Gabriela Soto Laveaga Elected to the Academia Mexicana de la Historia

Gabriela Soto Laveaga, Co-Chair of the Mexico Studies Program at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), has been elected as a member of the Academia Mexicana de la Historia, one of the highest honors a historian of Mexico can receive. This prestigious recognition is extended only through nominations by existing members of the Academia, and Soto Laveaga's election was unanimous.

In an email informing her of the honor, a colleague from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) wrote, “por unanimidad, fuiste electa para formar parte de la Academia como miembro corresponsal extranjera.” Soto Laveaga expressed her deep appreciation for this acknowledgment from her peers in Mexico. “I am overjoyed by this, especially because it is my peers in Mexico who nominated and voted for me. It means a lot to me,” she said. There are, in fact, only a few corresponding members in the United States.

Soto Laveaga is a Professor of the History of Science and holds the Antonio Madero Professorship for the Study of Mexico at Harvard University. Her current research focuses on the production and circulation of knowledge between Mexico and India, the role of medical professionals in social movements, and the impact of science and development projects in the twentieth century.

This election to the Academia Mexicana de la Historia not only recognizes Soto Laveaga’s significant contributions to the field of Mexican history but also underscores her influence in the broader historical and academic communities. Her work continues to bridge geographical and disciplinary divides, making her a respected figure both in Mexico and internationally.