On April 28, 2022, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced Dorothy Y. Ko, professor of history at Barnard, as a newly elected member. Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. It recognizes excellence in multiple areas, including leadership, academia, arts, and research. In addition to being an honorary society, the Academy is a research institute that advances the common good by addressing issues of critical importance to the nation and the world.
This year’s 261 newly elected members represent 16 countries and continue the Academy’s tradition of honoring accomplishments in a breadth of academic areas. These new members join a distinguished group of leaders, including Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., and Stephen Hawking.
Professor Ko is a cultural historian who specializes in the study of gender and body in early modern China. Her research and scholarship have been supported by the Guggenheim Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and the American Council for Learned Societies.