Dr. Sarah Hrdy is a preeminent anthropologist and primatologist whose groundbreaking scholarship has fundamentally reshaped evolutionary theory regarding human caregiving and social behavior. She holds the distinguished position of professor emerita at the University of California, Davis, following a remarkable academic career that began after she earned her PhD in Anthropology from Harvard University in 1975. Her scholarly journey commenced with summa cum laude graduation from Radcliffe College in 1969, and she has since been honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Harvard University on June 4, 2009, the University of Humanistics in Utrecht, and Willamette University for her transformative contributions to evolutionary anthropology.
Hrdy's pioneering research has revolutionized understanding of cooperative childcare in human evolution through her seminal concepts of alloparenting and the evolutionary significance of shared child-rearing. Her influential books including The Woman that Never Evolved, Mother Nature, and Mothers and Others established her as a towering intellectual figure, with Mother Nature being recognized as one of the Best Books of 1999 by both Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Her theoretical framework demonstrating how humankind's evolutionary legacy of communal childcare shaped our cognitive and emotional capacities has profoundly influenced anthropological discourse and received numerous scholarly accolades including the J.I. Staley Prize and the Howells Prize. This work has not only advanced scientific understanding but also reshaped cultural perspectives on family structure, gender roles, and the biological foundations of human cooperation.
As an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the California Academy of Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, Hrdy's intellectual leadership continues to shape evolutionary anthropology and related disciplines globally. Her most recent scholarly contribution, Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies published in 2024, extends her lifelong investigation into caregiving by examining the evolutionary history of paternal nurturing behaviors. Throughout her career she has served as editor of the Foundations of Human Behavior series and currently maintains editorial roles for Evolutionary Anthropology and Human Nature. Living on her family farm in northern California, Hrdy remains actively engaged in advancing scientific discourse while contributing to sustainable agriculture and habitat restoration efforts through her partnership with her husband.
