DOUGLAS BOIN
Author + Acclaimed Historian + Essayist + Translator
Photo taken by Nicole Griffing
LOCATED NEAR St. Louis, MO or Austin, TX
EXPERTISE
Social change in the Roman Empire
The history of Christianity
Mediterranean archaeology
Archaeological discoveries
The preservation of cultural heritage
The role of faith and technology
recovering erased histories
how to use story-driven research
EVENT TYPES
KEYNOTES
LECTURES
Academic Conferences
Educational Seminars and Workshops
FIRESIDE CHATS
PANELS
BOOK TALKS & READINGS
VIRTUAL EVENTS
MODERATION
INTERVIEWS
Douglas Boin’s Bio
Douglas Boin is a historian, teacher, and author. His books include Coming Out Christian in the Roman World, A Social and Cultural History of Late Antiquity, and Alaric the Goth: An Outsider’s History of the Fall of Rome, which was named by The Economist one of the best books of 2020. As a lecturer, Doug speaks both nationally and internationally on history, religion, and cultural heritage. Sponsored by the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington DC, Doug has given talks at the State Department before the Cultural Property Advisory Committee, and the Pontifical Gregorian University for the International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in Rome, where his work has taken him for more than two decades. He leads study trips for students and adults throughout Rome and the Mediterranean.
A proud book lover in an age of typed notes and short attention spans, Doug has always been inspired to tell stories differently. Since 2016, he has been president of the board of the cultural heritage organization, SAFE. His advocacy on behalf of cultural heritage issues has been featured in The International New York Times. In 2017, as part of his work at an Austin-based start-up, he co-organized a panel at South by Southwest on technology and faith. In his talks, Doug focuses on how growing up gay in a Catholic family shaped his work as a writer and as a historian. Audiences will be able to learn how he developed his interest in history, about his research on marginalized individuals and communities, and about his views of religion today.
Raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, Doug has held teaching positions at the University of Texas, Georgetown University, and is currently a Professor of History at Saint Louis University.
GET SOCIAL WITH DOUG BOIN
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Visit Doug at APL!
books by Douglas boin
Douglas boin in the media
This Roman Life, Ep. 1: Looking back at my two decades with the city and people of Rome.
Boshell Foundation Virtual Lecture: Douglas Boin
The Early Christians of the Roman Empire: SLU Expert Douglas Boin, Ph.D.
Doug Boin, Ph.D., Professor of History, discusses the importance of the Roman Empire
Recent Articles Featuring Douglas Boin:
Ancient letter written by Roman emperor leads archaeologists to "monumental" discovery in Italy | CBS News
Review: ‘Alaric the Goth’ by Douglas Boin | The Atlantic
Newly discovered cult temple adjusts our understanding of Roman Christianity | Cosmos
Podcasts with Douglas Boin:
Who do we think gets to think about the Roman Empire? | NPR 1A
Why the Roman Empire is worth thinking about | The Colin McEnroe Show