Andrew W. Mellon Humanities Professor

AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME

Since 1894 the American Academy of Rome has functioned as a residential center for research and creativity. Its purpose has always been to enable highly motivated scholars and artists to immerse themselves in the experience of Rome, ancient and modern, and to be inspired by daily exchange with the other members of this creative community. The Academy has made an outsized impact on the intellectual and cultural life of the United States, numbering among its Fellows and Residents 452 Guggenheim Fellows, 52 Pulitzer Prize-winners, 33 MacArthur Fellows, 11 Grammy-awardees, 9 Pritzker Prize-winners, 8 Poet Laureates and 5 Nobel Prize laureates. Approximately 35 Fellows are selected as winners of the Rome Prize each year by rotating juries in the different fields. Additionally, this community is enriched by invited Residents across the disciplines, as well as an array of visiting artists and scholars.

The Academy is led by the President, who is based in its New York office, and its programs and operations in Rome are led by the Director, with the guidance of the Andrew Heiskell Arts Director and Mellon Professor in the Humanities.

Andrew W. Mellon Humanities Professor

The American Academy in Rome invites applications for the position of its Rome-based Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities beginning in summer 2024, for an initial term of two years (2024-2026), with the potential for two one-year renewals.

We are seeking a scholar with an outstanding record of research and imagination to contribute strongly to the intellectual profile of the Academy and its leadership team. The Mellon Professor is the public face of the humanities at the Academy and is also responsible for assisting the Rome Prize Fellows across the Academy’s humanities fields (Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance/Early Modern, Modern Italian, Conservation and Historic Preservation) The Mellon Professor supports Fellows with scholarly guidance, facilitation of Roman and Italian contacts, and works with the Director, Heiskell Arts Director and President on programming and publications. The Mellon Professor plays a key role in advancing the Academy’s mission and maintaining the high quality of its programs.

Supervision

The Mellon Professor reports to the Director and works closely with the Director, the Heiskell Arts Director, supported by the Deputy Director for Fellowships and Programs in Rome, and the President in New York.

Responsibilities

A. Rome Prize Fellows

• Provide scholarly guidance, mentoring, and feedback to all Fellows, especially those in the humanities, across a wide, diverse, and evolving range of subjects, issues, and projects
• Facilitate contacts and dialogue between Fellows and their Italian counterparts in academic, cultural, and other institutions and agencies in Rome and elsewhere
• Help design, organize, and lead compelling and relevant site visits and longer trips in and around Rome, Italy, and the Mediterranean in coordination and collaboration with the Director, the Heiskell Arts Director, as well as the Curator of Archaeology and Program Manager of the Classical Summer School
• Participate in administering the Fellows Project Fund, including informing, and encouraging Fellows to apply, reviewing proposals, and awarding funding
• Strengthen and expand the Academy’s reach and presence in Roman scholarly and creative communities by building relationships and collaborating with local institutions, including Italian universities and foreign schools
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Heiskell Arts Director in all aspects of supporting Fellows
• Perform other responsibilities and tasks related to supporting Fellows as needed and directed by the Director and the President

B. Programs and Publications

• Work closely and collaboratively with the Director and the President as well as the Programs staff to develop, plan, and execute a full roster of vibrant annual programs and events in the humanities and arts
• Support the Programs staff in program coordination, communications, and outreach in a professional, respectful, and meaningful manner
• Collaborate with the Heiskell Arts Director in programs coordination and support the Programs staff in all efforts
• Perform other responsibilities and tasks related to programs as needed and directed by the Director and President

C. Administration and Fundraising

• In conjunction with and as directed by the Director, participate as needed in administrative support for humanities programming at the Academy, including planning discussion topics, researching, and preparing background and presentation materials, and attending meetings
• Attend and participate fully in appropriate staff meetings in Rome and with New York
• Have a robust and visible presence at the Academy at internal and public events, in the office, communal spaces, and at meals
• Support fundraising efforts as requested by coordinating with the Director and development staff in New York and Rome; representing and promoting the Academy’s mission and programs to donors and potential supporters; and providing information and updates on needs and progress for proposals and reports
• As requested by the Director, represents the Academy at functions and with organizations in Rome and Italy
• Assist with after-hour emergencies and other situations and participate in shared on-call duties and other responsibilities as appropriate for the Academy’s management team.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function at an elevated level. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• PhD in humanities field, with published books and articles and lecturing and/or teaching experience
• Minimum of seven years of experience in and knowledge of one or more areas of the Academy’s fellowship fields in the humanities
• Demonstrated intellectual generosity and maturity, with broad interests and curiosity to be able to develop and lead programs in fields other than their own
• Strong interest in developing or an already existing working knowledge of or familiarity with the sites and monuments of Rome and Italy
• Fluency or high degree of proficiency in Italian, with strong verbal and written skills in both Italian and English
• Advanced administrative, strategic thinking and long-range planning abilities, with strong critical thinking skills and budgetary experience
• Proven ability to represent the institution professionally, to interact diplomatically, and to work productively, with a wide range of internal and external constituents including Fellows, management and support staff, board members, donors, funders, and vendors
• Superior relationship building and interpersonal abilities, with significant mentoring skills and adeptness in influencing others
• Ability to take initiative and work independently, with significant accountability, motivation, flexibility, willingness to collaborate, and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional judgment, professionalism, and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive situations and matters
• Ability and willingness to spend the contract period in Rome
• Accessibility and availability to work outside of normal business hours in response to urgent and emergency situations, and availability to participate in evening and weekend programs and events.