Emma Dench

Emma Dench (born 1963) is an English ancient historian, classicist, and academic administrator. She has been McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History at Harvard University since 2014, and the dean of its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences since 2018. She was previously a professor of ancient history at Birkbeck, University of London and a professor of classics and history at Harvard.

Early life and education Dench was born in 1963 in York, Yorkshire, England, and grew up near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. Her father was Jeffery Dench, a Shakespearean actor, and her mother, Betty, was a speech therapist. Her paternal aunt is Judi Dench, an award-winning stage and film actress. Emma appeared in the 1968 film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream as Peaseblossom alongside her aunt, who played Titania.

Academic career Dench began her academic career with just an undergraduate degree. From 1987 to 1988, between graduating with her bachelor's degree and starting her doctorate, she taught classics at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York, United States.

In 1992, Dench joined the faculty of Birkbeck College, University of London. For the 2015/2016 academic year, she was a visiting professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. In November 2015, she was appointed McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History. In 2017, she was named Interim Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) for the 2017/2018 academic year, and was appointed GSAS Dean on 1 July 2018 (since 2023, the GSAS is known as Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences).

Dench holds a number of appointments outside of her university faculty positions. She is on the executive committee for Harvard University of the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C. She held a Loeb Classical Library Foundation Fellowship between 2011 and 2012.

Personal life Dench is a British citizen and a permanent resident of the United States.

Dench is married to Jonathan Bowker, an artist. Together they have a son, Jacob.

Selected works