Kelly Olson

Kelly Olson is a Canadian Classicist. She is Professor and Acting Chair in the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Western Ontario.

Kelly Olson
Academic background
Alma mater
Doctoral advisorRichard Saller
Academic work
DisciplineClassics
Sub-discipline
  • Roman antiquity
  • dress studies
InstitutionsUniversity of Western Ontario
Websitekellyolsonblog.wordpress.com

Olson earned her PhD from University of Chicago in 1999. Her thesis was entitled Fashioning the Female in Roman Antiquity.[1] She received a MA from University of Chicago in 1997 and from University of Victoria in 1992, and her BA (with Honours) from University of Calgary in 1990.

Olson has published extensively on clothing and appearance (including cosmetics, jewelry, and hairstyles) in Roman antiquity. Her scholarship has been described as the "standard resource" in ancient dress studies.[2]

Olson has been awarded several Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grants, including an Insight Development grant (2019–21) for her project, "Roman Jewelry and the Technology of Enchantment," and a Standard Research grant (2008-2011) for her project, "Men, Appearance, and Sexuality in Roman Antiquity".

Olson is a highly visible public intellectual. She has discussed her scholarship in public lectures at the Art Institute of Chicago[3] and the Getty Center,[4] as well as videos[5] and podcasts.[6][7][8]

Olson has also served as a historical consultant for the comic book series, Eternus, created by Andy Serkis and Andrew Levitas.[9]

Scholia has an author profile for Kelly Olson.
  1. ^ "Alumni | Department of Classics". classics.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  2. ^ "Review of: Dress and the Roman Woman: Self-Presentation and Society". Bryn Mawr Classical Review. ISSN 1055-7660.
  3. ^ "Lecture: Fashion and Elegance in Ancient Rome". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  4. ^ "Styles and Status: Roman Women and the Art of Hair | Getty360 Calendar". The J. Paul Getty in Los Angeles. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  5. ^ "Clothes Make the (Ro)man". YouTube.
  6. ^ "Ithaca Bound: Ancient Roman Clothing w. Dr. Kelly Olson on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  7. ^ "Searching for Cleopatra with Dr. Kelly Olson - Ep 106 — Archaeology Show". #archpodnet. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  8. ^ "Pompeii's People" episode of The Nature of Things, Canadian Broadcast Company https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episodes/pompeiis-people
  9. ^ "News & Events". www.uwo.ca. Retrieved 2022-01-20.