Dr. Aaron Rosen

Aaron Rosen, PhD, founded and directs The Parsonage. Aaron is a writer, curator, and non-profit leader, respected internationally for his work in the public humanities, interfaith dialogue, and the arts.  Aaron serves as Executive Director of The Clemente Course in the Humanities, a national non-profit delivering transformative, free college courses to underserved communities. Aaron is also Visiting Professor of Sacred Traditions & the Arts at King’s College London, where he taught previously.  He served as Director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion in Washington, DC and began his career as a fellow at Yale, Oxford, and Columbia Universities.  He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge. His research has been supported by numerous scholarships, awards, and grants, from bodies including the Mellon Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, and Templeton Religion Trust. Aaron has curated dozens of exhibitions around the world and provided commentary for various outlets, including the BBC, PBS, The Guardian, and Image Journal, where he is the arts editor. He is the author or editor of thirteen books, including Art and Religion in the 21st Century, What Would Jesus See?, and A Journey through Art for kids, translated into seven languages.

Xiao Ma

Xiao Ma is a curatorial fellow at the Parsonage. She is a Master of Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary whose work explores the intersections of art, ecology, and spirituality. She is currently working with the Center for Earth Ethics in collaboration with Parsonage Gallery through a grant funded by the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change at Columbia University, supporting projects that connect environmental engagement, community building, and creative practice. This summer, she is interviewing artists and writing about the gallery's summer exhibition, documenting the stories, ideas, and creative processes behind the work.

Organization

In December 2025, Our COMMON Foundation concluded its 18-year incubator, wound down its projects and programs, and aligned itself with ecology, spirituality, and creativity. We are directing our collective efforts toward The Parsonage to advance the shared visions of Dr. Aaron Rosen and Dr. Matthew Wilburn King, contemporaries from the University of Cambridge. Dr. King continues to serve as Founder and Executive Board Member of Our COMMON Foundation, while Dr. Rosen serves as Founder and Curatorial Director of The Parsonage Gallery, the foundation's flagship program.

Board of Directors

Advisory Board