Courtesy Sheila Ager

Classical Antiquity — a place of long ago, a chapter in history. Could the people of the ancient world still be of relevance to society today? According to Prof. Sheila Ager, an associate professor of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo, the answer is yes, and that goes without saying.

“I love the stories of history,” she says. “[They have] always kind of pulled me in.”

As a child, she had hopes of working for National Geographic; in high school, Prof. Ager considered pursuing studies in different fields including physics, marine biology, astronomy, and archaeology.

Ultimately, she chose to study Classics at Queen’s University, where she completed both an Honours BA and a Master’s degree. For her PhD, Prof. Ager moved to the University of British Columbia, where she did studies in Greek history specifically.

One of seven faculty members in her department, Prof. Ager has been on staff at the university for 25 years.

In that time she has taught various courses, served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs in the Faculty of Arts, published a book called Interstate Arbitrations in the Greek World, 337-90 BC and traveled to Greece and Turkey with her students.

“I enjoy it better and better all the time,” she says of her job, admitting that in spite of the initial awkwardness of lecturing in the early years, she values her position as a professor of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo.

She enjoys interacting with students from faculties such as math and engineering in addition to those studying arts, and is glad to help “bring a cultural angle to a university that might otherwise be missing it”.

Prof. Ager says that compared to her time as a student, she notices an increased level of pressure on university students today. She worries that students miss opportunities to learn about the things they love when their primary focus is on career.

“Follow your heart,” she says to students. “You’ve got so many opportunities right now to try new things.”

And perhaps her advice is worth listening to — after all, she does have a uniquely wide base of knowledge.

“Being an ancient historian means I have a perspective that goes back 3,000 years,” she said.