Ann Gold, professor emerita of religion, has been elected to the 2025 class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, in the area of Humanities and Arts. This prestigious honor places her among the nation's most innovative and influential thinkers across a wide range of disciplines.

Gold joined the faculty at Syracuse University in 1993 and dedicated her career to the study of religion and culture in provincial North India. In 2011, she was named the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion in A&S. Her acclaimed research is grounded in long-term ethnographic fieldwork, offering richly detailed insights into the everyday religious practices and cultural traditions of communities in North India. Her work has illuminated how these practices shape both individual identities and broader social dynamics.

Over the course of her career, Gold has authored or edited nine books and published more than 50 scholarly articles, essays and book chapters. Past honors include a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship; National Humanities Center Fellowship; a Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Fellowship and many others.

Through her teaching and mentorship, she has also inspired generations of students to pursue ethnographic research and explore the complexities of religious and cultural life in India.

About the American Academy of Arts and Sciences:

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock and others to elevate the use of knowledge and advance learning in service to the public good. The organization recognizes and celebrates the excellence of its members and convenes leaders from across disciplines, professions and perspectives to address significant challenges.