Princeps
Nikki Carroll
valatinacademy@gmail.com
GLA Class: Theme lecture group project
Nikki Carroll earned a B.A. in Latin and Classics from Randolph-Macon College, an M.Ed. in Latin from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro, and has begun coursework on an Ed.D. in K-12 Administration from the College of William and Mary. She is the World Languages Department Chair and teaches Latin and IB Theory of Knowledge at Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, VA. This is her twelfth year being involved with the Latin Academy: she was a student in 2005, RA in 2008, teacher from 2012-2014, lead teacher 2015-2019, and is serving in her second year as director. Her favorite Latin authors are Ovid, Plautus, and Seneca the Younger. Outside of the Classics, she loves hanging out with her pets: a dog named Pot Roast and a cat named Squeaks. You might also find her riding horses, teaching riding lessons, watching Survivor, or listening to true crime Podcasts.
Nikki Carroll
valatinacademy@gmail.com
GLA Class: Theme lecture group project
Nikki Carroll earned a B.A. in Latin and Classics from Randolph-Macon College, an M.Ed. in Latin from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro, and has begun coursework on an Ed.D. in K-12 Administration from the College of William and Mary. She is the World Languages Department Chair and teaches Latin and IB Theory of Knowledge at Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, VA. This is her twelfth year being involved with the Latin Academy: she was a student in 2005, RA in 2008, teacher from 2012-2014, lead teacher 2015-2019, and is serving in her second year as director. Her favorite Latin authors are Ovid, Plautus, and Seneca the Younger. Outside of the Classics, she loves hanging out with her pets: a dog named Pot Roast and a cat named Squeaks. You might also find her riding horses, teaching riding lessons, watching Survivor, or listening to true crime Podcasts.
Lead Teacher
Phil Gallagher
GLA Class: Conversational Latin
Phil Gallagher taught Latin in Roanoke County for six years before moving to North Carolina to teach at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, a smaller charter school about an hour outside of Charlotte. He will be returning to Latin Academy for his seventh year as the spoken Latin teacher. He is a semi-professional gamer specializing in Magic: The Gathering; he runs an educational website for the game as well as regularly streams. He enjoys watching anime, going to conventions, and playing his Nintendo Switch. Essentially, he's a giant nerd and he's quite proud of it.
Phil Gallagher
GLA Class: Conversational Latin
Phil Gallagher taught Latin in Roanoke County for six years before moving to North Carolina to teach at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, a smaller charter school about an hour outside of Charlotte. He will be returning to Latin Academy for his seventh year as the spoken Latin teacher. He is a semi-professional gamer specializing in Magic: The Gathering; he runs an educational website for the game as well as regularly streams. He enjoys watching anime, going to conventions, and playing his Nintendo Switch. Essentially, he's a giant nerd and he's quite proud of it.
Teacher
Sallie Blanks
GLA Class: Monsters
Sallie is thrilled to be back at GLA for her 6th year, this time as a teacher! Previously, she was a student in 2014, RA in 2017-2018, Lead RA in 2019, and Lead TA in 2020. Sallie completed her BA in Classics and MT in Latin education at the University of Virginia and currently works as the Latin and World Mythology teacher at Brookville High School in Lynchburg, VA. Her classical interests include mythology, ancient world religions, and race in antiquity. When she is not reciting the first few lines of Ecce Romani, you can find her playing board games, cheering on the UVA men's basketball team, walking her dog, watching period pieces/K-dramas/Survivor, playing video games, or reading old mystery novels (Cadfael, anyone?). She is currently anticipating academy adventures and thinking of a clever way to end her bio.
Sallie Blanks
GLA Class: Monsters
Sallie is thrilled to be back at GLA for her 6th year, this time as a teacher! Previously, she was a student in 2014, RA in 2017-2018, Lead RA in 2019, and Lead TA in 2020. Sallie completed her BA in Classics and MT in Latin education at the University of Virginia and currently works as the Latin and World Mythology teacher at Brookville High School in Lynchburg, VA. Her classical interests include mythology, ancient world religions, and race in antiquity. When she is not reciting the first few lines of Ecce Romani, you can find her playing board games, cheering on the UVA men's basketball team, walking her dog, watching period pieces/K-dramas/Survivor, playing video games, or reading old mystery novels (Cadfael, anyone?). She is currently anticipating academy adventures and thinking of a clever way to end her bio.
Teacher
Brent Cavedo
GLA Class: Theme lecture, Reading Group Coordinator
Brent Cavedo teaches upper school Latin as well as mysterium colorum: The Mystery of Colors at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta and is about to begin a PhD in Art History at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. He 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. This is his twelfth 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. These days his primary interests in antiquity are the appearance and aesthetics of ancient Mediterranean art, in particular painting, as well as the Greek and Roman vocabulary of artistic creation and connoisseurship. His favorite ancient texts include Catullus 64 and Pliny the Elder's anecdotes about famous Greek artists. In his free time he enjoys listening to music, walking in the park, and relaxing with his pets.
Brent Cavedo
GLA Class: Theme lecture, Reading Group Coordinator
Brent Cavedo teaches upper school Latin as well as mysterium colorum: The Mystery of Colors at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta and is about to begin a PhD in Art History at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. He 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. This is his twelfth 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. These days his primary interests in antiquity are the appearance and aesthetics of ancient Mediterranean art, in particular painting, as well as the Greek and Roman vocabulary of artistic creation and connoisseurship. His favorite ancient texts include Catullus 64 and Pliny the Elder's anecdotes about famous Greek artists. In his free time he enjoys listening to music, walking in the park, and relaxing with his pets.
Teacher
Kevin Jefferson
GLA Class: Ancient Greek
Kevin Jefferson teaches Latin at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in Alexandria. He holds an MA in Classics from the University of Colorado Boulder and a BA in Classics from the University of Virginia. His Classical interests include epic poetry from Homer and Vergil to Lucan and Statius, Greek tragedy, conversational Latin and ancient Greek, and theories of myth. He also enjoys hiking, experimenting in the kitchen (what a bread nerd), and chilling with his cats Noor and Fergus. This will be his seventh summer teaching Ancient Greek at Latin Academy.
Kevin Jefferson
GLA Class: Ancient Greek
Kevin Jefferson teaches Latin at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in Alexandria. He holds an MA in Classics from the University of Colorado Boulder and a BA in Classics from the University of Virginia. His Classical interests include epic poetry from Homer and Vergil to Lucan and Statius, Greek tragedy, conversational Latin and ancient Greek, and theories of myth. He also enjoys hiking, experimenting in the kitchen (what a bread nerd), and chilling with his cats Noor and Fergus. This will be his seventh summer teaching Ancient Greek at Latin Academy.
Teacher
Jacquelyn Wilkins
GLA Class: Archaeology
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 twelfth year working with the Latin Academy: she served as a teacher in 2009, Lead Teacher from 2010-2014 and Director from 2015-2019. After a year off she is returning as a teacher, because she just can’t stay away. She has taught classes ranging from the construction of identity in the Roman Empire to Bronze Age Archaeology. This year, she is excited to explore archaeological practices and sites with students. 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 five cats. Her favorite ancient authors are Homer, Herodotus, Ovid, Tacitus, and she has recently fallen in love with inscriptions and graffiti.
Jacquelyn Wilkins
GLA Class: Archaeology
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 twelfth year working with the Latin Academy: she served as a teacher in 2009, Lead Teacher from 2010-2014 and Director from 2015-2019. After a year off she is returning as a teacher, because she just can’t stay away. She has taught classes ranging from the construction of identity in the Roman Empire to Bronze Age Archaeology. This year, she is excited to explore archaeological practices and sites with students. 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 five cats. Her favorite ancient authors are Homer, Herodotus, Ovid, Tacitus, and she has recently fallen in love with inscriptions and graffiti.
Lead Resident Assistant
Grace McIntire
GLA Elective: Genethlialogy: Thank Your Unlucky Stars
Grace McIntire is returning to Latin Academy after attending as a student in MMXIII and as an RA in MMXVI and MMXIX- she has only been available every three years apparently! She is graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with her M.A. in Classics, and she received her B.A. from Randolph-Macon College. During those summers off, she studied abroad at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome and dug with the American School’s archeological excavations of the Athenian Agora. Her favorite authors to read at the moment are Aristophanes, Martial, and Lucretius. Research-wise, she is most interested in Greek and Roman Comedy pedagogy and ancient gender non-normativity. In her free time she likes to play Among Us, Stardew Valley, and ancient DnD. Grace is very excited to begin teaching Latin this fall, and she can’t wait to have a La-ton of fun with the Academy students this year!
Grace McIntire
GLA Elective: Genethlialogy: Thank Your Unlucky Stars
Grace McIntire is returning to Latin Academy after attending as a student in MMXIII and as an RA in MMXVI and MMXIX- she has only been available every three years apparently! She is graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with her M.A. in Classics, and she received her B.A. from Randolph-Macon College. During those summers off, she studied abroad at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome and dug with the American School’s archeological excavations of the Athenian Agora. Her favorite authors to read at the moment are Aristophanes, Martial, and Lucretius. Research-wise, she is most interested in Greek and Roman Comedy pedagogy and ancient gender non-normativity. In her free time she likes to play Among Us, Stardew Valley, and ancient DnD. Grace is very excited to begin teaching Latin this fall, and she can’t wait to have a La-ton of fun with the Academy students this year!
Resident Assistant
Lizzie Clark
GLA Elective: Colonization/Decolonization: Classical Reception in Colonial-era Mexico
Lizzie is a rising junior at Columbia University majoring in Classics with an additional concentration in Art History. After attending GLA as a student in 2017, Lizzie is excited to return as a RA this summer. As she pursues a career in academia, Lizzie is particularly interested in looking at applications of postcolonial scholarship and gender theory when studying ancient mythology, identity-formation in the Roman provinces, and the later reception of Classics by cultures beyond the Mediterranean. When Lizzie isn’t scratching her head over Judith Butler, Virginia Woolf, Seneca, Sappho, Catullus, or Ovid, Lizzie enjoys maintaining her art portfolio with paintings and multimedia collages. On campus, Lizzie is a proud member of the first-generation/low-income network and loves to volunteer as a debate coach at various public schools in NYC. When she has time-off from nerd duty, Lizzie enjoys being a total geek: watching Coen Brothers’ films, attending cheap alt-rock concerts (in the pre-Covid world at least), and meandering through art museums.
Lizzie Clark
GLA Elective: Colonization/Decolonization: Classical Reception in Colonial-era Mexico
Lizzie is a rising junior at Columbia University majoring in Classics with an additional concentration in Art History. After attending GLA as a student in 2017, Lizzie is excited to return as a RA this summer. As she pursues a career in academia, Lizzie is particularly interested in looking at applications of postcolonial scholarship and gender theory when studying ancient mythology, identity-formation in the Roman provinces, and the later reception of Classics by cultures beyond the Mediterranean. When Lizzie isn’t scratching her head over Judith Butler, Virginia Woolf, Seneca, Sappho, Catullus, or Ovid, Lizzie enjoys maintaining her art portfolio with paintings and multimedia collages. On campus, Lizzie is a proud member of the first-generation/low-income network and loves to volunteer as a debate coach at various public schools in NYC. When she has time-off from nerd duty, Lizzie enjoys being a total geek: watching Coen Brothers’ films, attending cheap alt-rock concerts (in the pre-Covid world at least), and meandering through art museums.
Resident Assistant
JP Wilusz
GLA Elective: Latin Word Play: It's Educational?!
James “JP” Wilusz just finished his 4th year at the University of Virginia, studying Classics and Economics, and he will be going ~somewhere~ to earn his MA in Classics in the fall. He is currently the Member-at-Large of the Virginia Senior Classical League executive board. After attending GLA in 2016, James is very excited to be returning to the Academy for a second time as an RA. His favorite Latin authors are Cicero, Ovid, Lucretiu,s and Petronius, and his classical interests include Roman History, Latin puns, word puzzles, and Certamen. James spends his summers as one of the coaches for the Virginia Intermediate Certamen team. Outside of the ancient realm, James enjoys spending his time playing video games, watching UVA sports teams and Liverpool FC, and singing with the Virginia Glee Club.
JP Wilusz
GLA Elective: Latin Word Play: It's Educational?!
James “JP” Wilusz just finished his 4th year at the University of Virginia, studying Classics and Economics, and he will be going ~somewhere~ to earn his MA in Classics in the fall. He is currently the Member-at-Large of the Virginia Senior Classical League executive board. After attending GLA in 2016, James is very excited to be returning to the Academy for a second time as an RA. His favorite Latin authors are Cicero, Ovid, Lucretiu,s and Petronius, and his classical interests include Roman History, Latin puns, word puzzles, and Certamen. James spends his summers as one of the coaches for the Virginia Intermediate Certamen team. Outside of the ancient realm, James enjoys spending his time playing video games, watching UVA sports teams and Liverpool FC, and singing with the Virginia Glee Club.
