Reading Latin & Ancient History in Rome

Cindy Calder founded Calder Classics in 2012 while studying Greek and Latin at Columbia University.  She earned her B.A. from Dartmouth College and her M.A. in Classics from Columbia University.  She also spent several summers in the hallowed halls of CUNY’s Latin/Greek Institute, where the extremely intense but very rewarding course of study inspired her to share her passion for the Classics through her own high school and adult programs. Cindy founded Calder Classics on the belief that the study of the Classics, when complemented with a first-hand experience of art, history, literature, and modern culture, enriches younger students’ academic experience and encourages adults to re-engage in the joys of learning. At Calder Classics, mixing students of all ages in a shared learning environment has proven intellectually stimulating in wonderfully unexpected ways. Cindy taught Latin at Trinity School, the Brearley School, and Saint Joseph High School in New York City, and she has taught many courses for Calder Classics in-person and online. She has extensive tutoring experience in Latin and Greek. Cindy lives with her husband in Massachusetts and is the mother of four grown children.

Timothy Calder is an educator, entrepreneur, and traveler who has spent almost half his life living outside the US. At Dartmouth College, Timo majored in East Asian studies, a versatile concentration that allowed him to explore classes in many different subjects such as government, anthropology, history, literature, film, religion, language, and art history. After graduation, Timo pursued a Princeton in Asia fellowship, which sent him to teach ancient Asian history at a local secondary school in Singapore. Timo then spent 6 years in Beijing and 4 years in Hong Kong. With over 12 years of experience as an educator, Timo has worked with hundreds of students from Asia and the US as a classroom teacher, college consultant, academic tutor, and squash coach. When Timo is not teaching he is probably reading a sci-fi novel, playing squash, or walking Chelsea (his 3-legged rescue dog from Beijing).

Clare Kearns is a Ph.D. candidate in Classics at Brown University. Her research primarily focuses on gender and sexuality in the Roman Empire, but she also often works on instances of Classical reception in feminist and anti-colonial contexts. Prior to Brown, she received a B.A. in Classics and Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of Classics, she enjoys hiking, reading contemporary fiction, and taking care of her dog, Olive.

Rebecca Newson is a professional tour guide with over a decade of experience working with a wide range of clients, from families and private travelers to schools, universities, and institutional groups. She studied Classics and Archaeology at undergraduate level and holds a Master’s degree in World Heritage Conservation, with training focused on the protection, interpretation, and long-term management of cultural heritage sites. Her academic background includes study at the British School at Athens, and she has worked on archaeological excavations at Ostia Antica as a finds specialist. This experience shapes an approach that examines how objects and sites are used to reconstruct the past. Based permanently in Rome, Rebecca guides at a wide range of sites across the city, from major archaeological monuments to churches, museums, and lesser-known corners of the city. She aims to make Rome readable and engaging, helping visitors understand how ancient history and modern life intersect in the urban landscape. When not working, she can be found travelling to experience other cultures, hiking Italy’s stunning landscape and honing her palate at one of its many wineries!

Dr. Linda Nolan is an art and architectural historian and educator who has taught for over a decade at study abroad programs in Rome, including Dartmouth College’s Art History program. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Art History from USC and her B.A. in Fine Arts and Art History from Lake Forest College.  Linda’s teaching is lively and discussion-based. She encourages students to explore how art and architecture respond to social and political change, from ancient architecture to modern museum displays of ancient art. Before moving to Rome, Linda worked as a Gallery Teacher at the J. Paul Getty Museum and as an assistant to artist Raymond Pettibon.  She later served as Project Manager for the Los Angeles-based artist Sandy Rodriguez. She also helped found the Rome Society of the Archaeological Institute of America. Linda has received fellowships from several prestigious foundations in support of her research and excavations at Pompeii and in the Roman Forum. She has published and presented at conferences on topics ranging from ephemeral devotional practices and female patronage to the politics of gift exchange. Her current book project, Tangible Devotion, explores the material traces of spiritual life in early modern Roman churches.