"Life and Art in Roman Villas": Lecture by Phi Beta Kappa Professor Elaine Gazda

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - A Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, Professor Elaine K. Gazda of the University of Michigan, will visit Williams College on Tuesday, November 17, to lecture on "Life and Art in Roman Villas." The lecture is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Lawrence Hall 231 on the Williams campus.

Gazda is an expert on ancient Roman and Graeco-Roman art and architecture. Her research focuses on Roman art, especially that associated with the private realm.

Currently, Gazda is working on issues of copying and emulation in Roman art and the exploitation of Roman art by the Italian Fascist government.

Gazda has done fieldwork in Italy at Cosa and Pompeii, which was rediscovered in the 18th century after being buried under ashes by the volcano Mount Vesuvius. She has also worked in Turkey at Sardis, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, and Pisidian Antioch.

She is author, co-author, or editor of a number of books and exhibition catalogues, "Roman Art in the Private Sphere," (1991) and "The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii: Ancient Ritual, Modern Muse" (2000) among others. Her most impressive museum projects are "Images of Empire: Marble Fragments in Rome and Ann Arbor Rejoined," (1996) and "The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii: Ancient Ritual, Modern Muse," (2000) both of which were displayed at the University of Michigan's Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.

Professor Gazda teaches Classical Art and Archaeology at the Department of the History of Art at the University of Michigan. She is also Director of the Interdepartmental Program in Art and Archaeology, and Curator of Hellenistic and Roman Antiquities at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.

Gazda received her Ph.D. from Harvard University.

The Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Program invites 12 or more distinguished scholars to visit colleges and universities around the country with chapters of Phi Beta Kappa. The purpose of the program is to, "contribute to the intellectual life of the institution by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students." The program is now entering its 53rd year.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.