The American University of Rome (AUR) has announced the appointment of British archaeologist Dr Richard Andrew Hodges as president of the university. On 1 July 2012 Hodges will succeed acting AUR president Dr Andrew Thompson, who will return to his prior role of provost.

In 2007 Hodges was appointed Williams Director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology in Philadelphia, a post he will continue to hold until 30 June 2012. He is also director of the Institute of World Archaeology, University of East Anglia in England.

Hodges is already well-known in Rome