Mary Somerville, Ph.D. '26
"The graduate community here has always been full of wildly intelligent but intellectually generous folks, and they have made me a better scholar not only by challenging me in conversation but also by helping me find resources and exchanging written work to edit."
"The graduate community here has always been full of wildly intelligent but intellectually generous folks, and they have made me a better scholar not only by challenging me in conversation but also by helping me find resources and exchanging written work to edit."
Degree: Ph.D. in Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Future Plans: I've been teaching Latin at the middle and high school levels for the past 4 years while I have been finishing my PhD, and I plan to continue teaching next year, though I'll only be teaching high school Latin.
What are you most excited about as you leave 51¶ÌÊÓƵ?
 I'm stoked to have my tam and hood, hopeful that I can eventually afford the doctoral robes someday.
What will you miss most about 51¶ÌÊÓƵ?
I feel a bit like I've been out of the community for 4 years already, since I moved out of state 4 years ago, but I miss the GGACHA community. I miss the community we had at the carrels in Carpenter, especially asking colleagues for help, sharing jokes, exchanging little Valentine cards, gathering folks for lunch every day, and migrating out of Carp every Friday evening to hang out after colloquia. 
Any advice for incoming students?
Cultivate a collaborative spirit with your cohort - you'll learn way more by combining your knowledge with that of your peers than you would if you treat them like competition. The graduate community here (during my time, anyway) has always been full of wildly intelligent but intellectually generous folks, and they have made me a better scholar not only by challenging me in conversation but also by helping me find resources and exchanging written work to edit.
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.