James C. Scott

James C. Scott ’67 Ph.D., appointed Sterling Professor in Political Science, is author and editor of numerous books and journal articles on peasants in developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. After earning his B.A. in political economy at Williams College, Scott earned his M.A. and Ph.D.in political science at Yale in 1963 and 1967, respectively. Scott joined the Yale faculty in 1976, where he has a joint appointment in the departments of political science and anthropology. He was named the Eugene Meyer Professor of Political Science in 1990.

At Yale, Scott is also director of the Program in Agrarian Studies, a postdoctoral program in the Institution for Social and Policy Studies. He is also a visual artist and provided the self-portrait shown above.
 

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Endowed professorships have long helped Yale to attract and retain some of the brightest minds and best teachers in academia. Several longtime faculty members were recently honored with the University’s highest faculty chair, the Sterling Professorship.

The Sterling Professorships represent one of the continuing benefits from the 1918 bequest by John W. Sterling B.A. 1864. His gift enabled Yale to construct many of its most prominent campus structures, among them Sterling Memorial Library, Sterling Law Buildings, Sterling Divinity Quadrangle, and Sterling Hall of Medicine. It also set aside funds to endow the 28 Sterling Professorships.