Houston Daily

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has selected two professors from the University of Houston as part of its centennial class of 2025 Guggenheim Fellows. This recognition is, notably, one of the most prestigious honors for scholars in the arts and humanities.

Anna Mayer, an associate professor at the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts, and francine j. harris, an English professor from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, are among 198 creative artists chosen from nearly 3,500 applicants.

Diane Z. Chase, UH senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, commented, "It speaks volumes that two UH professors are 2025 Guggenheim Fellows. Selection for these fellowships is no easy feat and quite competitive. This accomplishment truly reflects the immense talents of our faculty. It also is proof that our students are learning from some of the nation’s top creative minds."

Mayer and harris, who prefers lowercase for her name, are the 18th and 19th Guggenheim fellows to be chosen from the University. Alongside the University of Texas, UH is one of only two institutions in Texas to receive such appointments this year. Recipients of the fellowship receive a monetary stipend to pursue their work independently, without specific constraints.

Honorees from the 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows come from 53 disciplines, 83 academic institutions, and two Canadian provinces. Since its founding in 1925, the Guggenheim Foundation has granted over $400 million in fellowships to more than 19,000 individuals.

Edward Hirsch, president of the Guggenheim Foundation, remarked, “We believe that these creative thinkers can take on the challenges we all face today and guide our society towards a better and more hopeful future."

Anna Mayer creates ceramic sculptures and intends to focus on understanding settler colonial legacies within both art history and contemporary land use. She expressed, “I am honored to be recognized by a foundation explicitly committed to fostering the ‘freest possible conditions’ for scholarship.” Her project is rooted in research she conducted for a class she teaches.

Meanwhile, francine j. harris, an award-winning author of three poetry collections, will delve into themes concerning the effects of violence and trauma. She stated, “Receiving the Guggenheim Fellowship is both an honor and an affirmation, and it comes at a pivotal moment when we find ourselves fighting for academic freedom.” Harris highlighted the role of poetry in exploring language and meaning: “Poetry is an incredibly adaptable art form – it allows for exciting explorations in language, rhythm, form and meaning.”