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Kathleen Thelen is the Ford Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she serves as the Faculty Director of the MIT-Scandinavia, MIT-Germany, and MIT-Switzerland programs. She is a prominent scholar known for her expertise in political economy, historical institutionalism, labor politics, and social policy, particularly in advanced industrial countries. Thelen has an impressive record of leadership and service in academic associations, having served as president of the American Political Science Association and chair of the Council for European Studies. Her engagement with international academic communities is highlighted by her membership in the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies and her collaboration with Harvard University's Center for European Studies. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the field through elections to distinguished bodies such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. Thelen holds honorary degrees from several prestigious institutions, including the Free University of Amsterdam and the London School of Economics. Her research interests include, but are not limited to, the dynamics of political institutions and the intersection of economy and society, making her a leading figure in contemporary political science research.