Welcome, Franke Honors Associate Dean Dr. Robert Stephan

Dr. Robert Stephan has been selected as the next Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the W.A. Franke Honors College. Dr. Stephan is a Roman Archaeologist, specializing in economic history, digital humanities, and experiential pedagogy. Professor Stephan earned a Ph.D. in Classics from Stanford University in 2014 and a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Michigan in 2005. Before joining the W.A. Franke Honors College, he served as an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Religious Studies and Classics at the University of Arizona and a Fellow in the Program of Writing and Rhetoric at Stanford University.

An innovative leader in education, Professor Stephan’s research and teaching uses digital technologies, including video games and virtual reality, to create more inclusive classroom settings, forge immersive learning environments, and enhance student engagement. As Undergraduate Advisor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Stephan has helped significantly increase Classics enrollments and majors. His dynamic approach to pedagogy and mentorship has been recognized at the national level by the Archaeological Institute of America’s Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (2025) as well as at the University of Arizona through the College of Humanities Distinguished Advising Award (2019), Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence (2021), Five Star Faculty Award (2021), and the Sherrill Creative Teaching Award (2024). At the heart of his personal and professional pursuits is a belief in the transformative power of exploration to enrich daily life and broaden cultural perspectives.