Michigan State University historian Nwando Achebe has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS), one of the world's most prestigious organizations dedicated to advancing historical scholarship.
Founded in 1868, the Royal Historical Society is the United Kingdom's foremost learned society for historians. Fellowship is a significant professional distinction awarded to scholars who have made original and substantial contributions to the historical discipline.
“It is an extraordinary honor to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society,” said Dr. Achebe. “Throughout my career, I have sought to demonstrate that African history is not peripheral to world history—it is central to it. I am deeply grateful that this fellowship recognizes scholarship that expands the historical record, challenges inherited narratives, and affirms Africa as a generator of historical knowledge, not simply an object of historical study.”
Dr. Achebe is University Distinguished Professor, the Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History, and Associate Dean for Access, Faculty Development, and Strategic Implementation at MSU. An internationally recognized scholar of African history, she is known for her groundbreaking research on women, gender, power, and oral history in Nigeria.
Her election to the Royal Historical Society adds to an extensive list of professional honors recognizing her contributions to scholarship and higher education. Dr. Achebe is a member of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and currently serves as President of the African Studies Association. She is also the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of West African History.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Achebe has authored or edited numerous influential books, including The Female King of Colonial Nigeria: Ahebi Ugbabe, an award-winning biography that earned three major book awards and brought international attention to the history of female political leadership in colonial West Africa. Her scholarship has been supported by prestigious grants and fellowships from organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, Fulbright-Hays, National Endowment for the Humanities, World Health Organization, and Woodrow Wilson Foundation.
A celebrated teacher, researcher, and public scholar, Dr. Achebe has delivered more than 100 invited lectures and keynote addresses across four continents and has shared her expertise through documentaries, podcasts, and media projects with organizations including the A24, BBC, The History Channel, A&E, and Disney.
Her election as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society recognizes a career dedicated to expanding historical knowledge, elevating African perspectives, and advancing understanding of women and leadership in African history.