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Dr Stephanie Holton

Profile summary

  • Regional Academic Staff
  • Staff Tutor and Lecturer in Classical Studies
  • Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
  • School of Arts & Humanities
  • Classical Studies
  • stephanie.holton

Professional biography

I grew up in a small seaside town in Northern Ireland then headed off to the 'mainland' to study at university: first at Edinburgh (MA Classics & MSc Classics), and then at Royal Holloway (PhD Classics). Before joining the Open University as a Staff Tutor and Lecturer in March 2024, I spent nearly six years at Newcastle where I was a Senior Lecturer in Classics. Having come into the discipline as a first-generation student from a working class background, I'm a firm believer that it should be more accessible to everyone. I earned Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy for my extensive work on curriculum redesign, innovative pedagogy, and authentic assessment across Ancient Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies. 

Research interests

My research focuses on ancient thought - especially the interactions between literature, philosophy, and medicine in the Archaic to Classical period. A core interest is the soul and its associated activities both during and after its time in the body. My most recent monograph Sleep and Dreams in Early Greek Thought: Presocratic and Hippocratic Approaches places the theories of the Presocratics and Hippocratics on both phenomena within their full cultural and intellectual context for the first time. I continue to work on ancient ideas about sleep and dreams alongside newer projects on death and the afterlife.

I also actively work on a number of pedagogy projects, especially around the accessibility of ancient languages. I previously undertook a three-year funded project ('Applied Ancient Languages') in which I researched and implemented alternative pathways, learning activities, and assessment for post-intermediate Latin and Ancient Greek. My current projects build on this to explore language acquisition and co-created learning opportunities in different contexts, including at museums and in home education settings.

Teaching interests

My teaching experience is wide and varied. I have previously designed and delivered Latin, Ancient Greek, and Classical Studies modules across all levels. I have also contributed to English Literature and Archaeology modules. I often deliver curricular and extra-curricular sessions for Primary and Secondary schools, as well as CPD on ancient world topics for teachers and museums.

At the OU, I am involved in A340 The Roman Empire and A112 Cultures. 

Impact and engagement

A large part of my professional career is devoted to outreach and public engagement, and I often work in collaboration with local schools, arts and heritage partners, and national charities. I have extensive experience designing and facilitating creative public workshops for adults and children: recent projects have included investigating local Roman history through inscriptions, journeying through the Underworld, adventuring in the Ancient Egyptian afterlife, and even an evening of Ancient Greek necromancy. My upcoming museum exhibition, PSYCHE: Where does the soul go?, combines ancient objects and creative practice to more playfully explore the question of life after death.

External collaborations

  • Classical Association Teaching Board: Subject Advisory Group (Ancient Greek)
  • External Examiner for Greek Language and Literature, University of Manchester
  • Classics for All Trainer (Newcastle/NE)
  • Hadrian’s Wall Learning & Engagement Forum
  • Board of Trustees, Helix Arts