UF professor elected to the Academy of Arts and Sciences

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has elected Vasudha Narayanan, a distinguished professor in the Department of Religion at the University of Florida, as a new member.

Her fields of interest are the Hindu traditions in India, Cambodia, and America; visual and expressive cultures in the study of the Hindu traditions; and gender issues.

“I am delighted at this honor but mindful of two things: First, there are many wonderful scholars, and I was fortunate enough to be recognized,” Narayanan said. “And second, as Auvaiyar, a woman poet who lived about two thousand years ago in South India, said, ‘What I have learned is a mere fistful of sand; what I haven't learned is the size of the universe.’ I thank the University of Florida has given me the space and opportunity to pursue my research and scholarship.”

Narayanan was chosen for the Religious Studies section of the Humanities and Arts category. There were 268 other members elected this year including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Shonda Rhimes. 

Founded in 1780 by members like John Adams and John Hancock, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences continues today to be both an honorary society and an independent policy organization with initiatives in the arts, democracy, education, global affairs and science.

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