Students at Millsaps College know David Yates as the kind of professor whose passion for the ancient world is impossible to miss, whether he’s unpacking Greek historians in the classroom or drawing students into conversations that connect the past to the present.
That student-centered approach, paired with nationally recognized scholarship and academic leadership, has earned Yates a promotion to full professor of Classics, Yates, who also serves as Associate Dean of Arts and Humanities, is widely respected for helping students see the humanities as both intellectually rigorous and deeply relevant. A first-generation college student himself, he brings personal experience to his teaching and mentoring, guiding students as they learn to think critically, write persuasively and understand how societies construct meaning and memory over time.
“Coming from a first-generation background, I know firsthand how transformative a faculty mentor can be,” Yates said. “At Millsaps, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with students who are curious, driven and eager to engage big questions.
Helping them discover their own intellectual voice, and watching them grow in confidence, is the most rewarding part of this work.”
A scholar of Greek and Roman history and historiography, Yates specializes in social memory, how ancient societies remembered, interpreted and passed down their past through monuments, rituals, myths and historical writing.
Yates is the author of States of Memory: The Polis, Panhellenism, and the Persian War, widely praised for its innovative approach to ancient history and memory studies.
His more recent publications continue to shape scholarly conversations about how collective memory influences identity and power in the ancient Mediterranean.
“Professor Yates exemplifies the very best of Millsaps,” said Daniel Jasper, provost of Millsaps College. “He is a thoughtful academic leader, an accomplished scholar and a gifted teacher who makes the humanities come alive for students. His promotion reflects not only his individual achievements, but also the strength and vitality of the humanities at Millsaps.”
Since earning his Ph.D. from Brown University, Yates has built a career that integrates scholarship, teaching and service. As Associate Dean of Arts and Humanities, he supports faculty development, interdisciplinary collaboration and student-centered academic initiatives across the division.
For students, Yates’s influence often extends beyond the classroom. Known for an office filled with replica weapons and armor from the ancient and medieval world, he regularly incorporates hands-on learning into his courses, including battle reenactments that help students better understand ancient warfare, strategy and historical perspective.
He also welcomes students into wide-ranging conversations about history, culture and the enduring human impulse to remember and interpret the past.
“This promotion is meaningful to me because it recognizes the kind of academic community we’re building together,” Yates said. “Millsaps values deep scholarship, close student-faculty relationships and the humanities as essential to understanding the world. I’m proud to continue that work here.”