Distinguished Parsi-American social psychologist Dr. Mahzarin R. Banaji has been named to the prestigious 2026 class of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation’s “Great Immigrants, Great Americans”, an annual recognition honouring 25 naturalised American citizens whose contributions have significantly enriched the United States. The announcement comes as US prepares to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, on 4^th July, 2026.

Born into a Parsi family in Secunderabad, India, Dr. Banaji studied at Nizam College before earning a Master’s degree in Psychology from Osmania University. She later moved to the US, where she completed her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Ohio State University. After teaching at Yale University for 15 years, she joined Harvard University, where she is the Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics in the Department of Psychology.

Internationally recognised for her pioneering work in implicit social cognition, Dr. Banaji has transformed the understanding of unconscious bias and its influence on human behaviour. Her research explores how deeply ingrained associations, shaped by culture and experience, can affect decisions even among individuals who sincerely value fairness and equality.

In 1998, she and Professor Anthony Greenwald co-developed the Implicit Association Test (IAT), a groundbreaking tool that measures unconscious associations related to race, gender, age and other social categories. Their acclaimed book, ‘Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People’, further brought these concepts into public discourse, encouraging greater self-awareness and helping institutions better understand the subtle influences behind decision-making.

Dr. Banaji was also a featured speaker at the 12^th World Zoroastrian Congress held in New York in 2022, where her presentation on hidden bias resonated strongly with delegates. Drawing parallels with the Zoroastrian ideals of good thoughts, good words and good deeds, she emphasised that living ethically also requires honest self-reflection and a willingness to question one’s own assumptions.

The Carnegie honour recognises a lifetime dedicated to scholarship, education and public engagement. For the global Parsi community, Dr. Mahzarin Banaji’s remarkable journey stands as a powerful reminder of how intellectual excellence, humility and service can create a lasting impact on society while bringing pride to generations of Zoroastrians worldwide.