MIT Community Celebrates 17 Members Elected to Prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced its 2026 class of members on April 22, honoring four current MIT faculty members and 13 MIT alumni among the roughly 250 new members elected to this prestigious society. The recognition comes as the academy commemorates the nation's 250th anniversary, celebrating the breadth and depth of excellence across academia, arts, industry, public policy, and research.

The MIT faculty elected to the academy for 2026 represent diverse fields of expertise:

• Isaiah Andrews PhD '14, Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor of Economics
• David Atkin, Barton L. Weller (1940) Professor of Economics
• Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics
• Benjamin Paul Weiss, Robert R. Shrock Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences

These faculty members join an exclusive group that includes historical figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin from the 18th century, Maria Mitchell and Daniel Webster from the 19th century, and more recent luminaries such as Toni Morrison and Albert Einstein. The current membership includes over 250 Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners.

The academy also recognized 13 MIT alumni across various graduating years and disciplines:

• Mark Aguiar PhD '99 (Economics)
• Mark G. Allen SM '86, PhD '89 (Chemical Engineering)
• Magdalena Balazinska PhD '06 (EECS)
• Keren Bergman SM '91, PhD '94 (EECS)
• Sara Cherry PhD '00 (Biology)
• Cynthia J. Ebinger SM '86, PhD '88 (EAPS)
• Charles L. Epstein '78 (Mathematics)
• Shanhui Fan PhD '97 (Physics)
• Atif Mian '96, PhD '01 (Mathematics with Computer Science and Economics)
• Sarah E. O'Connor PhD '01 (Chemistry)
• Darryll J. Pines SM '88, PhD '92 (Mechanical Engineering)
• Phillip (Terry) Ragon '72 (Physics)
• Mansour Shayegan '79, EE '81, SM '81, PhD '83 (Electrical Engineering)

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences serves as both an honorary society and a leading center for independent policy research. Members contribute to academy publications and studies across critical areas including science and technology policy, energy and global security, social policy and American institutions, the humanities and culture, and education.

"We celebrate the achievement of each new member and the collective breadth and depth of their excellence – this is a fitting commemoration of the nation's 250th anniversary," said Academy President Laurie Patton.

This recognition underscores MIT's continued impact across multiple disciplines and highlights the institute's commitment to excellence in research, education, and public service. The diversity of fields represented among the MIT honorees demonstrates the institute's strength across both traditional scientific disciplines and the humanities, social sciences, and arts.