This week, Maurice Gonzales, PhD Candidate in the John and Penelope Biggs Department of Classics, shared his passion for the ancient world with middle school students from across the St. Louis area during a dynamic educational program at the St. Louis Art Museum. 

The visit centered on the museum’s Trajan exhibition, where students engaged directly with material culture from the Roman world. Building on the exhibition, Maurice guided the students through a lively mock Roman senate, inviting them to step into the roles of ancient political actors and debate issues facing the empire. Through this hands‑on approach, students were encouraged to think critically, speak persuasively, and connect historical sources to broader questions about power, leadership, and civic life.

Maurice’s work during the program highlighted his strengths as an educator—combining deep subject knowledge with an ability to make ancient history accessible, engaging, and fun for young audiences. His calm authority, creativity, and enthusiasm kept students actively involved throughout the experience and demonstrated the real‑world public impact of classical training. 

We are also delighted to share that Maurice Gonzales has accepted a new position with Northwest Classical Academy in Kennesaw, Georgia. In this upcoming role, he will teach Ancient Literature in Translation as well as Logic and Rhetoric, continuing his commitment to classical education beyond the university classroom. 

The department congratulates Maurice on this exciting next step and applauds his excellent work representing Classics in our community. His success exemplifies the breadth of opportunities available to classicists and the powerful role of the ancient world in education at all levels.