Joseph Alchermes

Joseph Alchermes serves as Associate Professor of Art History and Director of Architectural Studies at Connecticut College. His academic journey includes a B.A. from Wesleyan University and M.A. and Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. He teaches a broad array of courses ranging from surveys of ancient and medieval art to specialized investigations of Roman, eastern and western medieval, and Islamic art and architecture.

Alchermes' research interests focus on Late Roman art, Early Christian art, Byzantine art, and Medieval architecture, with particular attention to the connections between the Roman and Early Christian world and the art and architecture of the Byzantine Empire with links to western Europe. His teaching often incorporates experiential learning, as demonstrated by his Art History 260: Medieval Architecture course which featured a ten-day study tour of Tuscany and Rome tracking the Via Francigena pilgrimage route.

His scholarly work shows consistent engagement with Mediterranean architectural traditions, particularly evident in his recent publications which include a collection of essays on medieval topics and field reports on architectural survey and reconstruction. Current projects include a book on ancient Naples and ongoing archaeological field work at several sites in southwestern mainland Greece.

Alchermes has supervised student research assistants in field work, including Elizabeth Mandel '09 and Erin Okabe-Jawdat '10, demonstrating his commitment to involving students directly in his scholarly activities. His departmental leadership as Director of Architectural Studies reflects his interdisciplinary approach to the built environment, examining design, history, human cognition, economics and public policy through an architectural lens.