photo by: University of Kansas

Donna Ginther

A University of Kansas economist has been inducted into one of the country’s top organizations for artists and scientists.

Donna Ginther, who is a distinguished professor of economics at KU, has been named to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Ginther is the sixth KU faculty member to be named to the academy. The number of faculty in the academy plays a role in whether a university is deemed qualified to be a member of the Association of American Universities, which is considered the top organization for research universities in North America. KU is a longtime member of the AAU, and currently is the only Kansas school in the research organization.

Ginther’s areas of research expertise include the economics of science, academic labor markets, gender differences in employment outcomes, wage inequality, and investments in children.

Ginther, who often serves as a researcher for economic matters for the state of Kansas, has had her findings featured in The New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and other national media outlets.

Before coming to KU, Ginther worked as a researcher for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and had taught at Washington University and Southern Methodist University.

Ginther joins the following KU faculty members who previously have been inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences: Kristin Bowman-James, distinguished professor of Chemistry; Robert Warrior, distinguished drofessor of American literature and culture; Jorge Soberón, distinguished professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Donald Worster, distinguished professor emeritus of history; and Paul Meier, professor emeritus of theater.

Ginther was one of 250 artists and scientists inducted into the class of 2025, which also included activist and journalist Gloria Steinem, novelist Amy Tan, and chef José Andrés.