Dr Stuart McKie

Professional biography

I did my PhD at the Open University from 2013-17 on the subject of curse tablets and social relationships in the Roman West. Since then, I have taught at the Universities of Manchester and Durham before rejoining the OU as an Associate Lecturer in 2021 and, in 2023, as a central academic. Before all of that, I studied at Leicester (BA, 2007-2010) and Reading (MA, 2011-2012). I also work as a Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Exeter.

Research interests

All my research stems from a fascination with the way religion (broadly defined) impacted on the physical and social lives of people in the Roman world. In particular, the projects I have engaged in all deal with the interactions between people, objects and the supernatural, and how these interactions generated religious knowledge and experience. My most recently completed projects, completing the work I started with my doctoral research, examined curse tablets, and the creative, social and personal aspects of their creation and use.

Teaching interests

As an Associate Lecturer I teach A340 (The Roman Empire).

Impact and engagement

I am passionate about widening participation and access to the study of the ancient world. I have delivered school talks and public lectures on a variety of topics within Roman History and Archaeology, especially on religion, magic, culture and society.

Please get in touch if you are interested in discussing a possible talk at your school or organization.