Leslie Dossey

Leslie Dossey is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Loyola University Chicago. She holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania (1992) and a Ph.D. from Harvard University (1998). Her academic work centers on the social and cultural transformations of late antiquity, with regional expertise in North Africa and thematic focus on gender, religion, and material culture.

Research Focus

Professor Dossey investigates understudied aspects of daily life in late antiquity, including:

• The socio-cultural dynamics of sleep practices
• Gender constructions and domestic violence
• Peasant societies under imperial rule
• Archaeological interpretations of religious change

Her methodology integrates textual analysis (e.g., Patristic sermons) with material evidence to reveal grassroots historical experiences.

Awards and Recognition

• Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome (2000-2001)
• Dumbarton Oaks Junior Fellowship for Byzantine studies (1996-1997)

Academic Service

She served as Undergraduate Programs Director (2004-2009), Faculty Advisor to Phi Alpha Theta honor society, and member of Loyola's Academic Council. Her teaching spans Roman history, Islamic civilizations, and archaeological sites like Pompeii.