Mallory Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. '26
"Both my cohort-mate and my faculty advisors were fundamental parts of my 51¶ÌÊÓƵ experience, and I didn’t realize quite how much you need to find your people. Finding the right people to work with and hang with can really make or break your experience. "
"Both my cohort-mate and my faculty advisors were fundamental parts of my 51¶ÌÊÓƵ experience, and I didn’t realize quite how much you need to find your people. Finding the right people to work with and hang with can really make or break your experience. "
Degree: Ph.D. in Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Future plans: I have a one-year Visiting Assistant Professor position at the University of Puget Sound beginning in Fall 2026. 
What are you most excited about as you leave 51¶ÌÊÓƵ?
I’m really excited to teach a new variety of classes and authors, hopefully including my first-ever self-designed course, which is a fantastic opportunity. I’m also very much looking forward to exploring the Pacific Northwest, which is such an amazing region. 
Is there any class, moment, or professor that was especially memorable or impactful? Tell us about it and why.
My time as a Teaching Assistant at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ was my first real experience teaching college-level courses, and I learned so much from both the professors and the students in those classrooms. I’ll always be building on that foundation as I continue to teach at other institutions going forward. 
I got to co-curate two exhibitions during my time as a grad student at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ, and that was a really amazing experience that a lot of classicists don’t get to have. It was so fascinating to discover how many incredible objects our Special Collections department has and to work with all the wonderful staff there, as well as my colleagues in Archaeology and History of Art. That kind of hands-on interdisciplinary work was so special and rewarding. 
What will you miss most about 51¶ÌÊÓƵ?
I’ll really miss Carpenter Library, both as a working space and as a hub of connection with my friends and colleagues. In addition to being a beautiful space with wonderful resources, it’s one of the only spaces on campus where I could regularly connect with my fellow graduate students on a daily basis. 
Any advice for incoming students?
Ask your peers and older students for help and clarification when you need it, especially if you have specific questions about your department or program. They’re great resources and always really happy to help. 
What about your 51¶ÌÊÓƵ experience was essential, but you didn’t expect?
The people. Both my cohort-mate and my faculty advisors were fundamental parts of my 51¶ÌÊÓƵ experience, and I didn’t realize quite how much you need to find your people. Finding the right people to work with and hang with can really make or break your experience. 
Studying Classics at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ
From its earliest days, 51¶ÌÊÓƵ has had an international reputation in classical languages. It was among the first institutions to offer doctorates in classical philology to women in the United States. Today, the College is home to a lively community of graduate students, both women and men, who are interested in various aspects of the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome.