Two UC San Diego Professors Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Walter is the Rohr Professor of International Affairs at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and completed post docs at the Olin Institute for Strategic Studies at Harvard University and the War and Peace Institute at Columbia University.

Walter is one of the world's leading experts on civil wars, political violence and terrorism. Her books include the award-winning “Committing to Peace: The Successful Settlement of Civil Wars,” “Reputation and Civil War: Why Separatist Conflicts Are So Violent” and “Civil Wars, Insecurity, and Intervention.” Her newest book, the New York Times best seller “How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them” explores whether the U.S. is heading toward a second civil war.

She is the recipient of the 2022 National Peacemaker Award and the Susan Strange Award, which is given to the scholar of international studies “whose singular intellect, assertiveness, and insight most challenge conventional wisdom and international and organizational complacency.” She is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a frequent live guest on CNN, MSNBC and an occasional consultant for the World Bank, the United Nations, the Departments of Defense and State and the January 6th Committee. Walter is a 2023 TED speaker.

Allison is a UC San Diego professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Philosophy. He received his Ph.D. from the New School of Social Research in 1964 and was on faculty at UC San Diego from 1973 to 1997. He is former president of the Pacific Division of the American Philosophical Association, winner of the International Kant Prize and De Gruyter Kant Prize Lecturer, and has been a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

A renowned scholar of philosophy, Allison specializes in Kant, Spinoza, German idealism and 18th and 19th century philosophy. He is perhaps best known for his book "Kant's Transcendental Idealism: An Interpretation and Defense" that was first published in 1983 while at UC San Diego. Allison continues to publish his research with more than a dozen books in print, including “An Introduction to the Philosophy of Spinoza” in 2022.

In 2007, the Henry Allison Endowed Chair in the History of Philosophy was established in his name, and is a reflection of his commitment to advancing knowledge in the field — and to the university — that helps to ensure the excellence of the Department of Philosophy by recruiting outstanding faculty members. The current chair holder is Christopher Shields.

When announcing this year’s new members, Academy President David W. Oxtoby said, “With the election of these members, the Academy is honoring excellence, innovation, and leadership and recognizing a broad array of stellar accomplishments. We hope every new member celebrates this achievement and joins our work advancing the common good.”

To view the full list of the 2023 new members to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, go to this link https://www.amacad.org/new-members-2023.