Six MIT faculty members are among the nearly 250 leaders from academia, the arts, industry, public policy, and research elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the academy announced April 23.

One of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies, the academy is also a leading center for independent policy research. Members contribute to academy publications, as well as studies of science and technology policy, energy and global security, social policy and American institutions, the humanities and culture, and education.

Those elected from MIT in 2025 are:

• Lotte Bailyn, T. Wilson Professor of Management Emerita;
• Gareth McKinley, School of Engineering Professor of Teaching Innovation;
• Nasser Rabbat, Aga Khan Professor;
• Susan Silbey, Leon and Anne Goldberg Professor of Humanities and professor of sociology and anthropology;
• Anne Whiston Spirn, Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture and Planning; and
• Catherine Wolfram, William Barton Rogers Professor in Energy and professor of applied economics.

“These new members’ accomplishments speak volumes about the human capacity for discovery, creativity, leadership, and persistence. They are a stellar testament to the power of knowledge to broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding,” says Academy President Laurie L. Patton. “We invite every new member to celebrate their achievement and join the Academy in our work to promote the common good.”

Since its founding in 1780, the academy has elected leading thinkers from each generation, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, Maria Mitchell and Daniel Webster in the 19th century, and Toni Morrison and Albert Einstein in the 20th century. The current membership includes more than 250 Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners.