The Michigan Classical Consortium is pleased to honor Ms. Amia Davis, Ph.D. candidate at Yale University, with the Walter Roberts III Fund award.
Words from Ms. Davis:
“It is an immense honor to receive the Walter Roberts III Prize and to carry forward the legacy of Dr. Walter Roberts. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Roberts and his students during my years as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. Dr. Roberts remains a source of inspiration for me; he
serves as a model of scholarly excellence deeply committed to serving his community.
My dissertation research focuses on reexamining the Roman provinces in the Balkans not as a periphery of the Roman Empire, but as a dynamic center of power that shaped Roman identity just as much as Roman power shaped it. My dissertation project, Chaos Theory and the Roman Balkans (2nd – 7th c. CE): A Chaos Theory Approach, explores these concepts more deeply. It is the first project to apply the principles of chaos theory – a framework borrowed from theoretical mathematics – to reconstruct a dynamic, transformative, and comprehensive history of the Roman provinces in the Balkans. The project aims to de-Romanize traditional historical narratives by integrating textual, epigraphic, and archaeological sources to include non-Roman voices, especially the Illyrians, Dacians, Thracians, Sarmatians, Goths, Huns, and Slavs. Employing this framework reveals a history shaped by clashing narratives, entangled identities, and small-scale events giving rise to large-scale transformations that influenced not only the provinces in the Balkans, but also the rest of the Roman Empire.
Beyond my research, I am committed to being a guide and mentor for inner-city students who aspire to explore the ancient world. I believe a more inclusive study of antiquity begins by empowering the next generation of students who will continue to transform our understanding of the present, past, and future.”
Michigan Classical Consortium 
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