Josephine Shaya

Josephine Shaya is the Marian Senter Nixon Chair in Classical Civilization and Chair of the Department of Classical Studies at the College of Wooster. She holds a Ph.D. in Classical Art and Archaeology from the University of Michigan (2002), alongside earlier degrees from the same institution. Her research focuses on Latin literature, Roman history, and archaeology, with a specialization in monuments, memory, and the history of collecting in antiquity. She currently serves as Museum Review Editor for the American Journal of Archaeology.

Dr. Shaya teaches a wide range of courses including Latin language seminars, studies in ancient history, and independent research tutorials. Her publications analyze ancient collections and monuments within theoretical frameworks drawn from modern museum studies, exploring topics like Roman imperial iconography, Hellenistic temple treasuries, and the curation of archaeological collections in modern institutions.

Her work bridges classical antiquity and contemporary museology, with recent contributions evaluating Spain’s Museo Arqueológico Nacional and theorizing ancient analogs of modern museum practices. She actively participates in scholarly discourse through editorial roles and conference presentations.