The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has announced Deborah M. Pearsall, professor emerita in the Department of Anthropology, as one of the organization’s newest members. Founded in 1780, the academy recognizes accomplished individuals and engages them to promote the common good.

Pearsall, elected to the academy in the Social and Behavioral Sciences category under Anthropology and Archaeology, is known for creating a widely used online database of phytoliths — microscopic mineral deposits within plants — and researching how ancient cultures used plants.

Pearsall joined the University of Missouri in 1978 and has made a lasting impact on the field through her research, mentorship, and scholarship. Her election to the academy is highly prestigious and positions her among an extraordinary cohort whose work has shaped the world through academia, the arts, industry, policy, research, and science.

“These new members’ accomplishments speak volumes about the human capacity for discovery, creativity, leadership, and persistence,” said Academy President Laurie L. Patton.

The academy will formally induct new members on October 11, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.