Marissa Stevens

Dr. Marissa Stevens is a Lecturer in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), specializing in Egyptology with particular focus on the Third Intermediate Period's social history, funerary practices, and Achaemenid-era cultural intersections. She completed her Ph.D. (2018) with a dissertation on 'Shaping Identities in the Context of Crisis: The Social Self Reflected in 21st Dynasty Funerary Papyri', followed by a C.Phil. (2015) at UCLA and an M.A. in Social Sciences (2011) from the University of Chicago.

• Research Pillars: Third Intermediate Period materiality, Achaemenid political strategies in Egypt, social identity through funerary iconography, comparative ancient civilizations, Theban priesthood dynamics
• Academic Contributions: 15+ peer-reviewed publications, including book chapters on Persian influences and comparative studies with Han China, 2016 ARCE Best Student Paper award, and multiple conference presentations across four continents
• Digital Humanities: Co-authored the UCLA Archaeological Gazetteer of Iran, integrating digital technologies into ancient site documentation
• Awards & Funding: Recipient of prestigious Mellon, Keck, and Steinmetz grants, with over $50,000 in research support
• Comparative Frameworks: Pioneering comparative analysis between New Kingdom Egypt and Han China's state structures, hydraulic systems, and afterlife conceptions