Remembering Mala Htun: Legacy of UNM’s Distinguished Political Science Professor

Mala Htun, a respected author and political science professor at The University of New Mexico, passed away last Friday at the age of 55 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Distinguished Professor Mala Htun

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 3 p.m. at Congregation Albert in Albuquerque. The family has requested no flowers be sent. Shiva services will be held privately. Condolences can be sent to the family at 1500 San Carlos Rd., S.W., Albuquerque, N.M. 87104.

Mala was born in Hawaii and moved to Albuquerque in 1982. She later earned her Ph.D. in political science from Harvard and obtained her undergraduate degree in international relations from Stanford. Before joining UNM, she worked at the New School for Social Research.

Her work focused on comparative politics, women’s rights, and social inequalities. She authored three influential books, including The Logics of Gender Justice: State Action on Women’s Rights around the World, which received the 2019 International Studies Association’s Best Book Award in the Human Rights Section.

In 2024, Mala was named a Distinguished Professor at UNM, recognizing her as a leading scholar in her field. She was also elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences that same year.

Mala was actively involved in professional organizations, serving as vice president of the American Political Science Association and chairing the Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession. She received several prestigious fellowships and collaborated on initiatives to enhance diversity and inclusion in engineering.

Her colleague, Christos Christodoulou, noted her significant contributions to fostering an inclusive environment, including launching the school’s first Climate and Inclusion Survey. He remembered her as a great scientist and a kind advocate for progress.

UNM Political Science Professor Jessica Feezell described Mala as one of the foremost scholars on gender and representation, highlighting her brilliance and grounded nature.

Mala leaves behind her husband Doug Turner and their three children: Alexander, Livia, and Elinor, along with her parents, Dr. Helen Muller and Dr. Ko Moe Htun.

The UNM Foundation has announced plans to create an academic endowment in her honor. Donations can be made to the Mala Htun Memorial Academic Fund.

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