Dr. Sean Lake


I have a PhD in Classics and have studied abroad in archaeological programs in Greece and Rome. My degrees and other non-degree schooling took place at Boston University, Fordham University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. This is my sixteenth year teaching college courses (Fordham, Seton Hall, Brooklyn College, Sarah Lawrence, and Valencia College). I relocated to Tampa after spending most of my life in the northeast United States (Philadelphia area, New York City, Boston, and Northern New Jersey). I have a few teaching awards that I'm proud of, and I'm working on a textbook now about Greek and Roman history, culture, and literature. I also have an interest in the American author Willa Cather, and the way modern films depict the Classical world and its myths. I play guitar, garden, paint, and run sprint-triathlons and 10k races as my hobbies.


Phone Number: 215-534-2232 (cell) seanelake on skype

Professional and Educational Interests: Ancient parody; epic poetry; Reception of the Classics

Achievements:
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2013 Wilks Grant Villa Vergilina for travel with students to archaeological sites in Italy
2013 Bright Ideas Grant, Tampa Preparatory School for podcast series and part one of a textbook for 6th Grade Language Course
2011 Seton Hall Technology Grant for ancient coin database project
2010 Finalist for SGA Professor of the Year at Seton Hall
2009 Willa Cather Foundation, Travel Grant University for attendance at International
Willa Cather Conference
2009 Dissertation Expenses Grant, Fordham University (travel to Rome)
2008 Hinkle Travel Grant, Ernest Hemingway Society
2008 Dissertation Travel Grant, Fordham University
2007 Travel Grant, St. Lawrence University for attendance at International Willa Cather
Conference
2006 Research Support Grant, Fordham University
2006 Summer Research Grant, Fordham University
2005 New York Classics Club Scholarship for the American Academy in Rome Summer
School
2004 Oscar Broneer Travel Grant, American School of Classical Studies in Athens
2003-2004 Philip Lockhart Fellow, American School of Classical Studies in Athens
2002-2003 Fordham University Teaching Fellow of the Year
2001-2002 Fordham University Teaching Fellow of the Year
2001-2002 Fordham University Senior Teaching Fellowship

PUBLICATIONS
“Preserving the Past: Commodification and the Classics in Willa Cather’s The Professor’s
House,” in The Willa Cather Newsletter and Review 51.1 (Special Edition edited by John
Murphy)

WORKS IN PROGRESS
“Second or Secondary: A New Perspective on Livy 4.20.5-11 and the Dedication of the
Spolia Opima”

“The Perfect Tragedy: Attempts at Resolving the Inconsistency between the Perfect
Ending (1453a7-17) and the Perfect Tragic Act (1454a2-9) in Aristotle's Poetics”

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED TALKS
2011 Classical Association of the Atlantic States, “The Spainish Spolia.”
2011 International Willa Cather Conference, “Willa Cather’s 19th Century Classicism.”
2011 New Jersey Classical Association, “Seton Hall’s Spring Break Trip to Greece.”
2010 Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, “Willa Cather’s Autopsy:
Archeological Ruins and Inspiration in Song of the Lark, The Professor’s House, and
Early Short Stories.”





Contact

East Campus
1-145
x2054
slake4@valenciacollege.edu

Hours

Office: 1-145

Monday 7:20 – 8:20 and 11:20 – 12:50 and 3:50 – 4:15
Tuesday (Virtual) 9am -1 pm
Wednesday 7:20 – 8:20 and 11:20 – 12:50 and 3:50 – 4:15 pm
Thursday (Virtual) 9am -1 pm
Friday (Virtual) 9-11 am