About the Program
Archaeology After School (AAS) is a free precollegiate program designed for students aged 13-17 to critically engage with a diverse array of classical topics: including the evolution of archaeological methods, Ancient Greek language, and cultural heritage studies. Our mission is to offer an interdisciplinary approach to studying classical archaeology and increase access to classics for precollegiate students. By immersing students in a series of online modules with expert-curated materials on themes related to archaeology, Greek history, classical studies, and cultural heritage, we encourage them to critically think about present day practices across the sciences and humanities.
Using a student-centered and inquiry-based approach, each module features a combination of video lectures, presentations, collaborative activities, and a modern Greek language component, where applicable.
Our program was founded on the principle of connecting students of different Greek-speaking levels to understand the impact of the cultural diaspora and investigate the past, present, and future with immersive resources and materials. However, AAS is taught in English and we encourage students of all backgrounds to apply. The program will offer opportunities for Modern Greek speakers to practice and improve their proficiency.
Meet Our Team
Eva Prionas teaches at Stanford University. Her expertise has contributed to the advancement of teaching methods and professional development in the field of language education with focus on less commonly taught languages. She completed her BA at the National University of Athens, Greece and her Ph.D. in the field of Education at Stanford University. She is an advisor to academic language programs and she mentors community-based Greek schools. She is the Founder and President of the American Association of Teachers of Modern Greek.
.jpg)
Grace Erny earned her PhD in Classical Archaeology from Stanford University in February 2022. Her research focuses on the archaeology and social history of Greece in the first millennium BCE, and her dissertation investigates social inequality and rural communities on the Greek island of Crete. Grace has worked as an archaeologist in Greece, Israel, Cyprus, and the United States. She currently lives in Athens, Greece.
Elle Ota received a B.A. in Archaeology and Classics, and an M.A. in Anthropology from Stanford University. Her research focused on the socio-politics of international cultural heritage, as well as the connections between classical history and modern-day communities. She has completed field research on a Roman shipwreck in Sicily, and worked at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris. She currently works as a Program Officer at the Human Rights Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting human rights in closed societies.
Nicole Vakis holds a Bachelor's Degree from Stanford University, having studied sociology with a minor in psychology. During her undergrad, she was a student in Stanford's Modern Greek Heritage program. She currently works as an Admission Counselor at Stanford's Undergraduate Office of Admission. Nicole was born and raised in Nicosia, Cyprus where she grew up speaking Greek and English at home. She is passionate about diverse social and cultural studies. In her free time, she loves cooking, reading, and playing board games.