Assistant Professor of Classics Kyle Mahoney was recently awarded a fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in the School of Historical Studies for the 2026–27 academic year. This prestigious membership allows for focused research and the free and open exchange of ideas among an international community of scholars at one of the foremost centers for intellectual inquiry.

"I am so excited and grateful to have this opportunity to research at the IAS,” says Mahoney. “I have never had a sabbatical before, and this experience will allow me to work with some of the brightest minds in my field, which I am certain will exponentially improve the quality of my work.”

As an ancient historian and archaeologist who specializes in epigraphy and Mycenology, Mahoney will work on a book about toponymy and topography in the ancient Peloponnese, with a particular focus upon the place names attached to mountains.

“Every class that I have taught at Swarthmore has pushed me to develop new ideas about and perspectives on the ancient world,” says Mahoney, who looks forward to integrating insights from his Honors seminars on ancient Mediterranean religion into the book project. Previously, Mahoney brought Swarthmore students to Greece to excavate at a mountaintop shrine in the Peloponnese. Some of the students hiked around the mountains and rivers with him as well, and he says he is keen to incorporate those shared experiences into the book as well.

Mahoney credits his successful application for the fellowship to his time at Swarthmore, saying, “Over the past seven years of working at the College, I have gained confidence in my teaching and scholarly expertise thanks to the challenging questions of our students. I am always so impressed with Swarthmore's undergraduates, who are the best students I have ever taught. My colleagues in the Department of Classics have been incredible mentors to me, and I deeply value their support of my professional development and scholarly work.”

In 2018 and 2022, Mahoney presented papers at the IAS epigraphy conference, and says he was most struck with the School of Historical Studies’ kind and collegial environment.

“Those experiences really pushed me to apply for this fellowship,” he adds. “I am also thrilled to be able to spend time at this historic institution, which has been a home for so many famous scientists and humanists over the past century."

Each year, IAS welcomes more than 250 of the most promising post-doctoral researchers and distinguished scholars from around the world to advance fundamental discovery as part of an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. 

Visiting scholars are selected through a competitive process for their bold ideas, innovative methods, and deep research questions by the IAS’ permanent faculty — each of whom are preeminent leaders in their fields. Past IAS faculty include, Albert Einstein, Robert MacPherson '66, and J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Mahoney is among numerous Swarthmore scholars to receive this distinction, including Sara Lawrence Lightfoot Professor Emerita of History Lillian Li; Professor Emeritus of History Stephen Bensch; machine learning pioneer John Hopfield ’54, H’92, P’93; American historian and sexologist Thomas Laqueur ’67, H’14; anthropologist Erica Cartmill ’03; and current member and systems biologist Karl Palmquist ’17. 

Swarthmore President Valerie Smith served as an IAS visitor of historical studies from 2005-2006. Frank Aydelotte, Swarthmore College’s president from 1921-1940, served as the IAS's second director during World War II.