Profs Elected to Oldest National Academic Society

Professors Howard E. Gardner ’65, Stephen Owen, and Theda Skocpol have joined founding fathers, academic bigwigs, and current Harvard scholars as newly elected members of the American Philosophical Society (APS). Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743 for “promoting useful knowledge,” the APS is the oldest learned society in America.

According to the society’s website, it had 920 members in over two dozen countries as of April 2005.

Nominations for new members are solicited from the American membership and then reviewed by a committee before the list is submitted to a vote by members.

Each April, the APS gathers to make a final selection, in a process described by Sociology department chair Mary C. Waters as “very rigorous.”

In addition to Waters, who was elected last spring, over 100 Harvard faculty have been elected to the society, including incoming Interim President Derek C. Bok and former University President Neil L. Rudenstine.

Of the newest members, Waters wrote in an e-mail that “it is quite an honor for them and for Harvard.”

As a psychologist and educator, Gardner said his membership is meaningful because he is joining a society of “traditional” scholars.

Citing Nobel laureate Paul Samuelson, Gardner, who is the Hobbs professor of cognition and education said, “in the area of scholarship, the thing that’s most precious is the esteem of your peers, and I’m very honored and humbled that people of the stature of the American Philosophical Society have chosen to select me to their ranks.”

Known for his theory of multiple intelligences, Gardner’s 45-year connection to Harvard begins with his time as an undergraduate. He also did his graduate work at Harvard and became a member of the Graduate School of Education faculty in 1986.

He co-directed Project Zero, which studies learning processes, and leads the GoodWork Project, which studies how professionals maintain occupational ethics.

For Owen, who is Conant University Professor, it’s been a “lucky year”—the famed scholar of Chinese poetry was awarded a 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award by the Mellon Foundation.

He will be joining a slew of other University Professors in what he referred to as “one of the grandest of societies.”

“It’s a great honor, and I’m very pleased,” said Owen, who is the chair of the department of comparative literature.

Combining the fields of sociology, history, and political science, Skocpol is renowned among popular and academic audiences and her most recent research focuses on the politics of American social policies.

As dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Skocpol said she has enjoyed the chance to learn more about the humanities and sciences, and she sees her APS membership as allowing her access to another setting of distinguished scholars.

“I don’t think there are very many settings outside of the university where people interact across fields of knowledge,” said Skocpol, who is also Thomas professor of government and sociology and director of the Center for American Political Studies.

Waters, who will co-teach Social Analysis 54: “American Society and Public Policy” with Skocpol, said she is “especially pleased” with Skocpol’s selection.

“I guess we will have to take turns going to the meetings,” Waters said, in reference to the biannual APS meetings in November and April.

—Staff writer Lulu Zhou can be reached at luluzhou@fas.harvard.edu.