Danielle S. Allen headshot

Danielle S. Allen

Past Faculty
School of Social Science

Affiliation

Social Science

Danielle Allen is a political theorist who has published broadly in democratic theory, political sociology, and the history of political thought. Widely known for her work on justice and citizenship in both ancient Athens and modern America, Allen is the author of The World of Prometheus: The Politics of Punishing in Democratic Athens (2000), Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship since Brown v. Board of Education (2004), Why Plato Wrote (2010), and Our Declaration (Norton/Liveright, 2014). In 2002, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for her ability to combine “the classicist’s careful attention to texts and language with the political theorist’s sophisticated and informed engagement.” She is currently working on books on citizenship in the digital age and political equality. Allen is a frequent public lecturer and regular guest on public radio affiliates to discuss issues of citizenship, as well as an occasional contributor on similar subjects to the Washington Post, Boston Review, Democracy, Cabinet, and The Nation.

Dates at IAS

Faculty
School of Social Science

Degrees

Harvard University
Ph.D.
2001
Harvard University
M.A.
1998
King’s College, University of Cambridge
Ph.D.
1996

Honors

2009
Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2002
MacArthur Fellowship
2001
Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (University of Chicago)
1996
Hare Prize in Ancient Greek History (University of Cambridge)
1993
Marshall Scholar

Appointments

Odyssey Project
2000
Instructor
The University of Chicago
2004–2007
Dean, Division of Humanities
The University of Chicago
1997–2007
Professor (full Professor from 2003)