As a double major in the Corcoran Department of History at UVa, I have primarily focused my studies on ancient- and in particular Roman- history, which is one of my greatest academic and personal fascinations. I have taken several challenging yet comprehensive courses in Roman history under my major advisors, professors Jon Lendon and Elizabeth Meyer, having completed my capstone thesis with the latter on the evoluton of adoption as a political tool over two centuries of the High Roman Empire. My fascination with Roman history springs from its parallels with, and indeed significant contributions to, our modern society, the intense drama and profundity of many of its key periods and events, and the sheer magnitude and extent to which Roman society ascended and persisted- in space, time, and influence. I am interested in all aspects of Roman history- politics, society, law, religion- and all periods, however I am most captivated by the period from ~100 B.C.E to 14 C.E., which witnessed the dramatic fall of the Roman Republic and its transfiguration into the monarchical Roman Empire under the first emperor, Augustus.

Also, I think about the Roman Empire likely ~10 times per day, on average. Unashamedly.