Student Spotlight: Alexandra Rousset '29
2025-26 Jameson Fellow for American Painting & Decorative Arts
Receiving the undergraduate Jameson Fellowship for American Painting and Decorative Arts, rising sophomore Alexandra Roussett, who is from Paris and has previously held internships at the Louvre, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Centre Pompidou, will spend the next academic year as a researcher at the Bayou Bend Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and receive a $15,000 stipend.
Alexandra describes what inspired her to apply for the fellowship:
“Pursuing a double major in Art History and Philosophy with a minor in Museum and Cultural Heritage, I am both deeply interested and invested in the study and curation of Art. Growing up in Paris, I was fortunate to be continuously immersed in an environment that bears some of the world’s most renowned museums and cultural institutions –holding to their name some of the most prized and known historical masterpieces– as well as world-famous historical monuments, which shaped my passion for the Arts, and my desire to contribute to their preservation and further interpretation.
My experience interning at the Louvre, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Centre Pompidou has provided me with an in-depth understanding of museum operations and the fruitful collaboration of their various and diverse departments, from curatorial work, to conservation and restoration, to exhibition design and so much more.
The Jameson Fellowship presents an invaluable opportunity for me to expand my academic and professional pursuits. Engaging with the MFAH’s collections, particularly the Bayou Bend Collection’s remarkable selection of early American decorative Arts, would provide me with a unique comparative perspective to my more European-oriented background. The collection’s meticulous craftsmanship and historical significance resonate deeply with my interest in the intersection of material culture and intellectual history.
I plan to pursue graduate studies in Art History, focusing on transnational dialogues in art and material culture, and I am overly eager to contribute my global perspective, knowledge, and experience to the field. The opportunity to work closely with museum professionals at the MFAH would provide unparalleled mentorship and hands-on experience.“