معرفی
Richard Last serves as Associate Professor in Cultural Studies and Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at Trent University since 2017, following a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at York University (2015-2017). His academic journey spans interdisciplinary training in religious studies and ancient history across three major Canadian institutions.
His educational foundation includes:
- BA in Religion (York University)
- MA in Ancient History (McMaster University)
- PhD in Religious Studies (University of Toronto)
Last's research pioneers intersections between ancient religious practices, social structures, and contemporary political theory. He investigates non-normative speech phenomena (demon possession, magical formulas, disfluency) within Roman imperial contexts while analyzing voluntary associations' social capital. His distinctive approach bridges classical philology with modern political discourse through the 'preternatural in the United States' research stream, revealing enduring patterns in how societies negotiate supernatural claims.
Analysis of his 11 recent publications (2020-2025) shows concentrated output in religious studies (7 articles), epigraphy (5), and social history of antiquity (9), with increasing methodological sophistication in combining textual and material evidence. Key journals include Harvard Theological Review and Journal of Biblical Literature, reflecting disciplinary leadership.
His principal recognition includes:
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015-2017)
Last currently directs an SSHRC Insight Development Grant project on non-normative speech while co-authoring the fourth volume of Greco-Roman Associations. His collaborative network spans York University (Harland), University of Toronto (Kloppenborg), and international scholars through multi-author volumes. Though student supervision details aren't public, his active research program suggests graduate mentorship in cultural studies and ancient history.
Embedded in Trent's academic community through Lady Eaton College, Last contributes to cultural studies without a formal laboratory structure, instead collaborating through research centers focused on Mediterranean antiquity and early Christianity.
