John Ochsendorf Named New Director of American Academy in Rome

John Ochsendorf, a professor of architecture and civil engineering at MIT, has been appointed director of the American Academy in Rome, succeeding Kimberly Bowes. Ochsendorf, a MacArthur Fellow in 2008, was a Rome Prize Fellow at the academy in 2008 in historic preservation, studying masonry vaults. He aims to strengthen ties with Italy and continue the academy's role as a critical voice in contemporary culture. The 2017/2018 program focuses on "New Work in the Art & Humanities: East and West," exploring East-West relations through exhibitions, talks, and conferences. Ochsendorf emphasizes interdisciplinary dialogue between artists and scholars, a hallmark of his own research bridging archaeology and engineering. He plans to support the Italian Fellows program and foster collaborations across Italy.