaces and fortifications.

Teaching covers classical art, mythology, and archaeology. Current projects investigate circular economies in antiquity and subaltern perspectives in fortress studies. He coordinates interdisciplinary collaborations through the ARCS Project, advancing digitized record analysis.

Labs/Teams: Leads Ohio State University Excavations at Isthmia, directs MSU's Greece study abroad program, and collaborates on the ARCS Project.