JT Thomas
JT Thomas (they/them/theirs) graduated with a B.A. in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies from the Pennsylvania State University in 2024 (summa cum laude). Their research interests revolve broadly around the modulation and construction of gender and sexuality in the ancient Mediterranean, especially instances of gender and/or sexually diverse expression. Other research interests include queer studies, queer theory, and their intersections with Classics’ reception and disciplinary history.
Recent work includes their capstone project, “Written on the Subway Walls: Marginalized Sexualities in Pompeiian Graffiti and the Case of Ismenus Fellator,” which explores the interiority of male prostitutes in 1st Century CE Italy, as well as their potentialities of sexual identity-making and opportunities for sexual agency, all while pushing the limits of both storytelling and scholarship through its creative-hybrid methodology. They presented a version of this project at the Roman Archaeology Conference/Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference in Aarhus, Denmark in May of 2026.
Outside of academia, JT enjoys belting out show tunes, writing queer romances, catching Pokémon, playing D&D, and rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Lord of the Rings (the extended editions, obviously), and various pieces of Star Wars media.”