Our Committee

President

Leah Tavasi

Hi! I'm Leah. I am a 2nd Year NERC DTP Environmental Research in Archaeology and Geography. I completed my MSc in Archaeology at Oxford in 2022. I have a BA in Classical History/Languages and Psychology from McGill University. My PhD focuses on combining maritime archaeology with environmental marine science.

Vice President

Muchen Zhou

Treasurer

Akari Goda-Maurezzutt

Hello, I am this year's Treasurer for GAO! I am a DPhil student in Archaeology and Archaeological Science at Hertford College. My research focuses on analysing Eastern steppe and Chinese bronzes using chemical analysis and archival research. I hope to meet many of you at the Institute or GAO events!

Secretary

Antonie Brenne
Hi, I’m Antonie. I am a 2nd-year MPhil student in Classical Archaeology, for which I am currently researching non-marble imperial portraiture from the provinces. I completed my BA in Classical History in Berlin (also pretty much focused on imperial portraits). As my academic career progresses, my plan is to venture more into the world of late antiquity and early Christianity...

Classical Archaeology Representative

Antonie Brenne
... and I also am the Classical Archaeology Representative!

MSc Archaeology Representative

Vaughn Ortner

Hi! My name is Vaughn, and my hometown is Brick Township, New Jersey, USA. This academic year, I am studying in the MSc Archaeology course, concentrating in Maritime Archaeology. I am interested in the archaeology of coastlines and management of maritime cultural heritage, but my love of fieldwork has led me to pursue projects in many other parts of the world. I enjoy spending most of my free time outdoors, especially going on hikes and fishing trips. During the American football season, I spend Sundays rooting for the New York Giants.

Lab Representative

Mikayla Coad

Equality & Diversity Officer

Eva Hayward

Hi! My name’s Eva, I use any and all pronouns, and I’m delighted to be your Equality and Diversity rep!! Originally from Northern Ireland, I did my undergrad here in Oxford in Classics before hopping sub-faculties to do an MPhil in Classical Archaeology. I’ve been involved in different aspects of college and uni welfare since my undergrad and have also done a fair amount of access work (you might even see my picture on some Oxford websites!), so im really looking forward to representing you guys as equality and diversity rep!! I also play in a folk band and can be found in pub

Conference Coordinator

Thomas Draghetti

Hi! I'm Thomas, a second-year MPhil student in Classical Archaeology. I completed my BA in Classics at La Sapienza University in Rome. For my master's, I'm focusing on the Late Antique and Byzantine periods, with a specific interest in reconstructing early monastic life in Egypt. I'm also one of the co-organisers for this year's GAO Conference, so feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Conference Coordinator

Pierre-Louis Pestre

Hello, I’m Pierre, second year MPhil Classical Archaeology and one of your two conference organisers. I studied Classics at Durham for my BA, and I am broadly interested in Mystery cults in Greece and Rome. Feel free to reach out to me for anything about the conference, or if you have a hot take about Mithraism you want someone to listen to.

Social Secretary

Sarah LaPorte

Hi! I’m Sarah, a second year MPhil student in Classical Archaeology. My research focuses on the recent destruction of cultural heritage from the classical world. I completed my BA in Anthropology and Classical Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 2023. This year I am one of your GAO social secretaries, so I hope to see you at one of our many events!

Social Secretary

Madelyn Mezzell

Hi! I’m Madelyn, a second year MPhil student in Classical Archaeology. My research focuses on the representation of apes in pre-Roman Italy. I completed dual Bachelors’ degrees in Anthropology and International Studies from Texas State University. I am one of the social secretaries, and I look forward to getting to know you all!

Seminar Series Coordinator

Jingyuan Yvonne Zou

Hi! I’m a second-year DPhil student in Archaeology. With a background in Archaeological Science and Heritage Studies, my research focuses on early globalisation and the role of East African coastal communities in shaping intercontinental trade, particularly through the metallographic and elemental analysis of copper and copper alloys.

Skills Seminars Coordinator

Susan Chai

Hi, I’m Susan! I am a DPhil student in Classical Archaeology. My research examines the nineteenth-century intellectual history of modernism through the representation of architectural remains at Hisarlık (the site of Ancient Troy). I’m a lecturer of Architectural History and Theory and practice architectural design in the UK and Canada.

Skills Seminars Coordinator

Holly Winch

Hi, I'm Holly, I'm a second year DPhil student in Classical Archaeology at Merton College and one of this year's co-coordinators of the GAO skills seminar. My research focuses on the Greek world during the Early Iron Age and Archaic Period. As skills seminar co-ordinator, I help to organise weekly seminars that help postgraduate archaeologists to learn practical skills that they can use in their research and in their future careers.