Executive Officer, American Philosophical Society (2017–present); Vilas Research Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Like many other American institutions, the APS took far too long to recognize extraordinary achievement in historically marginalized groups like African Americans and women. By the time the APS elected Ralph Bunche in 1950, numerous African Americans had contributed to our common store of useful knowledge. It was our loss that we failed to recognize the importance of W. E. B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Booker T. Washington, Daniel Hale Williams, and many others. In recent years, the APS has more often elected Members who reflect the diversity of exceptional accomplishment in American society.