Ronald Mellor

Ronald Mellor is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), within the School of Social Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from Princeton University (1968) and has been affiliated with UCLA since 1976. His research focuses on Greek and Roman history, ancient religion, and classical historiography, with notable publications including The Annals of Tacitus and Augustus and the Creation of the Roman Empire. He has served as Chair of the UCLA History Department (1992–1997) and as Principal Investigator of the California History-Social Science Project (CHSSP), which earned the American Historical Association Beveridge Award in 2000.

Mellor’s academic career includes fellowships at institutions such as the American Academy in Rome and the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies. He has also contributed to educational initiatives like the World in Ancient Times series for middle-schoolers. Retiring from full-time teaching in 2013, he continues to teach as a Research Professor, and the Arcadia Foundation established the Ronald Mellor Professorship in Ancient History in his honor.

Key research interests include Roman historiography, ancient religious practices, and the classical tradition’s modern interpretations. His work bridges academic scholarship and public education, emphasizing historical narratives and primary sources. Awards reflect his contributions to both research and pedagogy, including fellowships and the Beveridge Award for the CHSSP’s K-12 initiatives.