08/10/2026
Numerous humanities faculty members at the University of Rochester were appointed to named professorships during the first half of 2026. An honor designed to recognize the national stature of a professor’s work, the named positions are part of a long-standing tradition to celebrate the work of URochester’s faculty as researchers, scholars, and teachers.
Congratulations to the following faculty:
Michael Jarvis, a professor of history, has been jointly appointed as the Dexter Perkins Professor in History. His research spans early Atlantic and maritime history using historical archaeology and material culture to study trade, migration, and colonization networks. The position honors the late Dexter Perkins, a prominent American diplomatic historian who helped establish URochester’s graduate program in history and served as chair of the Department of History for nearly 30 years.
Alison Peterman, an associate professor of philosophy, has been jointly appointed as Arthur Satz Professor of the Humanities. Her research interests include early modern philosophy, philosophy of science, and philosophy of perception. The professorship is among several humanities professorships named for the late Arthur Satz ’51, a music major and the late president emeritus at the New York School of Interior Design.
Brianna Theobald, an associate professor of history, has been appointed as the Joseph F. Cunningham Professor. Theobald is an award-winning teacher and researcher in the fields of US women’s and gender history, Native American history, and the history of reproduction. The professorship was established by the late Joseph Cunningham ’67 (MA) and his wife, Andrea, to support a scholar in history, particularly modern European and American history.
