Hailing from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Renae Dishman is currently a graduate assistant for UNM’s Department of Languages, Cultures, and Literatures, pursuing an MA in Comparative Literatures and Cultural Studies with a Classical Languages Concentration.  They are both a professional classical musician as well as an archaeologist, holding a BA in Classical Civilizations – Art and Archaeology (Summa Cum Laude) from Indiana University, Bloomington, as well as a BM (Cum Laude) and MM in Clarinet Performance from Indiana University’s prestigious Jacobs School of Music. Renae’s previous research projects have been centered in both Ancient Greek funerary practices as well as the interdisciplinary field of archaeomusicology (the study of ancient music), which they plan to continue working in both during and after their time at UNM.  In the summers, Renae enjoys participating in archaeological excavations – most recently having served as an excavation supervisor and instructor for the Lechaion Harbor and Settlement Land Project and its field school (Ancient Corinth, Greece, 2023-2025).  As a clarinetist, they enjoy collaborating with others through chamber music as well as performing, commissioning, and premiering works by contemporary and living composers.  Renae enjoys spending weekends and spare time hiking in the mountains with their spouse, cuddling with their kitty (Kalliope), listening to true crime podcasts and indie music, and hanging out with friends.