‘It's impossible not to love this job’

��ýProfessor Fred Drogula teaches students to dissect iconic literature and outmaneuver rivals in political role-plays, immersive methods that have earned him a national teaching award.

Henry Gorsuch, '26 | February 26, 2025

In his classroom, Fred Drogula, a professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, brings ancient Rome to life. Students role-play as historical politicians like Julius Caesar, forging alliances and competing for power.

“The goal is to get students to understand how Roman politics worked,” he explained. “Politicians did what they did based on certain cultural value systems.”

Drogula has won the (SCS) Excellence in Teaching Award, a national honor celebrating educators who inspire students through creativity and mentorship. The award, selected by peers in the field, recognizes his accessible teaching style and dedication to student growth.

“It’s nice to know that your efforts are recognized,” Drogula said.

Student testimonials cited in the award praised his approachability and passion, stating that “he creates a space where one is allowed to make mistakes without feeling judged or belittled,”

Outside class, he leads the Monsters in Literature club analyzing zombies and vampires.

“Every monster tells you more about the people who came up with the story than anything else,” he said. “What do we fear? How do we manifest those as monsters?”

For him, the classics remain timeless.

“The humanities teach us how people work,” he said. “Every job involves human interaction, pretty much, right? So, it helps you professionally, but it helps you personally.”

I copy the people who taught me. They were all different and they had different traits that were wonderful, but many of them were just deeply caring.

Dr. Fred Drogula

“Just come in”

Drogula’s office buzzes with energy as students drop in to discuss senior theses, untranslated Greek texts or Roman battle ethics.

“I have three office hours a week, but de facto, I’m here most of the time,” he said. “And my students know they can just come in.”

For Drogula, teaching thrives in one-on-one connections.

“They come with a really good topic, and I’m like, that sounds fun,” he laughed. “Working one-on-one, seeing their ideas take shape? That’s the magic.”

Drogula tailors his approach to diverse learning styles.

“Good teaching is the ability to explain the same thing five different ways,” he said. “Some students grasp it instantly. Others need new angles. You have to think, ‘how else can I present this?’”

Between independent studies and Honors Tutorial College tutorials, Drogula is instructing seven students in self-directed learning experiences this semester.

“They pick something like Roman ethics or Mesopotamian spells, and suddenly I’m learning too,” he said. “Passionate students make you passionate. It’s impossible not to love this job.”

Role-playing Rome

In Drogula’s course Democracy and Republicanism in the Ancient World, students step into the sandals of historical Roman politicians or obscure figures from the Republic. The various roles are based on wealth, moral authority and political influence, and they campaign through weekly elections.

“The goal is to get students to understand how Roman politics worked,” Drogula said. “Politicians did what they did based on certain cultural value systems.”

The game hinges on behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

“Decisions are not made in Congress; they’re made in back rooms,” Drogula noted, referencing the scheming depicted in the musical Hamilton’s "The Room Where It Happens." Students forge alliances, broker deals and occasionally betray allies to secure votes.

“Some characters were poor but respected,” he explained. “Others had money but no principles. It’s all about who owes you favors.”

A third of the class dives headfirst into political cabals. Another third engages casually. The rest?

“They just aren’t that interested and that’s okay,” Drogula said. “The game works even then. It’s designed to reflect real politics, where not everyone’s paying attention.”

Monsters, minds and modern lessons

Drogula’s Monsters in Literature Club explores the strange and supernatural, diving into topics like ancient necromancy.

“When you look at the spells they used to conjure the dead, you’re like, what is going on here?” he said. “They make these weird magic potions—you start pulling the pieces apart and asking, ‘how did they see the world?’”

Each semester, the club tackles a new theme, such as zombies, werewolves or the cultural evolution of vampires. Drogula connects these monstrous tales to broader human questions.

“Monsters evolve because we evolve,” he explained. “Twilight’s ‘vegetarian’ vampires? That’s a modern twist. Even vegan zombies make sense now.”

The club serves as a space for critical thinking and discovery.

“It’s fun working through these ideas with students,” Drogula said. “They pick a topic, dive into research and suddenly they’re teaching me things I didn’t know. That’s how you keep the humanities alive.”

Bella Swan and Edward Cullen from the movie Twilight standing close together in a misty forest. — Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) share a poignant moment in the iconic Twilight (2008) forest scene.

Questions that never get old

A book cover with figures etched in marble.

Drogula’s next book, "The Origins of the Roman Republic," challenges traditional narratives using archaeology and oral histories.

“The traditional story of Rome doesn’t work,” he said. “Archaeology suggests a different development of the government than we know about.”

He’s also organizing a conference to explore how America’s founders might have misunderstood Roman models.

“If what they thought about the Roman government wasn’t quite true, what does that say for us?”

This fall, he’ll teach Human Aspirations, a course probing age-old questions: “What is love? What’s worth dying for? Do we have a soul?”

Drogula said that these themes never fade.

“Humans don’t change that much. We’re still asking the same things we did 2,000 years ago.”

When asked about his secret to balancing teaching, research and advising, he grinned.

“I work 80 hours a week, but it doesn’t feel like work,” he said. “Loving what you do is the trick, and watching students realize these ancient ideas matter? That’s why I’m here.”