Published: April 17, 2019 By
Kristi Anseth

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced today that CU Boulder Professor Kristi Anseth has been elected to its 2019 class. Anseth is among more than 200 individuals selected this year for their exceptional achievements in the arts and sciences, business, philanthropy and the public sector. 

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an honorary society that recognizes and convenes leaders from a variety of disciplines to address critical issues facing the nation and the world. The academy's projects and publications inform public policy for the benefit of all.

Anseth earned her doctorate in chemical engineering from CU Boulder in 1994 and joined the faculty in 1996. Her research focuses on developing novel biomaterials for human health and advancing regenerative medicine to help prevent, treat or reverse disease and injury.

“Kristi Anseth has been on the forefront of biomaterials research for the past two decades,” said Charles Musgrave, chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. “Her pioneering work has led the field by applying the principles of chemical engineering to the development of engineered tissues that could someday be key technologies in regenerative medicine. Her election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is another well-deserved recognition of her many contributions to this important field of research.”

Anseth joins at least 30 current or former CU Boulder faculty members in the Academy and is the first from the College of Engineering and Applied Science to be inducted.

“Kristi Anseth’s scholarship exemplifies the significant impact that an engineer can have on society,” said Dean Bobby Braun of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “Her election to the Academy is a well-deserved honor that reflects her commitment to reaching for answers to hard questions and harnessing technology to improve people’s lives.”

Anseth is a University of Colorado Distinguished Professor and Tisone Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, as well as associate faculty director of CU Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors.

Anseth will be formally inducted at a ceremony Oct. 12 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an international learned society composed of the world’s leading scientists, scholars, artists, business people and public leaders. The academy is renowned for providing reasoned commentary on matters of public policy, governance and education.

Active CU Boulder members
Thomas Blumenthal, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (2010)
Marvin H. Caruthers, Chemistry and Biochemistry (1994)
Thomas R. Cech, Chemistry and Biochemistry (1988)
Eric Cornell, Physics; JILA (2005)
Lawrence Gold, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (1993)
James T. Hynes, Chemistry and Biochemistry (2008)
Alison M. Jaggar, Women and Gender Studies (2017)
Leslie Anne Leinwand, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (2014)
William Carl Lineberger, Chemistry and Biochemistry; JILA (1995)
Karolin Luger, Chemistry and Biochemistry (2017)
Jane A. Menken, Sociology; Institute of Behavioral Science (1990)
Josef Michl, Chemistry and Biochemistry (1999)
Margaret Murnane, Physics (2006)
David Nesbitt, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Physics (2014)
Roy Robert Parker, Chemistry and Biochemistry (2010)
Veronica Vaida, Chemistry and Biochemistry (2012)
Carl E. Wieman, Center for Science Education (1998)
David Wineland, Physics (2014)

Retired CU Boulder members
J. Richard McIntosh, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (1999)
Robert F. Nagel, University of Colorado Law School (2003)
Norman R. Pace, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (1991)
Wolfgang Schmidt, Mathematics (1994)
Noboru Sueoka, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (1969)
William B. Wood, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (1976)

Deceased CU Boulder members
Linda S. Cordell, Anthropology (2008)
Charles H. DePuy, Chemistry and Biochemistry (2003)
Deborah Jin, Physics; JILA; National Institute of Standards and Technology (2007)
David M. Prescott, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (1970)
Walter Orr Roberts, Astro-geophysics (1960)
Gilbert White, Geography (1969)