Investing in vision: Welcoming a leader who will shape student’s creative futures

At The American University of Rome, our commitment to academic excellence rests on the quality, experience, and vision of our faculty. We’re proud to announce a significant milestone in that commitment with the appointment of Soulé Déesse as Professor of Fine Arts and Director of the Fine Arts Program, beginning January 2026.

Déesse joins AUR from Tufts University’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), where she has served as Professor of the Practice (Drawing & Painting) and Chair of Drawing and Painting. Her distinguished career as an artist and educator reflects deep engagement with both creative practice and pedagogical leadership - an ideal combination for elevating our Fine Arts Program.

This appointment underscores a core truth: attracting world-class faculty enriches the student experience, expands intellectual horizons, and signals AUR’s rising profile in global arts education. Students will benefit directly from mentorship that connects classroom learning with professional practice, studio rigor, and creative inquiry - a difference that resonates through portfolios, exhibitions, and post-graduation opportunities.

For donors, supporting faculty development is one of the most strategic ways to multiply impact. Gifts that underwrite professorships, program leadership roles, and competitive compensation help AUR recruit and retain leaders who push boundaries, inspire students, and strengthen academic programs. Faculty investments are not abstract line-items; they shape the day-to-day educational environment and the long-term trajectories of students’ creative and professional lives.

With Déesse’s arrival, AUR’s Fine Arts Program is poised for growth - in curriculum, visibility, and artistic achievement. Your support makes it possible for us to bring visionary educators to Rome, provide students with exceptional learning opportunities, and position AUR as a destination for those who seek serious, studio-based education in an international context.

Faculty development isn’t just about hiring great teachers. It’s about fueling ideas, expanding opportunities, and deepening AUR’s academic impact.