![](https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/styles/ratio_2_3/public/assets/images/RIA-FrontDoor-image.gif?itok=A7q_EGWo)
Maynooth University congratulates Profs JoAnne Mancini and David Stifter on their acceptance to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) today.
Professors JoAnne Mancini and David Stifter are among the 29 newly elected members of the Academy for their exceptional contributions to humanities and social sciences.
Membership in the RIA is awarded to persons who have attained the highest distinction by their unique contributions to education and research.
Dr JoAnne Mancini, Associate Professor of History is the author of prize-winning books displaying impressive disciplinary and geographic range, illuminating the origins of artistic modernism in the United States, and demonstrating how fundamental looting, iconoclasm, and other destructive art practices have been to imperial war.
David Stifter, Professor of Old and Middle Irish, is an established scholar and researcher with international standing and leadership in the field of Celtic Studies and Medieval Irish Philology.
The members were officially admitted to the academy in an in-person ceremony today by Dr Mary Canning, President of the Academy. Welcoming the newly admitted members, Dr Canning said: “We are immensely proud of these 29 new Members who we are recognising today for their scholarly achievements, their research, and international distinction or for significant contributions to Irish society. As new Members of the Academy, they will contribute to and strengthen our capacity to provide expert advice on Higher Education and Research policy.”
![JoAnne Mancini](https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_small/public/assets/images/JoAnne%20Mancini.jpg?itok=bbdqBCau)
![David Stifter](https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_small/public/assets/images/David%20Stifter_0.jpg?itok=ZIMbI35d)
![David Stifter, JoAnne Mancini and Filipe Ribeiro de Meneses RIA](https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_small/public/assets/images/David%20Stifter%2C%20JoAnne%20Mancini%20and%20Filipe%20Ribeiro%20de%20Meneses%20RIA.jpg?itok=4C7rb-sw)
![JoAnne Mancini and Dr Canning RIA](https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_small/public/assets/images/JoAnne%20Mancini%20and%20Dr%20Canning%20RIA.jpg?itok=AvNZDkxh)
![David Stifter and Dr Canning RIA](https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_small/public/assets/images/David%20Stifter%20and%20Dr%20Canning%20RIA.jpg?itok=alZaRc78)