President David Skorton was named today to a new national commission dedicated to bolstering teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences. The Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences, established by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, comes at a time when funding for the humanities is under fire on national, state and local levels.

"Scholarship in the humanities and social sciences represents a critical, long-term investment in ensuring future generations' understanding of our core values and ethics, the crucial lessons of history, and the essential need to understand differing cultures around the globe," Skorton said. "If we are to function as a true democracy, and if we ever wish to win the hearts and minds of the people of other nations, our future leaders will require an understanding of global cultures, histories, religions and values -- the type of knowledge imparted by first-rate humanities and social science research and education."

The commission was created in response to a bipartisan request to the academy from U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), and U.S. Reps. David Price (D-N.C.). and Tom Petri (R-Wis.).

"Our nation's long tradition of research and scholarship in humanities and social sciences has been the basis for an informed citizenry that comes from many countries, races, religions and cultures, but shares a common set of ideals such as liberty, equal opportunity, and the rule of law," Alexander said. "I am pleased that the American Academy is creating this commission to provide recommendations on the best ways to maintain our nation's excellence in humanities and social science education, from grade-school history classes to graduate-level economic research."

Skorton will serve alongside corporate executives, university presidents and creative artists including: former Supreme Court Justice David Souter, filmmakers George Lucas and Ken Burns, actor John Lithgow, former Cornell Provost Biddy Martin, and Robert Berdahl, president of the Association of American Universities.

The commission expects to complete its work over the next 18 to 24 months.