We are delighted to congratulate Timothy M. (Tim) Smeeding, Lee Rainwater Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Affairs and Economics and longtime CDE affiliate, on his election as a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Smeeding is now affiliated with the Social, Economic, and Political Sciences section due to his distinguished contributions to research on poverty, inequality, and economic mobility.
Election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, recognizing individuals whose efforts have advanced science and its applications for the benefit of society. From being the founding director of the Luxembourg Income Study, to serving as director of the Institute for Research on Poverty, Smeeding’s work has had a profound and lasting impact on public policy, social science, and cross-national understanding of inequality—work he will continue to accomplish through this honor.
He exemplifies the AAAS mission: Advancing science, serving society through his career reflecting the AAAS vision of a global, inclusive, and policy-engaged scientific community. His research not only fosters scientific excellence, but also promotes greater equity, accessibility, and trust in science.
With this honor, Smeeding joins a legacy of esteemed Fellows, including trailblazers like Thomas Edison and W.E.B. Du Bois. We proudly celebrate his lifelong dedication to evidence-based policymaking, social equity, and the enduring power of science to inform, inspire, and improve lives.