Matthew Tirrell

Matthew Tirrell, Dean of the College of Engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His selection brings to 25 the number of UCSB faculty members who have been elected fellows of the prestigious academy.

An independent policy research center, the academy is made up of scholars and practitioners from diverse fields, which enables the organization to conduct a wide range of interdisciplinary studies and public policy research. Its membership includes more than 250 Nobel laureates and 60 Pulitzer Prize winners. The academy’s research focuses on science and global security, social policy, the humanities and culture, and education.

This year’s fellows come from 28 states and 11 countries. They represent universities, museums, national laboratories, private research institutes, businesses, and foundations. The newly elected group includes Nobel laureates and recipients of the Pulitzer and Pritzker prizes, MacArthur fellowships, Oscars, Grammy and Tony awards, and the National Medal of Arts.

“I feel sincerely honored by my election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which is a unique collection of scholars, artists and leaders from a very broad spectrum of activities of importance to society,” said Tirrell, who, in addition to dean, is the Richard A. Auhll Professor in the College of Engineering. “I look forward to contributing to the mission of this academy.”

Said Chancellor Henry T. Yang: “This wonderful honor recognizes Professor Tirrell for his outstanding scholarship in the area of polymer surface properties and biomolecular materials and also his innovative academic leadership. He is highly respected by his peers and colleagues in the engineering community, as well as on the UC Santa Barbara campus, where we join in saluting him on this achievement.”

The academy will welcome this year’s new class at its annual Induction Ceremony on October 10, at its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.