Princeton boasts a large and high-powered faculty worthy of its reputation as one of the best in the nation.
These famous scholars, unlike their research-oriented counterparts at other Ivy League schools, often teach undergraduate courses — maybe even yours.
Nobel Prizes
In the past few years, Princeton has consistently produced Nobel Prize winners in various departments.
Electrical Engineering professor Daniel Tsui won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1999 for his discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect.
Molecular biology professor Eric Wieschaus shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1995 with two other researchers for their work on fruit fly genetics.
In 1994, senior research mathematician John Nash shared the Nobel Prize for Economics with two research teammates for their work on game theory.
Creative writing professor Toni Morrison, physics professor Joseph Taylor and researcher Russell Hulse, who works at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, all won Nobels in 1993.
Morrison, who also won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel "Beloved," coordinates the Princeton Atelier, a program that gives undergraduates the chance to collaborate with famous professionals in the creative world such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Physics professor Val Fitch won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1980 for his discoveries about high-energy subatomic particles. Philip Anderson GS '53, also a professor in the physics department, received a Nobel in 1977 for his work in magnetic and disordered systems.
Dollars and sense
Several eminent economists also hang their hats at Princeton.
Famed economist Paul Krugman will be joining the faculty this fall from MIT. Krugman, an Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, is one of academia's better-known liberal economists.
Uwe Reinhardt, who has a joint appointment to the economics department and the Wilson School, is one of the nation's foremost authorities on health care policy. He turned down an offer to be a member of President Clinton's health care reform team in the spring of 1993.
Reinhardt has taught introductory economics and accounting in past years. Both have been very popular courses for those hoping to pursue careers in finance and public policy.
Economics professor Alan Blinder '67 returned to Princeton in 1996 after serving for one-and-ahalf years as vice-chair of the Federal Reserve Board. He had left Princeton in 1993 after teaching for 20 years to join the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
In addition to Morrison, the Program in Creative Writing also boasts the talents of critically acclaimed and prolific author Joyce Carol Oates.
Creative writing professor C.K. Williams won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for his poetry collection, "Repair."
Program director and professor Paul Muldoon received the 1995 T.S. Eliot Prize for poetry.
Each semester, the Council on Humanities brings renowned journalists to campus to lead special seminars.
This fall, Jill Abramson, the Washington editor of The New York Times, will be teaching a seminar titled HUM 447: Politics and the Press: Writing about the Private Lives of Public Figures.
Also, Ralph Begleiter, a world affairs correspondent for CNN, will be teaching HUM 446: Media Influence on International Politics.
In the past, author and New Yorker staff writer John McPhee '53 has taught a freshman seminar on non-fiction writing, as well as HUM 440: Literature of Fact. He recently won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize in creative non-fiction for his book "Annals of the Former World."
In the arena of international politics, Kent Calder is among the luminaries who lecture here.
An expert on Japan, Calder is a top international affairs professor. He has served as a political adviser to officials on both sides of the Pacific.
Famous constitutional expert Robert George recently renewed his contract to remain at the University. He teaches the popular course, POL 315: Constitutional Interpretation.
In the history department, James McPherson was awarded a Pulitzer Prize several years ago for his book "Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War." He was also named the 2000 Jefferson Lecturer for the Humanities. Freshmen will not be able to take his course "The American Civil War and Reconstruction" this fall, however, because he is on leave.
Controversial bioethics professor Peter Singer, a recent addition to the University faculty, taught a class this spring that touched on several of his pet issues, including animal rights, euthanasia and world poverty. Singer gained notoriety for his book, "Practical Ethics," and is considered the intellectual father of the animal rights movement.
Those with a bent for the classics will also find a plethora of celebrated professors at Princeton.
Comparative literature department chair Robert Fagles has published much-acclaimed translations of Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy and Sophocles' Oedipus plays. He recently completed translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Princeton is also home to one of the finest mathematics programs in the country. Professor Charles Fefferman '69 is a recipient of the Field Medal, the highest award given by the National Science Foundation.
Read More
Pennsylvania Senate seat called for David McCormick GS ’94 ’96, riding red wave
Sena Chang and Vitus LarrieuRepublican David McCormick GS ’94 ’96 defeated three-term incumbent Democrat Bob Casey on Nov. 7 according to an AP election call, bolstering the Republican majority in the Senate with a flipped seat in Pennsylvania. McCormick led the race by only 0.5 percent, or 30,000 votes, as of Thursday night.
Republican David McCormick GS ’94 ’96 defeated three-term incumbent Democrat Bob Casey on Nov. 7 according to an AP election call, bolstering the Republican majority in the Senate with a flipped seat in Pennsylvania. McCormick led the race by only 0.5 percent, or 30,000 votes, as of Thursday night.
UHS brings onsite dental service ‘pilot’ to campus
Caitlyn TabladaPrinceton’s University Health Services (UHS) is hosting two days of onsite dental care during the Fall 2024 semester following student requests. All 40 slots almost instantly filled up, and there are plans to expand the program into the future.
Princeton’s University Health Services (UHS) is hosting two days of onsite dental care during the Fall 2024 semester following student requests. All 40 slots almost instantly filled up, and there are plans to expand the program into the future.
Proposal allowing faculty to vote remotely passes, set to appear before full faculty
Olivia SanchezA proposal amending the Rules and Procedures of the Faculty to allow for remote voting on measures that pass, but have six or more faculty objections, passed at a Nov. 4 faculty meeting 124–82–3. Six faculty unsuccessfully objected to the measure, which is now up for a vote of the entire faculty.
A proposal amending the Rules and Procedures of the Faculty to allow for remote voting on measures that pass, but have six or more faculty objections, passed at a Nov. 4 faculty meeting 124–82–3. Six faculty unsuccessfully objected to the measure, which is now up for a vote of the entire faculty.
