Besides his current postgraduate and undergraduate teaching at Swansea, and past teaching at Oxford, Bowdoin College (Maine, USA) and the University of Michigan, Dr Pollard was 2008-2009 Professor-in-Charge of Duke University’s Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome and 2013 Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of Classics at Carleton College (Minnesota, USA). He has also co-directed summer schools in Rome and Pompeii for the British School at Rome.
Current Research
Dr Pollard is a Roman historian and archaeologist. His particular interests include cultural property protection in conflict zones, both historic and modern; all forms of interaction (culture, economy, administration, power and control) between the ruling elites of the Roman empire and its subjects. He works with all forms of evidence that sheds light on these issues, including art and archaeology, ancient texts and documents (inscriptions, papyri) and modern (20th century) archives. Much of his research focuses on the eastern part of the Roman empire (Syria and Egypt) and Italy, although his interests range beyond those areas.
At present Dr. Pollard is primarily working on a study of protection, damage and reception of archaeological sites and monuments in the Second World War, including the work of the Allied Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Sub-Commission (the ‘Monuments Men’), and as a board member of the UK National Committee of the Blue Shield, engages with governments, NGOs and military personnel to promote the protection of cultural sites in conflicts and natural disasters.