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Academy Honors Twinam HISTORY AND LLILAS BENSON History professor Ann Twinam will be inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the oldest learned societies for independent policy research. Twinam, along with art history professor Richard Shiff, joined this year’s prestigious cohort of 213 individuals, including renowned policy leaders such as former President Barack Obama and Supreme Court
“[Twinam] understands Latin American history through the lens of those whose voices have been most overshadowed.” Gregory L. Fenves
Courtesy of Ann Twinam
opportunities. Health and society classes are rooted in an interdisciplinary outlook that merges ethics, psychology, business and the hard sciences to allow students to make inroads on innovative solutions to complex problems, preparing them for careers in medicine, health administration, pharmaceutical sales and more. “It’s a much more holistic way of looking at health,” says Weinreb, who is also an associate professor of sociology. “To understand health properly, you need to deal seriously both with the biomedical side and the sociological and cultural side.” Still in its early years, the major is constantly evolving and adding new courses. Stephanie Osbakken, a sociologist and the lead lecturer in health and society, recently created a class called Cancerland that brings in her experiences as a cancer survivor to explore the unique cultural and social factors that arise when living with the disease. With classes such as these, the Health and Society Program aims to foster a more nuanced understanding of health that will help its students drive future solutions. “The biggest problems facing us now in the 21st century are health-related,” Osbakken says. “If students really have a breadth of experience that they can draw on to propel them in the right direction, they feel empowered to take them on.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor. “Professor Twinam is an exceptional scholar who understands Latin American history through the lens of those whose voices have been most overshadowed,” says UT Austin President Gregory L. Fenves. “Professor Shiff explores the range of artistic expression and draws meaning from complex works of art. Together, they exemplify the mission of The University of Texas, and we, as a university, are honored that they have joined the ranks of the Academy.” Twinam holds the Walter Prescott Webb Chair in History in the College of Liberal Arts and teaches in the Latin American history program, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 Latin American history program in the country. Her interests focus on Latin American history from the colonial eras through the 18th century, with particular emphasis on social history, race, family history and women and gender. Founded in 1780, the Academy honors exceptional scholars, leaders, artists and innovators and engages them in sharing knowledge and addressing challenges facing the world. The new members were elected in 25 categories and are affiliated with 125 institutions. The new class will be inducted at a ceremony in October in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 7