Summer 2012
Around the Quads
Eight Columbia Professors Win Guggenheim Fellowships
Literature Humanities chair Christia Mercer and Contemporary Civilizations chair Matthew Jones were among the eight Columbia University professors awarded Guggenheim Fellowships in April, the largest number from any institution this year. Mercer, the Gustave M. Berne Professor of Philosophy, and Jones, the James R. Barker Associate Professor of Contemporary Civilization, both will be replaced by interim chairs next year.
Also winning the prestigious fellowship were, from the School of the Arts, associate professor of writing Timothy Donnelly ’98 Arts and adjunct professor of writing Benjamin Taylor ’92 GSAS; from the Mailman School of Public Health, professor and deputy chair for doctoral studies Jennifer Hirsch; adjunct instructor of music Alex Mincek ’12 GSAS and adjunct assistant professor of music Kate Soper ’11 GSAS; and from the Journalism School, adjunct professor Stephen S. Hall.
During her fellowship, Mercer will work on a book project, Platonisms in Early Modern Thought. She also will continue to oversee a new book series, Oxford Philosophical Concepts, which offers accounts of key concepts in the history of philosophy (such as matter, soul, evil, space, health, consciousness, sympathy and self-knowledge). Jones will study the history of data mining, a technique for summarizing large sets of data via computer software.
A total of 181 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships were awarded this year to scholars, artists and scientists in the United States and Canada. Guggenheim Fellows are appointed based on distinguished achievement and exceptional promise for future accomplishment. The purpose of the Guggenheim Fellowship program is to help provide fellows with six to 12 months to work with as much creative freedom as possible.