CASS scholars elected Fellows of Australian Academy of the Humanities
Professor Helen Ennis is one of two ANU scholars elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. Image: Aaron Walker, ANU.
Two scholars from the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences have been elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, one of the highest honours in Australia for achievement in humanities.
Professor Angela Woollacott of the ANU School of History and Professor Helen Ennis of the ANU School of Art were elected in recognition of the excellence and impact of their academic achievements.
Professor Ennis is recognised as the foremost expert on Australian photographic history.
Her career began at the National Gallery of Australia where she was appointed Curator of Photography in 1985 and pioneered a major series of scholarly exhibitions and publications. She said the role offered her a chance to further promote art history and the visual arts in Australia.
“The humanities go right to the heart of who we are as human beings,” Professor Ennis said.
“All aspects of the humanities are incredibly relevant to how we live and how we enrich our lives.”
Professor Woollacott’s work has shaped the fields of feminist history, transnational history, Australian and British history, and settler colonial history. She says she was honoured to have her work acknowledged by her peers.
“This recognition shows the strength of history as a field at ANU. The School of History always ranks highly internationally and is a flagship for history in Australia,” Professor Woollacott said.
“In Australia we have such a rich history. To understand Australia at the present moment and our future direction, we need to look at our past across a range of areas.”
The Australian Academy of the Humanities advances knowledge of the humanities in Australia and embraces new and emerging fields in the humanities.