UMD President and Political Scientist Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Pines, who was recognized for educational and academic leadership, is a leading aerospace engineer as well as a prominent advocate for higher education. UMD’s president since 2020, he previously led the A. James Clark School of Engineering for 11 years as dean, and is the principal investigator for Engineering for Us All (e4usa), leading efforts to expand engineering education to new generations of high school students and teachers.

“At the University of Maryland we’re united by an unflagging determination to direct our research, scholarship, teaching and campus community life toward making the world a better place for all,” Pines said. "I have spent more than three decades at UMD, and I believe more than ever in the power and responsibility we have to help every student achieve their potential and serve as a progress machine for social impact, so I am incredibly honored to be recognized by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.”

As president, Pines has emphasized excellence in all aspects of university life while supporting a diverse and multicultural community. Under his leadership, the University of Maryland instituted Fearlessly Forward, a strategic plan that commits the university to reimagining learning; taking on humanity’s grand challenges; investing in people and communities; and partnering to advance the public good.

He also spearheaded the creation of the Grand Challenges Grants Program, under which 50 university projects received $30 million in university-sponsored grants to study and implement solutions in areas such as sustainability, literacy, and food, energy and water security. 

This year, UMD achieved its highest-ever ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” lists: No. 16 among U.S. public institutions and No. 42 among national universities.

“It’s not surprising that President Pines was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,” said University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “Under his leadership, UMD has grown its already-impressive international prominence and has substantially advanced the academy’s work to address critical challenges facing our global society. Still, I can’t help but take pride in the fact that one of our own is placed alongside some of the country’s best-known thinkers and scholars, those making real and lasting change for the common good.”

Pines began his career at UMD as an aerospace engineering professor. During a leave of absence from UMD from 2003-06, he served as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, where he initiated five new programs primarily related to aerospace technologies. He also held positions at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Chevron Corp. and Space Tethers. At LLNL, Pines worked on the Clementine spacecraft program, which discovered water near the south pole of the moon.

His research has focused broadly on structural dynamics, including structural health monitoring and prognosis; smart sensors; and adaptive, morphing and biologically inspired structures, as well as the guidance, navigation and control of aerospace vehicles. He holds seven co-authored patents with his students and collaborators.

Among his other recognitions, Pines is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Institute of Physics; he has served as co-chair of the National Academies’ Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable. He also received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the State of Maryland House of Delegates Speaker's Medallion.

Wong, who was recognized by the academy for political science research, specializes in multi-ethnic, multilingual surveys of Asian Americans and other groups, producing groundbreaking research on public opinion, religion and immigrant integration, and the civic engagement of immigrant populations.

“I feel grateful to be recognized as a scholar of race, ethnicity and immigration, as we are reminded every day that these are powerful forces in our lives,” said Wong. “These awards are meaningful beyond recognizing individual contributions because they honor the intellectual communities that shape our fields. For me, this includes so many who have inspired and continue to influence my work on race and Asian American politics.”

As a scholar and teacher, Wong has worked closely with social service, labor, civil rights and media organizations that serve the Asian American population. Prior to joining UMD in 2012 as the Asian American Studies Program director, she taught at the University of Southern California in the departments of Political Science and American Studies and Ethnicity. 

“Janelle Wong’s election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is a tremendous honor that recognizes the depth and impact of her scholarship,” said Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies William A. Cohen. “In addition to building an impressive body of research that has shaped how we understand race, immigration and political mobilization, Professor Wong has devoted herself to supporting students and building academic and public communities throughout her career. She has been a powerful advocate of affirmative action for historically under-served groups in prominent venues.”

She is the author or co-author of several books that have become foundational to the study of immigration to the U.S. and Asian American life, including “Immigrants, Evangelicals and Politics in an Era of Demographic Change” and “Asian American Political Participation: Emerging Constituents and their Political Identities.” Her most recent work examines anti-Black racism among Asian Americans.

She was a co-principal investigator on the 2016 National Asian American Survey, a nationwide survey of Asian American political and social attitudes, and was a co-principal investigator on the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Post-election Survey, funded by the National Science Foundation. She is also a senior researcher with AAPI Data and serves on the board of directors of the Public Religion Research Institute. 

"This recognition of Professor Janelle Wong’s scholarship and public engagement is so well deserved," said College of Arts and Humanities Dean Stephanie Shonekan. "In an era of political turmoil, demographic change and policy debates about the role of immigrants in American society, her work helps us to better understand and empathize with the communities that contribute to the fabric of our nation and to recognize the importance of civic engagement to our collective future."

Beyond her academic work, Wong is one of the leading public voices on Asian American issues, as shown by her work co-authoring amicus briefs on cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, publishing opinion pieces on topics such as affirmative action, and educating the American public on key social justice issues. Among her awards and accolades, she was named a 2024 fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science and previously was a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

“Professor Wong is a dedicated scholar who makes concerted efforts to share knowledge and data not only within academia, but also with members of the public.” College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dean Susan Rivera said. “Her impactful scholarship and outreach shed light on important topics, including politics and public opinion. Our community is so proud to see her recognized with this well-deserved honor.”