History professor Jacob Steere-Williams (pictured above) has been elected as a new fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS).

Founded in 1868, RHS is a learned society dedicated to advancing the study of history in the United Kingdom and across the world. Fellows are considered those who have made a significant contribution to historical scholarship through original research.

“This award is a career-defining recognition of innovative scholarship, and I’m humbled for my work on the history of public health and pandemics to be seen in such a positive light,” says Steere-Williams. “Being a fellow with the Royal Historical Society is a lifetime membership, an honorary title, and a responsibility to continue to publicly engage, enrich and support the study and public understanding of history.”

Elections to the Fellowship are undertaken through a process of external peer review, after which the RHS Council considers the quality of an individual’s work and its impact by the broader academic community.

The RHS works with professional historians to advance the scholarly study of the past worldwide and contribute to contemporary policy debates about the study and use of history.