Tercentenary Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., May 25, 2017 As delivered. Good afternoon. My remarks at this moment in our Commencement rituals are officially titled a “Report to the Alumni.” The first time I delivered them, in 2008, I was the only obstacle between all of you and J.K. Rowling. I looked out on a…
2017 Remarks at ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Tercentenary Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., May 24, 2017 As delivered. Gen. Hyten. Capt. Horten. Lt. Col. Ott. Commissionees. Good morning, everyone. I offer my congratulations on behalf of the University to these six about-to-be commissioned officers. These men and women have not just done all that was required of them to earn their Harvard…
2017 Baccalaureate Service: “The Art of Noticing”
Memorial Church, Cambridge, Mass., May 23, 2017 Greetings, Harvard College Class of 2017. What a privilege it is to pause with you for a moment, during this frenzy of Commencement week, as you prepare to join the company of educated persons. I can imagine you are wondering to what we owe this strange honor —…
The Political Economy of Cost Control on a University Campus
The Clark Kerr Lecture, Delivered April 20, 2017, The University of California at Berkeley Introduction Few issues in higher education have commanded more attention in recent years than escalating costs. Indeed, it is hard to pick up a newspaper these days without reading about yet another increase in tuition (typically in excess of the rate…
Aftermath: War, Memory and History
Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam, March 23, 2017 As delivered. President Dat, Rector Sen, students, faculty, distinguished guests — thank you for your very warm welcome and your generous hospitality. For more than three decades before I became president of Harvard, I worked as a scholar and teacher of…
“A Risky Experiment”: Harvard-Radcliffe Women’s Weekend
Cambridge, Mass., November 4, 2016 As delivered. Thank you so much, Acey [Welch]. And thank you also to the Radcliffe Pitches. And thanks to so many of you—including the many alumnae and alumni groups—who have worked so hard to make this weekend possible. And thanks to all of you for coming back. I am pleased…
“Showing Us How to Do It”: Remarks by Drew Gilpin Faust for the inauguration of Paula A. Johnson as president of Wellesley College
Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., September 30, 2016 As delivered. Thank you faculty, students, staff, distinguished guests, and friends. What an honor and a personal pleasure it is to be here today, to extend to Dr. Paula Johnson the greetings of her fellow college and university presidents. When Paula Johnson was a girl in Brooklyn dreaming…
Morning Prayers: “Historians All”
Holden Chapel, Cambridge, Mass., August 31, 2016 As delivered. Good morning. Today we begin another academic year and launch ourselves into the future—the future of this 380-year-old institution and the futures of tens of thousands of us gathered here to learn together. But this morning I want to say just a few words about the…
Freshman Convocation Address to the Class of 2020
Tercentenary Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., August 30, 2016 As prepared for delivery. Welcome, Class of 2020. When I saw many of you at Visitas last April, you were making up your minds about where you wanted to spend the next four years. I am delighted that the 1,667 of you have accepted our invitation…
2016 Remarks at ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Tercentenary Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., May 25, 2016 As delivered. Good morning. It’s a pleasure to greet you—alumni, students, parents, friends—and especially the veterans who have joined us for this ceremony. I am delighted that this year we will be commissioning 12 new officers, the most since 2010. A few weeks ago, we welcomed…