Former School of Social Science Scholars Awarded 2024 MacArthur Fellowships for Exposing Systemic Inequalities Past and Present
Two past Members of the Institute's School of Social Science have been named as 2024 MacArthur Fellows. Ruha Benjamin (2016–17) and Jennifer L. Morgan (2014–15), who both served as AMIAS Members during their IAS tenures, join the prestigious ranks of "genius grant" recipients, recognized for their groundbreaking work and potential to make significant societal impacts.
Ruha Benjamin, a transdisciplinary scholar and writer, has gained recognition for her pioneering work examining how "advances in science, medicine, and technology reflect and reproduce social inequality." Her research "deepens our understanding of the dangers that technological advancements pose to vulnerable populations while reimagining what counts as innovation and who gets to shape our collective future." Benjamin's work also highlights the crucial role of imagination and grassroots activism in shaping social policies and cultural practices.
Jennifer L. Morgan, a historian, has made significant contributions to "deepening understanding of how race-based slavery developed in early America." Through meticulous examination of archival materials—including analysis of what is absent from these records—Morgan brings to light the experiences of enslaved African women during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Her research demonstrates that "the exploitation of enslaved women was fundamental to the economic and ideological foundations of slavery in the Atlantic world."
The MacArthur Fellows Program aims to identify exceptionally creative individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their fields and have the potential to make substantial, beneficial impacts on society. Fellows are selected on the basis of "their pioneering work or the rigor of their contributions". Both Benjamin and Morgan exemplify the spirit of the MacArthur Fellowship through their innovative research and commitment to addressing critical societal issues. Their recognition as MacArthur Fellows not only honors their past achievements but also provides support for their future endeavors, potentially leading to even greater contributions to their respective fields and society at large.
A number of present and past IAS scholars have been recipients of the MacArthur Fellowship, including E. Tendayi Achiume, Ashvin B. Chhabra and Daniela Bonafede-Chhabra Member in the School of Social Science, who was part of the Class of 2023 of MacArthur fellows. As a legal scholar, her focus is on the international legal frameworks that govern migration, racism, and xenophobia. You can learn more about her research at IAS in this Q&A.
Read more about the 2024 MacArthur Fellowship recipients on their website.
