Social Scientists

Donald Woods was a well-known South African journalist and anti-apartheid activist. He served as the editor of the Daily Dispatch and formed a strong bond with fellow activist Steve Biko. Woods continued his anti-apartheid efforts in London and made history in 1978 as the first private citizen to speak before the United Nations Security Council. He remained committed to fighting for justice and equality in South Africa throughout his career.

William Graham Sumner was an influential American clergyman, social scientist, and neoclassical liberal known for teaching social sciences at Yale University. He was the nation's first sociology professor and authored various works on ethics, American history, economics, political theory, sociology, and anthropology. Sumner supported laissez-faire economics, free markets, and the gold standard, and is credited with coining the term "ethnocentrism" to criticize imperialism. He championed the middle class as the "forgotten man" and left a lasting impact on American conservatism.

William Julius Wilson is a prominent American sociologist and author celebrated for his research in urban sociology, race, and class matters. As a professor at Harvard University, he has focused on studying neighborhood effects and the consequences of scarce job opportunities on poverty in American inner-city regions. Wilson's significant contributions have earned him accolades like the National Medal of Science and leadership roles in prestigious organizations like the American Sociological Association, solidifying his influential role in shaping the field of sociology.

Eric Stark Maskin is an esteemed American economist and mathematician known for his groundbreaking work in mechanism design theory. He was honored with the 2007 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences alongside Leonid Hurwicz and Roger Myerson for his foundational contributions to this field. Maskin currently holds the prestigious position of Adams University Professor and is a Professor of Economics and Mathematics at Harvard University. Prior to this, he served as the Albert O. Hirschman Professor of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study and as a visiting lecturer at Princeton University.

Marie-Louise von Franz, a renowned Swiss Jungian psychologist and scholar, focused on analyzing fairy tales and alchemical manuscripts. Through her profound knowledge of Jungian psychology and symbolism, she made significant contributions to interpreting mythological and symbolic narratives. Von Franz's work illuminated the unconscious mind, archetypes, and the collective unconscious, advancing the understanding of human behavior and the psyche. Her expertise and interpretations remain influential in psychology and symbolism today.

Doreen Barbara Massey, a British social scientist and geographer, was renowned for her expertise in Marxist, feminist, and cultural geography. As a Professor of Geography at the Open University, she made significant contributions to the field by exploring the connections between space, place, and power. Massey played a key role in developing critical perspectives on social and spatial relations, leaving a lasting impact on geographical scholarship through her research and publications.

Richard Julius Herrnstein was a prominent American psychologist recognized for his research on animal learning aligned with the Skinnerian approach. He was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and chaired the Harvard Department of Psychology. Herrnstein co-authored the contentious book "The Bell Curve" with political scientist Charles Murray in 1994, which delved into human intelligence. A founding member of the Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior, Herrnstein made notable contributions to psychology throughout his career.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter is an American sociologist and professor of business at Harvard Business School. She co-founded the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative and served as Director and Founding Chair from 2008 to 2018. Kanter was recognized as the top-ranking woman in a 2002 study of Top Business Intellectuals and has been named one of the "50 most powerful women in Boston" by Boston Magazine. Additionally, she was honored as one of "125 women who changed our world" by Good Housekeeping magazine in May 2010.

Elliott Jaques was a Canadian psychoanalyst, social scientist, and management consultant known for his innovative contributions to organizational theory. He is recognized for introducing concepts such as corporate culture, midlife crisis, fair pay, maturation curves, time span of discretion, and requisite organization. Jaques created a detailed system for managerial organization that highlights the significance of aligning an organization's structure with the cognitive abilities of its staff. His insights have had a lasting impact on management techniques and strategies for organizational development globally.

Jean Drèze is a prominent welfare economist, social scientist, and activist based in India. He is known for his work on developmental issues such as social welfare, poverty, and gender inequality in the country. Drèze has collaborated with esteemed economists like Amartya Sen, Nicholas Stern, and Angus Deaton on various research topics, from famine to policy reform. He holds prestigious positions as an honorary professor at the Delhi School of Economics, visiting professor at Ranchi University, and a member of the Economic Advisory Council in Tamil Nadu. Drèze's contributions have played a significant role in shaping economic policies and advancing social welfare initiatives in India.

Stephen C. Levinson is a prominent British social scientist known for his research on the interplay between culture, language, and cognition. He has held academic positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, and the Australian National University. Currently a Professor of Comparative Linguistics at Radboud University, Levinson previously served as the scientific director of the Language and Cognition department at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics until his retirement in 2017. He has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades for his significant contributions to the field of linguistics and remains actively engaged in professional associations.

Mary Van Kleeck was a prominent American social scientist known for her contributions to the labor movement and advocacy for scientific management. She began her career studying women's labor in New York City and later became the director of the Russell Sage Foundation's Department of Industrial Studies. Van Kleeck played a crucial role during World War I in setting workplace standards for women in the workforce and was the first woman to hold a position of authority in the American federal government. She continued her research on labor issues, supporting women in the workforce and later embracing socialist ideology, advocating for central planning of economies to safeguard labor rights. Van Kleeck was a vocal critic of the New Deal and American capitalism during the Great Depression, even running for New York State Senate as a member of the American Labor Party. She later shifted her focus to peace activism and nuclear disarmament, advocating for Soviet-American friendship despite facing opposition from anti-communist factions. Van Kleeck dedicated over 30 years to her career at the Russell Sage Foundation before retiring in 1948.

Alice Cunningham Fletcher was an influential American ethnologist, anthropologist, and social scientist who dedicated her career to studying and preserving Native American culture. Her extensive research and documentation of various Native American tribes across the United States have significantly contributed to our understanding of indigenous cultures. Fletcher was a key advocate for the rights and preservation of Native American heritage, and her writings and research remain influential in the fields of anthropology and ethnology.

Hakima El Haite is a notable figure in climate science, entrepreneurship, and politics. In 1994, she established EauGlobe, the first environmental engineering company in the MENA region. Her political accomplishments include serving as Minister Delegate in Charge of the Environment for Morocco, becoming Vice President of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), and holding roles like Special Envoy for Climate Change of Morocco and High-Level Climate Champion of the United Nations International Climate Conference (COP22). Presently, she is the president of the Liberal International.

Victor Prosper Considerant was a prominent French utopian socialist philosopher and economist known for his association with Charles Fourier. He played a significant role in promoting Fourier's ideas and principles, advocating for social and economic reforms based on Fourier's theories of social organization. Considerant's professional life was dedicated to advancing socialist ideals through his writings, lectures, and political activities. He worked tirelessly to spread awareness about Fourierism and its potential to transform society, contributing to the intellectual discourse on socialism and economic theory during his lifetime.

Caio Narcio Rodrigues da Silveira, also known as Caio Narcio, was a Brazilian politician and social scientist who served as a state representative for Minas Gerais from 2015 to 2019. Throughout his tenure, he actively engaged in legislative efforts and initiatives focused on enhancing the well-being of his constituents. Caio Narcio was recognized for his strong commitment to public service and his proactive approach to addressing key community challenges.

Robert Cooley Angell, a distinguished American sociologist and educator, was recognized for his dedication to thorough social scientific research. He specialized in studying social integration and advocating for a more peaceful global society. Angell achieved prestigious accolades in his profession, holding leadership positions in both the American Sociological Society and the International Sociological Association. Additionally, he made significant contributions to academia by founding and directing the Honors Program at the University of Michigan.