Michael L. Thomas is an Associate Provost, Director of the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History, and the Richard R. Brettell Distinguished University Chair at UT Dallas. He also serves as the managing curator of the DMA galleries at the UT Dallas Athenaeum. He has excavated in Italy for 29 years where he co-directs two projects: the ongoing Oplontis Project in Torre Annunziata and the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project which is now in publication phase. A collaborative and interdisciplinary project between UT Dallas and UT Austin, the Oplontis Project is a leader in the implementation and utilization of Digital Humanities. His publications include studies on Etruscan architecture and archaeology, Roman art and architecture, Roman villas, Roman wine trade, and Roman numismatics.