Rachel Gastrich (they/she/he) is a first year PhD student specializing in philology and literature, and is most interested in studying sexuality and gender in both Greek and Latin drama and comedy. They received their Bachelor of Arts in Classical and Mediterranean Studies from Vanderbilt University in 2023 (cum laude). Their interests were explored extensively in their master’s thesis, titled “Examining Tiresias in Euripides’ Bacchae: A Trans Close Reading,” while earning their M.A. at Cornell University in 2024. They are excited to expand on their interests while at The Ohio State University, especially by exploring the religious nature behind ancient theater.