In June 2025, the North American Association of Sports Economists (NAASE) announced the establishment of the Coates-Humphreys NAASE Distinguished Research Award, named for UMBC Department of Economics's Dennis Coates and West Virginia University’s Dr. Brad Humphreys. 

Dr. Coates and Dr. Humphreys are the award’s inaugural winners.

The creation of the award honors Dr. Coates’s scholarship in sports economics, including serving as a founding member and President of NAASE and an extensive list of published papers and books. In 2022, he won the NAASE Larry Hadley Service Award which honors outstanding and unusual contributions and service to NAASE and the field of sports economics. 

Congratulations Dr. Coates!

The UMBC Ancient Studies Department will conduct its annual study tour on the island of Sicily, March 13-22, 2026. The cost of $3,750 covers all air, water, and land transportation, twin-share accommodation for eight nights in three- and four-star hotels, eight buffet breakfasts, two dinners, two lunches, and entrance to all archaeological sites and museums on the itinerary. Single rooms are available at an additional cost of $440. Ancient Studies majors and minors, UMBC students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their friends and family are invited to join us.

The registration form attached to this post can be downloaded and 

returned to Lydia DeRidder (lderidde@umbc.edu) by Oct. 13, 2025.

A deposit of $750 is due at this time. Ancient Studies majors and minors can download applications for subsidies attached to this post. Please return completed subsidy applications to Dr. David Rosenbloom (dsrose@umbc.edu) by Oct. 13, 2025.

Our tour of Sicily begins with a one-night stay in Rome (and a visit to the Colosseum, if we arrive early enough). The next morning we fly to Palermo, Sicily for a one-night stay. We explore the rich cultural heritages of Carthage, Rome, and the Normans, traveling to Marsala (ancient Lilybaeum, Carthaginian/Roman) on the western edge of Sicily for a two-night stay, stopping on the way at the majestic Monreale Cathedral (Norman), Segesta Archaeological Park, Trapani, and Erice (ancient Eryx, Elymian, Carthaginian, Greek, and Roman). The following morning we travel to the Carthaginian island stronghold of Mosia (ancient Motya) and return to visit the Regional Museum of Lilybaeum and Marsala Archaeological Park after lunch.  From Marsala we journey to the Greek colony of Selinunte (ancient Selinous) to explore the Archaeological Park and Antiquarium before spending the night in the stunning coastal town of Sciacca, renowned for its thermal baths. The following day we travel to Greek colony of Agrigento (ancient Acragas) to view the celebrated Valley of the Temples. After we leave Agrigento, we visit the extraordinary fourth-century CE Villa Romana del Casale before arriving in Syracuse (Greek colony) for a two-night stay. After taking in the splendors of the Neapolis Archaeological Park, we spend the afternoon on the island of Ortygia (Temple of Apollo, Duomo). The following morning we return to Rome and from there to Dulles International Airport, where a coach will take us back to UMBC.

NEW ANCIENT STUDIES COURSE IN FALL 2025

ANCS 350-01: ANCIENT ATHENIAN IMPERIALISM 

M/W 4:00-5:15, PAHB 441

Dr. David Rosenbloom

The Athenian empire (478/7-405/4 bce) has sometimes taken a back seat to democracy, economic and social dynamism, monumental buildings and urban amenities, and vibrant culture in historians’ assessments of the city. This class examines the centrality of Athens' naval imperialism to the city's political, economic, social, and cultural development during the late-sixth, fifth, and fourth centuries bce. Situating Athenian imperialism in the context of its predecessors and contemporaries in the Near East — Assyria, Lydia and Persia — this course focuses on the origins and evolving tactics and strategies of Athenian imperialism. Topics include the economics and social consequences of Athenian imperialism, interconnections and disconnections between empire and democracy, the religious dimensions of Athenian imperialism, and the uses of myth and drama both to legitimize and to question the empire. The class concludes with the fall of the empire after Athens’ defeat in the Peloponnesian War (432/1-405/4 bce), the resurgence of Athenian imperialism in the early- to mid-fourth century (378/7-355/4 bce), and ancient and modern assessments of the empire.

ANCS 350-01 has no formal prerequisites and assumes no prior knowledge of the subject; ANCS 201, ANCS 305, and/or ANCS/HIST 453 are recommended preparation.