Manhattan University, the 173-year-old Lasallian Catholic institution, today announced that Daniel Savoy, Ph.D. has been appointed a Paul Mellon Fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The appointment runs from mid-September 2026 through mid-May 2027 and carries with it a stipend of $50,000. This highly prestigious position is sponsored by The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, the premier institute for art and architectural research in the U.S. It is part of the National Gallery of Art based in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Savoy, a Professor in the Department of Communication, Sound & Media Arts, is originally from the Albany, NY area and is the first member of the Manhattan University community to achieve this notable award. His fellowship focus is to continue work on his second book, Architecture of the Soul: Buildings, Cities, and the Construction of Life in Early Modern Italy, which is under contract with Yale University Press. The book shows that Italian Renaissance architects (including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Andrea Palladio) followed the divine logic of the human soul when designing their buildings, creating ‘living’ organisms that worked in harmony with God, the universe, and the people who used them.
Said Marcy Kelly, Ph.D., Dean of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences at Manhattan University,
“We are incredibly proud of the scholarly work that Dan is doing and will continue to do during his year as a Mellon Fellow. In addition to his research, he has a love of teaching and sharing his ideas and knowledge that add so much to the students’ growth in his classes.”
As part of the program, senior fellowships provide scholars with the opportunity to conduct full-time research in residence at the Center. They have access to the notable resources of the National Gallery, including its library and art collection, as well as those of greater Washington, D.C. Fellows participate in lectures, colloquia, and discussions with the Center’s vibrant community of scholars.
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About Manhattan University
Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Lasallian Catholic institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. Manhattan University offers programs that integrate a broad liberal arts education coupled with a concentration in specific disciplines in the arts and sciences with professional preparation in business and engineering, ensuring graduates will excel in their chosen fields. The University consists of the Kakos School of Arts & Sciences, the O’Malley School of Business, and the School of Engineering. For further information, please visit www.manhattan.edu.