Jessica is a 30-year-old historian and award-winning academic of ancient Rome. 

She is an Early Career Research Associate at the Institute of Classical Studies (School of Advanced Studies, University of London), the Shortland-Jones Rome Scholar at the British School at Rome, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. 

Her first academic book, A New History of Ancient Roman Theatre, was published by LUP in 2025, and her first trade history book, CIRCUS: When Tyranny Came to Ancient Rome, will be published by Bloomsbury in February 2027. She is currently working on a new edited volume for LUP and a second book for Bloomsbury.

She is also currently working as a historical consultant with Mary Beard on Martin Scorsese’s latest film project.