Faculty Fanfare: Mala Htun

UNM Political Science Professor Mala Htun has been elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an honorary society and research center founded in 1780.

“I’ve known of the Academy for a long time, because I lived across the street from its forested grounds when I was a graduate student in the 1990s,” she said. 

“I lived in Somerville, Massachusetts, at the top of the hill on Park Street, on the other side of Cambridge’s Beacon Street from the Academy’s headquarters. The gates were always open; they let locals walk their dogs on the large property. Through the trees you could see an elegant building with brick columns and large windows,” said Htun, a professor at UNM since 2015.

“Today, it’s truly a thrill to be an elected member. I’ve worked hard in my career. This recognition means a lot to me.”

Htun joins 249 others elected this year from 31 areas of study.

“We honor these artists, scholars, scientists, and leaders in the public, non-profit, and private sectors for their accomplishments and for the curiosity, creativity, and courage required to reach new heights,” Academy President David Oxtoby said on the group’s website.

“We invite these exceptional individuals to join in the Academy’s work to address serious challenges and advance the common good.” 

Htun, a former member of the Advance at UNM leadership team, came to UNM after earning degrees at Harvard and Stanford.

She will return to Cambridge this fall for the Academy’s induction ceremony.