Congratulations to Professor Emma Smith, who has been appointed as Gresham College’s 51st Professor of Rhetoric.
The role of Professor of Rhetoric dates to Gresham College’s foundations, one of seven professorships set out in the will of its founder, Sir Thomas Gresham. The first was Caleb Willis, while others have included former poet laurate Cecil Day-Lewis, historian Richard J Evans and, most recently, Melissa Lane, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Professor Smith said of her appointment: “Everything about this role – from the title which must be the best in the world, to the long history of distinguished professors including my Shakespearean hero Jan Kott in 1986, and most of all the opportunity to meet diverse audiences in person and online – is an honour, a privilege and an excitement”.
“I am grateful to the College for the opportunity, and look forward to trying to maintain the intellectual excitement that Melissa Lane has generated as the 50th Gresham Professor of Rhetoric.”
Professor Smith will continue the 430-year-old tradition of delivering free lectures aimed at the public, both within the City of London and online. Last year, Gresham College lectures had more than seven million views.
Professor Jane Shaw, Provost of Gresham College, said: “I am thrilled by Emma Smith’s appointment. Professor Smith is a brilliant scholar of great distinction who knows how to convey her ideas in the most engaging ways to the broadest of audiences.”
This view was echoed by Richard Smith, Executive Director of Gresham College, who said: "Rhetoric is one of our oldest Gresham professorships, dating back to its foundation. We have always sought the best academic minds and communicators for each of our chairs, and it is with great pleasure that we welcome Professor Emma Smith to the College."
Professor Smith will give her first lecture as Professor of Rhetoric next month: Shakespeare Now: Creativity and Controversy explores how Shakespeare is performed in contemporary theatre and film, and the sometimes heated questions it raises about representation, politics, and relevance.
