My name is Selena Wrightson, and this summer I finish the MA program in Art History at UC Davis. I graduated in 2017 from UCLA with a degree in both Classical Civilizations and Art History, and I consider my work here at UC Davis both an extension and combination of these fields. My primary focus is the Ancient Mediterranean, specifically the Greco-Roman world. My other areas of interest include the European Renaissance and Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. After completing my MA degree, I plan to move to South Korea and teach English for a few years, before coming back to the US to teach high school history.
How came this project
My MA thesis, Concrete Iconic, arose from my interest in Roman pozzolanic concrete. While not an engineer myself, I have long held an interest in construction techniques and materials, both historic and modern. This project was an indulgence in this interest, and I was pleased I could take the opportunity to study this material further than I had already. It also allowed me to write about some of my favorite examples of Roman architecture, so it has been an overall fulfilling challenge.