Princeps
Jacquelyn Wilkins valatinacademy@gmail.com GLA Class: Mercatus Pronouns: she/her Jacquelyn Wilkins earned her B.A. in History and Classics From Sweet Briar College and completed the Post Bacc in Latin and Greek at the University of Pennsylvania. This is her fourteenth year working with the Latin Academy: she served as a teacher in 2009, Lead Teacher from 2010-2014, Director from 2015-2019, a teacher in 2021, and returned as Director last year. She has taught classes ranging from the construction of identity in the Roman Empire to Bronze Age Archaeology. Jacquelyn currently teaches Latin I-AP at E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg. When she isn’t learning how to decolonize her classroom and how to limit the impact of bias on academic research, you can find Jacquelyn designing her next tattoo, geeking out over sci-fi and superheroes, and snuggling with her four cats. Her favorite ancient authors are Homer, Herodotus, Ovid, Tacitus, and she has fallen in love with inscriptions and graffiti. |
Lead Teacher
Sallie Blanks GLA Class: ἱερὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων Pronouns: she/her Magistra Blanks completed her BA in Classics and MT in Latin education at the University of Virginia. She is thrilled to be back at GLA for her eighth year. Previously, she was a student in 2014, RA in 2017-2018, Lead RA in 2019-2020, Teacher in 2021, and Lead teacher in 2022 and presently. Magistra Blanks is the Latin and World Mythology teacher at Brookville High School in Lynchburg, VA where she sponsors the Latin Club and coaches the Scholastic Bowl team. Her classical interests include mythology, ancient world religions, and race in antiquity. When she is not reciting Catullus, you can find her playing board games, cheering on the UVA men's basketball team, walking her dogs, watching period pieces/K-dramas/reality tv shows, playing video games, or reading fantasy novels. |
Teacher
Brent Cavedo GLA Class: pictura romana Pronouns: he/him Brent Cavedo holds a BA in Latin and Classical Civilization from the University of Mary Washington as well as an MA in Latin and an MA in Art History from the University of Georgia where he is currently pursuing his PhD in Art History. This is his fourteenth summer as a teacher at the Latin Academy, where he has taught a variety of classes on the cultural history of the ancient Mediterranean world. Magister Cavedo teaches upper school Latin at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. His current research and new Academy course focus on the display, aesthetics, and viewership of painting in ancient Rome. His favorite ancient texts include Catullus 64 and Philostratus’ Imagines. In his free time he enjoys listening to music, going on walks, and relaxing with his pets. |
Teacher
Grace McIntire GLA Class: Quid Rides? Pronouns: she/they Grace McIntire teaches Latin at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter High School in Pennsylvannia. They received their MA in Classics from Washington University in St. Louis and their BA from Randolph-Macon College- the very place your students will be staying this summer! This is their 5th year with Latin Academy. They attended as a student in MMXIII, as an RA in MMXVI and MMXIX, as lead RA in MMXXI, and as a teacher in MMXXII. Their Classical research interests include ancient gender roles and culturally responsive pedagogy. During free time, Grace likes to play ancient DnD, board games, and TV shows like Yellowjackets. Grace is very excited to teach you about authors like Plautus, Horace, Martial, Juvenal, Apuleius, and even Seneca and can’t wait to have a La-ton of fun at Academy this year! |
Teacher
Noah Cogan GLA Class: Διονύσια τὰ μεγάλα / Ancient Greek Pronouns: he/him Noah Cogan earned his B.A. in Greek & Roman Studies from Vassar College, his M.A. in Greek & Latin from the University of Maryland College Park, and his M.Ed. from the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University in Private School Leadership. He currently teaches Latin and Ancient Greek as well as sponsors various organizations such as the Genders & Sexualities Alliance and Political Awareness Club at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA. He is so excited to experience his first in-person Latin Academy after serving as a teacher in 2020. He loves epic poetry and making Greco-Roman literature more accessible for modern audiences. His interests outside of Greek & Roman culture are playing and listening to music, playing and watching soccer (Liverpool FC), board games, and video games. He is also a low-key high-key Lord of the Rings nerd. |
Teacher
Bryan Whitchurch GLA Class: locutio latina Pronouns: he/him Bryan Whitchurch began his path in Classics with a BA in history at Utah State University. He moved out East for an MAT in Latin and Classical Humanities at UMASS Amherst which led to a rich array of experiences in Boston at the Boston Latin School, NYC at the Brooklyn Latin School, and now DC at the Washington Latin School where he currently serves as the Chair of the Classics Department and in a number of other capacities. He came to Washington Latin immediately following the completion of a Ph.D. in Classical Philology at Fordham University with a dissertation on Ubertino Posculo's Latin epic in Vergilian style about the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. His interests in Classics are centered on questions of reception, the current expression of which have taken the form of how to bring the Classics to the public at large through K-12 schools. He has been involved with participating in, teaching, and leading spoken Latin programs in the US and Italy since 2006. This year marks his 17th as an educator. |
Lead Resident Assistant
Olivia Koshute Elective: The Real Cleopatra Pronouns: she/her Olivia Koshute recently graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Classics and English. She is excited to be returning to Latin Academy as Lead RA this summer after attending as a student in MMXVIII and serving as Lead RA in MMXXII. Her classical interests include women and gender in antiquity, mythology, and Roman involvement in northern Africa. Some of her favorite classical authors are Vergil, Ovid, and Lucretius. Aside from classics, Olivia also loves theater, playing violin, soccer, and geeking over animated shows. She also enjoys reading, especially anything with epic fantasy. |
Resident Assistant
Benji Hess Elective: Pronouns: he/him Benji Hess earned his BA in Classics from Washington and Lee University in 2023 with minors in both Art History and Archaeology. He spent five semesters abroad, living in Greece, Italy, England, and Austria while completing his degree. He will soon be returning to Athens as CYA’s ‘23-’24 Post-Baccalaureate Fellow. Benji became particularly interested in the intersections of gendered narratives and invective, having explored the literary impact and materiality of the cinaedus for his senior thesis. Outside of academics, Benji loves to run, listen to music—Modest Mouse, Alex G, Boygenius, anyone?—and go for hikes. |
Resident Assistant
Joseph Amsbary Elective: Evolving Rome Pronouns: he/him Joseph Amsbary is a rising senior at William & Mary majoring in Classical Studies and Psychology. He had a great time at GLA 2019 and cannot wait to be back this summer. His interests in the classics include daily life in the ancient Mediterranean and the evolution of Latin over time. In his free time, Joseph enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, listening to podcasts and music, and playing board games (he’s very excited to find someone to play Latin Scrabble with). |