American Academy of Political and Social Science
The American Academy of Political and Social Science opened its doors in 1889. Professor Edmund J. James Falkner helped spark the movement alongside faculty from three nearby colleges. They gathered at the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College to build a new bridge between scientific thought and practical social efforts. Their goal was simple yet ambitious. They wanted to foster important questions across different disciplines while promoting research that addressed real social problems. The founders did not limit membership to just professors. Women were permitted to join from the very beginning. Distinguished public servants like Herbert Hoover and Frances Perkins also became members. This inclusive approach set the organization apart from other learned societies of the era.
Edmund J. James served as the first president from 1889 until 1895. Roland P. Falkner took over acting duties when James stepped away during the late 1890s. Samuel McCune Lindsay led the group briefly before Leo S. Rowe assumed control for nearly thirty years starting in 1902. Ernest M. Patterson guided the academy through two decades beginning in 1930. James C. Charlesworth held the position from 1953 until 1970. Richard D. Lambert served a short term before Marvin E. Wolfgang took charge for twenty-six years. Kathleen Hall Jamieson led the organization from 1998 to 1999. Jaroslav Pelikan followed her, serving until 2001. Lawrence W. Sherman directed operations between 2001 and 2005. Douglas S. Massey served from 2006 to 2015. Kenneth Prewitt led the academy from 2015 to 2021. Marta Tienda currently holds the presidency as of 2021.
The Academy began selecting Fellows in 2000 to honor social scientists making outstanding contributions. Robert W. Pearson documented this new program in a 2003 article for the Annals. Since 2008, the organization presents an annual Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize. This award recognizes public officials or scholars who use social science to advance the public good. Alice M. Rivlin received the first prize in 2008. David T. Ellwood won in 2009. Robert Greenstein was honored in 2010. Diane Ravitch took the award in 2011. Paul Volcker received recognition in 2012. William Julius Wilson won again in 2013. Joseph Stiglitz was awarded in 2014. Rebecca Blank won in 2015. Isabel Sawhill and Ron Haskins shared the prize in 2016. Alan Krueger received it in 2017. John Holdren was honored in 2018. Samantha Power won in 2019. William Nordhaus received the award in 2020. Marian Wright Edelman was recognized in 2022.
The Academy created a blog in 2006 to utilize the Internet as a forum for ideas. Today the website serves as the main source for news about recent Annals volumes. It also provides
information about Fellows and Moynihan Prize recipients. The organization has moved away from its traditional membership model over time. Current activities include congressional briefings and special conferences. Biannual meetings of the board of directors continue to take place. The headquarters remains at the Annenberg Public Policy Center within the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. This location allows the group to offer interdisciplinary perspectives on important social issues today. The shift toward online platforms reflects changing times while maintaining core goals established more than a century ago.
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Common questions
When did the American Academy of Political and Social Science open its doors?
The American Academy of Political and Social Science opened its doors in 1889. Professor Edmund J. James Falkner helped spark the movement alongside faculty from three nearby colleges.
Who served as the first president of the American Academy of Political and Social Science?
Edmund J. James served as the first president of the American Academy of Political and Social Science from 1889 until 1895. Roland P. Falkner took over acting duties when James stepped away during the late 1890s.
What year did the American Academy of Political and Social Science begin selecting Fellows?
The Academy began selecting Fellows in 2000 to honor social scientists making outstanding contributions. Robert W. Pearson documented this new program in a 2003 article for the Annals.
Where is the headquarters of the American Academy of Political and Social Science located today?
The headquarters remains at the Annenberg Public Policy Center within the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. This location allows the group to offer interdisciplinary perspectives on important social issues today.
Which organization presents an annual Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize starting in 2008?
The American Academy of Political and Social Science presents an annual Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize since 2008. Alice M. Rivlin received the first prize in 2008.