Neilson Professorship

Since 1927, Smith has welcomed distinguished scholars and artists of national or international renown as William Allan Neilson Professors, in honor of the college’s third president. The professorship allows for sparking discussion and initiatives beyond conventional departmental or disciplinary boundaries.

Meet the 2027 Neilson Professors

The Neilson Professorship for spring 2027 is hosted by Christophe Golé (professor of mathematical sciences) and the Department of Mathematical Sciences with endorsement from the departments of Biological Sciences, Physics, and Philosophy.

In a first for the professorship, this year features a shared residency between two renowned scholars from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) who also work with the Learning Planet Institute in Paris.

Annemiek Cornelissen

Annemiek Cornelissen, a mechanical engineer trained at Delft University of Technology, studies branching vascular networks across living and nonliving systems. Branched structures constitute a distinct class of shapes that occur frequently in nature across many spatial and dynamical scales. They can form in trees, blood vessels, lungs, river deltas, snowflakes, lightning, leaf veins, and cracks, and can do so almost instantaneously or over long timescales, such as evolutionary or geological time. She is interested in the analogies between the morphogenesis of network patterns in dead matter and those in living tissues. What common physical rules govern these patterns? What mechanisms drive the transition from branching to looping networks? From this perspective, she studies the canal network of the jellyfish’s gastrovascular system.

Stéphane Douady

Stéphane Douady trained as a physicist but fell in love with plants and morphogenesis after a chance encounter with a Romanesco broccoli and the problem of phyllotaxis (the arrangement of leaves in plants). Morphogenesis led him to tropical forests and deserts, where he deciphered not only shapes but also the song of the dunes. He has a long-standing interest in philosophy and religion (mysticism) and has participated in two art residencies with his wife. A visit to Bodh Gaya and observations of leaves sold as pilgrimage memorabilia led him to study the formation of reticulated patterns, from the veins in leaves and jellyfish to the cracks in city streets.

Prior Recipients of the Honor

Kurt Koffka

1927–28, psychology

The first Neilson Professor was hired to celebrate Neilson’s 10th anniversary as president of the college. His hiring ushered in the Psychology department’s golden era. Smith began to attract many established and up-and-coming scholars from the United States and abroad.

W.H. Auden

1952–53, English

Considered one of the most influential poets in the 20th century, he incorporated wit, science, intellect, and folklore into his poetry.

Harlow Shapley

1956–57, astronomy

He deduced that the Sun is not at the center of the Milkyway galaxy, but 30,000 lightyears away. He served as the head of the Harvard College Observatory for 30 years.

Trinh T. Minh-ha

1993–94, women’s studies

She is a world-renowned independent filmmaker, feminist, and post-colonial theorist.

Nawal El-Saadawi

2004–05, comparative literature

An Egyptian writer, physician, activist, human rights advocate, and feminist who wrote over 50 books.

Anthony Ryan “Tony” Hatch

2022–23, science and technology studies

A researcher at the intersection of science and technology, health and medical humanities, and social inequality and power who has written three books and lectured widely.

Nominate Someone

Smith faculty from all disciplines are welcome to submit nominations. They should consider eminent scholars or artists whose work has broad intellectual appeal. Nominations may be for scholars with a long record of accomplishments, as well as candidates who are earlier in their careers—“rising stars” with a developing record of notable achievements and strong promise for future research.

Co-nominations or group nominations are encouraged–several different departments or programs might come together to nominate an especially exciting candidate with cross-disciplinary appeal. Nominators will act as faculty hosts during the Neilson Professor’s residency, and work with the provost’s office and Kahn Institute to coordinate logistics, schedule lectures and facilitate opportunities for engagement in the Smith and Five College communities.

The Neilson Professor is in-residence during the spring semester and activities may include delivering public lectures, visiting classes to share expertise with students, or leading faculty seminars, workshops, or reading groups under the auspices of a Kahn Institute short-term project. They may also choose to teach a course in the host unit.

An effective nomination defines the candidate’s importance in their profession, and clearly identifies specific ways the nominee could engage with the campus community. It is helpful to know that the person is interested, and is likely to come if the professorship were offered. To nominate a Neilson Professor, please reach out to the Kahn Institute at kahninstitute@smith.edu.

Behind the Screens

Eszter Hargittai ’96, who held the Neilson Professorship in 2023–24, answers questions about her latest book, Connected in Isolation: Digital Privilege in Unsettled Times. Since her time as an undergraduate at Smith, Hargittai has been deeply interested in the inequality of internet access and usage.

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