Dr. Conor Whately receives 2025 Chancellor’s Research Grant

Fri. Sep. 26, 2025

This year’s Chancellor's Research Excellence Chair has been awarded to Dr. Conor Whately, Professor in the Department of Classics. 

Dr. Whately is unraveling the mystery of the psychology of Roman soldiers through letters.

“The letters are mostly peace time letters, though there are a few, even from women, that hint at wartime issues,” said Dr. Whately. “I’ve long been interested in the soldiers that are based on the frontier, on the outskirts of the empire and their interactions with local communities.”

The results of his research will result in a book, that is revolutionary in helping fill the gap in the history of ordinary Roman soldiers.

To learn more about Dr. Whately's work, read the full UW news article