ANN ARBOR, MI, November 06, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Daniel E. Little, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Little has established a distinguished career as a university leader, philosopher and author, with a significant impact on higher education and public policy. Since 2025, he has been an emeritus professor of sociology and public policy at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, continuing to contribute to academic discourse and research. His academic appointments reflect his interdisciplinary expertise and longstanding commitment to scholarship.

Earlier in his career, from 2000 to 2018, Dr. Little served as chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, becoming the longest-serving chancellor in the institution's history. His tenure was marked by a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. His most notable achievements included establishing a strong metropolitan mission for the campus through enduring partnerships with Detroit metropolitan area organizations, and helping to develop an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community.

Throughout his chancellorship, Dr. Little continued his scholarly pursuits, authoring books and maintaining an influential blog titled "Understanding Society," which he describes as open-source philosophy. The blog became an essential outlet for developing ideas that would later inform his published works. In his retirement, he remains actively engaged in research and writing, currently working on two books: "Seeds of Division: Democracy and the Politics of Hate," which offers a defense of multicultural democracy against hate-based movements, and another book, "Why Societies Diverge," exploring sociological themes within the philosophy of social science.

Dr. Little's earlier career includes serving as vice president for academic affairs at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania from 1996 to 2000, where he was also a professor of philosophy. Prior to Bucknell, he spent 17 years at Colgate University in New York, advancing from assistant professor to full professor while holding administrative roles such as department chair and associate dean of faculty. He also served as visiting associate professor of philosophy at Wellesley College from 1985 to 1987 and began his academic career as an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside from 1976 to 1979.

Internationally recognized for his expertise, Dr. Little was a visiting scholar at the Center for International Affairs at Harvard University from 1989 to 1991 and an honorary visiting professor of political science at Central China Normal University from 2012 to 2015, as well as shorter research appointments at Peking University, the University of Milan, and the University of Duisburg-Essen. His scholarly output is extensive; he has published 12 books, 10 as the sole author, and more than 70 articles, book chapters, and reviews since 2000. Notable publications include "Varieties of Social Explanation," "Understanding Peasant China," "The Paradox of Wealth and Poverty: Mapping the Ethical Dilemmas of Global Development," "Confronting Evil in History," "Rethinking Analytical Sociology," and "A New Social Ontology of Government." He also wrote "New Directions in the Philosophy of Social Science," "New Contributions to the Philosophy of History," "Microfoundations, Method, and Causation: Essays in the Philosophy of the Social Sciences," and "The Scientific Marx." He edited "On the Reliability of Economic Models: Essays in the Philosophy of Economics" and co-edited (with Satya Mohanty) "The Future of Diversity: Academic Leaders Reflect on American Higher Education".

Dr. Little's professional affiliations reflect his broad engagement with academic and civic communities. He has been a member of the Association for Asian Studies, the American Philosophical Association, the American Sociological Association, the American Political Science Association, and the Social Science History Association. His civic involvement includes board service with organizations such as the Michigan College Access Network, the Michigan League for Public Policy, the Detroit Urban League, New Detroit, and Detroit Public Television.

Dr. Little's academic foundation is rooted in rigorous training in philosophy and mathematics. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Harvard University in 1977. He also holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a bachelor's degree in mathematics, both from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1971. He attributes much of his success to good fortune throughout his educational journey and recognizes that the skills he developed as an active professor, such as open-minded inquiry and communication, have been invaluable throughout his career of academic leadership, which involved extensive collaboration and community-building as well.

Born in Rock Island, Illinois, Dr. Little enjoys traveling and remains dedicated to fostering civic loyalty to democratic institutions through teaching and writing. For several years, he has taught seminars on democracy and the politics of hate at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, courses that have resonated deeply with students seeking to understand contemporary challenges facing democracy.

Looking ahead, Dr. Little is focused on completing his current writing projects while continuing to inspire renewed passion for multicultural democracy among younger generations. He views making meaningful contributions as a writer and thinker as paramount for this stage in his life and hopes his work will help articulate visions for an inclusive society free from racism — goals that remain central to his legacy in academia and public service.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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