The Department of History and Art History welcomed two new tenure-track faculty members this Fall. Dr. Scott Arcenas received his Ph.D. in Classics from Stanford University in 2018. At GMU, he will teach courses in ancient Greek and ancient Roman history as well as the ancient Mediterranean world. Originally from Casper, Wyoming, Arcenas attended Princeton University for his undergraduate degree and spent the last academic year teaching at Dartmouth. Deploying an innovative methodology, Arcenas's dissertation explores the nature, frequency, and intensity of political violence in ancient Greece. In addition to revising his dissertation for publication, Arcenas is also currently working on a number of other projects that include a study of Flavian minting practices, a network model of ancient Roman maritime transportation, and a digital platform for the publication and review of ancient historical data.
Dr. Samuel Clowes Huneke received his Ph.D. in German History from Stanford University in 2019. At GMU, Huneke will teach a wide range of courses, including Modern Germany, the Cold War, the History of Sexuality, and the History of Science and Mathematics. Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Huneke received a Bachelor's degree from Amherst College, graduating with a double major in German and in Mathematics. Before pursuing his doctorate at Stanford, he received an M.Sc. degree in Applicable Mathematics from the London School of Economics. Drawing on recently opened archives, his dissertation examines gay persecution and gay liberation in Germany during the Cold War. He has already published articles on related topics, including lesbianism in the Third Reich for the Journal of Contemporary History and gay suicide in the New German Critique.
Both Arcenas and Huneke said they were delighted to join the department and thrilled that that their undergraduate courses had enrolled to the maximum level. Having resided for so many years in California, however, they expressed the hope that the DC-area weather would soon improve.
October 09, 2019