Working with the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the Academy convened college and university presidents and leaders of scholarly societies. Together, they developed and supported a unified defense of learning and higher education. More than 650 leaders signed the statement on behalf of their students, faculty, staff, and communities.

Jeffrey G. Lewis and Scott D. Sagan published an op-ed adapted from their Daedalus article "The Nuclear Necessity Principle: Making U.S. Targeting Policy Conform with Ethics & the Laws of War."

Highlights Include Readings by Academy Award-winning Actor Sally Field and Emmy Award-winning Filmmaker Ken Burns and a Performance by Internationally Renowned Jazz Musician Herbie Hancock

Working with the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the Academy convened college and university presidents and leaders of scholarly societies. Together, they developed and supported a unified defense of learning and higher education. More than 650 leaders signed the statement on behalf of their students, faculty, staff, and communities.

As we reach the end of a year like no other, I hope this message finds you well and safe. As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of the Academy’s work. Our staff has been working remotely since the middle of March 2020 and will continue to do so until at least July 2021. We have had to adapt quickly to a year in which we have become a truly “virtual” community. And yet, this was a year that also demonstrated the enduring strength of that community.

John Kaag describes his time as a Visiting Scholar at the Academy (2007-2008).

On October 18, the Our Common Purpose team returned to Lexington, Kentucky for a full day of events to shine a light on the contributions made by Kentucky residents to the Our Common Purpose report and engage with local leaders on strategies for implementing its recommendations.

Working with the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) , the Academy convened college and university presidents and leaders of scholarly societies to develop and support a statement in defense of learning and higher education.

Sterling Speirn served on the 35-member Academy commission and talks about his life's work and this initiative of "civic, cultural and political reforms that could inspire a democratic renaissance at this crucial moment."

A new report from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences highlights the national civil justice gap by examining the causes of the problem and recommending innovative ways to address it.

Danielle Allen responds to new national test results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) which revealed a further decline in students’ knowledge in U.S. history and civics.

Creating a “new normal” of multiliteracy and multiculturalism is key to the future of the United States as a leader on the world stage.

Anna Deavere Smith is many things: an actress, playwright, author, and founding director of the Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue at New York University, where she is also University Professor at Tisch School of the Arts. In 2019, she became a member of the Academy and was a featured speaker at the Annual David M. Rubenstein Lecture held during the Induction weekend. After performing two original pieces that combine art, commentary, and journalism, she joined David M. Rubenstein in conversation. Their discussion explored a wide range of topics, from auditions and growing up in Baltimore to memorization and the school-to-prison pipeline.