Olivia Black, completed her major in Classical Civilization, with a minor in Mediterranean Art & Archaeology, in December 2025. While at Pitt, Olivia joined Eta Sigma Phi Honor Society and earned the Classics Department Travel fellowship, which she put to good use studying abroad through our departmental Pitt in the Classical Mediterranean program in Sicily last year. She describes the Classics department as a “warm environment” that was the “epicenter” of her experience at Pitt. Olivia also served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for “Myth in the Ancient World,” a project which culminated in a double-header of lectures on the indigenous myths of Coyote and on legends of Yggdrasil. Congratulations, Olivia!
Jade Chatman completed a double major in Classical Civilization and Law, Criminal Justice, and Society, in December 2025. Jade says that “Even though I paired it with another major, Classics will always be the one major that I mention first because of my connection to everyone in the department.” While at Pitt, Jade earned a bevy of awards, including the Dean’s list, the Dean’s Perseverance Award, and, most recently, a third place Marshall Writing Prize for their departmental honors thesis, “No Heroes in War: Euripides and His Protest of the Peloponnesian War.” Having also served not only as an Resident Assistant, but also as an active member of student government and Prevention at Pitt, Jade also somehow found time to intern for a district attorney and senator! Jade is currently preparing for the LSAT, law school, and a future as a prosecutor with a focus on domestic violence cases. Congratulations, Jade!
Lily E. Dunne, a May 2026 graduate, is a double major in Classical Languages and Philosophy, and a minor in Classical Civilization. In their time at Pitt, Lily has accrued an array of awards, including an Archival Scholar Research Award for work in Hillman Special Collections Library, the D. Mark Possanza Equity in Classics Fellowship, departmental research and travel fellowships, a Dean’s Curiosity grant, and the dean’s list for the duration of their undergraduate career, and they are also a member of Eta Sigma Phi Honor Society. To add to all this, Lily successfully defended their BPhil thesis, "Plato’s Gendered Dualism: Women and the Body in the Symposium, Phaedrus, and Timaeus,” and they describe this moment as the highlight of their time at Pitt! Lily plans on attending Oxford's Master of Studies program in Ancient Philosophy in Fall 2026, and will begin their PhD in Philosophy at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in the following year. Congratulations, Lily!
Cassidy Hench, a May 2026 graduate, is a Classical Civilization major, with minors in Mediterranean Archaeology and Museum Studies, having completed her degree a year early! While at Pitt, Cassidy has merited the dean’s list every semester and has served as the president of our chapter of Eta Sigma Phi Honor Society. She has also worked extensively with the Undergraduate Art Gallery at Frick and was an intern for the History of Art & Architecture department’s centennial. This semester, she completed her departmental honors thesis, “Reteller or Reshaper? How Bringing Accessibility to Museum Practices Allows for a Deeper Impact: A Case Study on the Presentation of Ancient Mediterranean History,” which has earned her a second place Marshall Writing Prize. In the fall, she plans to pursue a JD at The Ohio State University Moritz School of Law. Congratulations, Cassidy!
Kathryn Hutchinson, a May 2026 graduate, is a double major in Classical Civilization and English Literature, with a certificate in Children's Literature. She has accrued many accomplishments in her time at Pitt, including membership in Eta Sigma Phi Honor Society, third place for the English department’s Carol Kay Memorial Essay Prize and the Susan Lippincott Mack and Chris Mack Merit Scholarship. She has also served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant not once, but twice: for “Ancient Art” with Dr. Beeler and for “Representing Adolescence” with Dr. Maley in the English department. Kathryn appreciates the time she spent in the Classics department’s “tight-knit community,” which, she says, “shaped my overall college experience by making me feel like there was somewhere I belonged.” After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in publishing as an editor. Congratulations, Kathryn!
Qianwen (Christine) Liu, a May 2026 graduate, is a double major in Classical Civilization and Philosophy, with a minor in Ancient Greek. They have been on the Dean’s list every semester, have been inducted into Eta Sigma Phi Honors Society, and are the first place winner of the Marshall Writing Prize this year, with their departmental honors thesis: “Σπαραγμός as the Thread Across Greek Tragedy.” Regarding the writing of this thesis, which they describe as an “unforgettable” experience, Christine reports: “when I was working on the final version, after completely throwing out the previous ideas and drafts, I felt what Aristotle called eudaimonia. I felt truly happy and fulfilled while writing the paper.” They intend to begin a Master’s program in the Fall, with a goal of going on to pursue a PhD in Philosophy. Congratulations, Qianwen!
Euge! Optime! Well done!