Newsmakers

Cecilia Alemani MA-CCS ’05 has been announced as the curator of the first nomadic iteration of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, taking place through 2027, reports Artsy. The prize, founded in 2005, supports women artists at pivotal points in their careers. In its new nomadic model, artists will travel to a different country for each edition, during which the winning artist will present the work at a partner institution. Alemani, who previously served as the curator of the Italian Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and curated the New York City High Line, said the award is “evolving into a full-fledged tool of cultural diplomacy and international dialogue.” She noted that the nomadic iteration of the prize comes at a “time of fragmentation,” and this new model signifies the award’s commitment “to building the kind of solid, lasting ties that are essential not only for the blossoming of individual careers, but for the growth and reinvention of the entire ecosystem of contemporary art.”

Henry Mielarczyk ’25 contributed to the winter issue of the Stennis Center for Public Service’s Public Service Review. He interviewed Ben Rich, chief of staff to Congressional Representative Nellie Pou, about the legacy of his former employer Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., a lifelong resident of New Jersey who established the first federal program to deliver grant money directly to firefighters. Rich said working for his hometown representative meant, “I was able to better understand the needs of the district because I knew it intimately.” He says his approach as chief of staff is still to execute good policies and “make sure [they] help people.”

Mielarczyk was recently elected to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee as its youngest member. He currently works with the New York State Assembly as a graduate scholar, and is a student in the Levy Master of Science program. Last summer, he joined the Stennis Program for Congressional Interns.