Southwestern Magazine | Spring 2020

ThomasNobleHowe Professor of Art andArt History; Coordinator General of the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Project, Italy How long have you been working in higher education? I came to Southwestern in 1985—uh, 35 years ago!—straight from Harvard Square. It was a bit of a shock, like Elizabeth Taylor in Giant moving toMarfa, Texas! But it turned out well worth staying. I have close relationswith numerous successful alumni and can conduct an international research career from here and throughmy travels, and I have contributed to building two really good departments (Art and Art History). I wouldn’t move to an R1 [research] university now; these departments are better. What inspired you to pursue a career inhigher education? I wanted to pursue a creative career in architecture in a revolutionary age andhave. In education, I have found the direct rewards of watching young people growand be empowered by what I apparently teach. I nowhave a number of very successful alumni whom I have sent to some of the best architecture and graduate schools in the country and who occupy very prestigious positions in firms and museums and universities. DuringyouryearsatSouthwestern, howhas theUniversity changed but also stayed the same? After the von Humboldt model, faculty no longer convey fixed knowledge but are now current contributors to the dynamic knowledge in their fields. When I came here, few faculty were active researchers, andnobody had everworked internationally. But the personal concern for accessibility for serious students has stayed the same. What is something your students would be surprised to know about you? Probably nothing! They are used to being surprised. When not working, you can findme… Working. Work is play. I never stop. If you could have a drink at the Cove with anyone in the world, living or dead, what would the beverage be, who would the person be, and why? Oooh,that’sagoodone.Ihavehadsomereallygoodconversations with amazing people, often over drinks: Archibald Cox (Watergate special prosecutor), Charles Moore (most influential postmodern architect), SherryRowland (Nobel ’95) and his daughter Ingrid. The drink: Brunello di Montalcino, Castello Banfi, with black truffle paste. No need to talk to dead people. They leave their legacy in writings, which come alive when you sit down and read them. Describe your dream vacation. Travel for work is more fun. I get to travel to really interesting locations and get to be an insider in the local professional culture. Often, I get picked up by car and driver; give a lecture, often in the local language (Italian often and, recently, French); get free time; or enjoy a guided tour of Lisbonor theGoldenRing of Russia, a stroll through theHermitagewith a badge, a lecture and birthday dinner at the Hong Kong Club, a lecture at the AmericanEmbassy inRome or the Smithsonian inWashington, keynote lectures at Moscow State University and Siracusa Sicily, andmaking stuffreallyhappenatmyhuge archaeological site at Stabiae, near Pompeii, Italy, coordinating to date 35 international universities and research institutions. Okay, and a stroll along the North SanGabriel hike and bike trail can be a pretty good quick change: turtles, field mice, gurgling springs, shady trees. And thewildbirds inmybackyard’s birdfeeder: endless vitality. They never stop, either. I used to row. I miss it. What advice would you give students going into your field today? The liberal arts are only for themore ambitious. They prepare you for the changes in career your generation will inevitably face. If you are not prepared for an international career, you may have no career. The liberal arts prepare you for elite leadership and privilege (only 4% of degrees are in the liberal arts, but their influence far outweighs that), and you are going to be an elite (which means, literally, electi , “chosen”), which means you will have all the responsibilities to humanity that your privilegewill entail. 29 SOUTHWESTERN