Mala Htun, distinguished professor of political science at the University of New Mexico, passed away on January 24 after a long battle with cancer. She was 55 years old.
Dr. Htun began her career in academia in 2000 as an assistant professor at the New School for Social Research in New York City. In 2011, she transitioned to the University of New Mexico as an associate professor of political science, ultimately earning the rank of full professor in 2015 and distinguished professor in 2024. During her tenure, she spent six years as deputy director and co-principal investigator for ADVANCE, a group of UNM faculty and staff dedicated to creating a sustainable and supportive climate for faculty hiring, mentoring, and development. She also served as a special advisor for inclusion and climate in the School of Engineering.
In her scholarly work, Dr. Htun focused on comparative politics, women’s rights, social inequalities, and strategies to promote inclusive organizational climates in STEM. She was the author of three books, including The Logics of Gender Justice: State Action on Women’s Rights Around the World (Cambridge University Press, 2018). She was a dedicated member of the American Political Science Association, including service as vice president, chair of the Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession, and co-chair of the President Task Force on Women’s Advancement.
Dr. Htun’s expertise in the political science field earned her appointments as an Andrew Carnegie Fellow, a fellow at the University of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute, and a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute of Harvard. On the international level, she was a Council of Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Japan.
Born in Hawaii, Dr Htun received her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University in California and her Ph.D. in political science from Harvard.