Jim was one of the best friends Harvard has ever had, and his selfless leadership, gentle wisdom, humane spirit, and boundless generosity in service of Harvard will live on always. The entire Harvard community deeply mourns his passing and extends deepest condolences to Anne and the Rothenberg family. We will miss Jim more than I…
Memorandum to President Faust from the Committee on the Oversight of Electronic Communications
President Faust in November of 2014 asked the Committee on the Oversight of Electronic Communications to consider certain issues raised by an attendance study conducted in 2014 by the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching (HILT). Please click here for a copy of the Committee’s memorandum….
Presidential Panel on Climate Change
Experts from the worlds of science, government, economics, business, and history gather in Sanders Theatre for a wide-ranging panel discussion on how society in general and universities in particular can best confront the perils posed by climate change. Moderator: Charlie RoseHost and Executive Producer, Charlie Rose, PBSCo-anchor, CBS This Morning Panelists: Joseph AldyAssistant Professor of…
Statement by Drew Faust on recent events
A statement from President Faust was included in The Harvard Crimson: “Black lives matter. It has taken far too long to make that fundamental truth a living, essential part of the fabric of our society, our government, and our lives. Martin Luther King, Jr. made clear a half century ago why we can’t wait. What was…
Statement by Drew Faust on threatening emails
Many of you may be aware of a troubling incident last month in which threatening, racist emails were sent to members of our community, mostly Harvard College students, who are of Asian or Asian-American descent. Our investigations have revealed that they were sent from a source outside the United States. Any form of aggression, and…
Statement on the passing of Mayor Tom Menino
No one I’ve known has personified Boston’s heart and soul, its drive and its resilience, more than Tom Menino. I have been privileged to call him a mentor and a friend. He lived a life full of purpose, always guided by a devotion to improving the lives of the people he served. He was a…
President Faust’s Fall 2014 Letter
Dear Members of the Harvard Community, “What we lose in flowers,” Samuel Butler wrote of autumn, “we more than gain in fruits.” With another autumn upon us, I write to note some first fruits of the academic year now in full swing and some thoughts on what’s ahead. As September began, our newest undergraduates assembled…
A Message from the President: David Ellwood
Dear Colleagues and Friends, As he announced today, David Ellwood has decided to step down next summer as dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, after eleven years of outstanding leadership. From the outset of his deanship, David has embodied and amplified the spirit of service that infuses the School he leads. With his…
Statement on ‘Black Mass’
A statement by President Drew Faust The reenactment of a ‘black mass’ planned by a student group affiliated with the Harvard Extension School challenges us to reconcile the dedication to free expression at the heart of a university with our commitment to foster a community based on civility and mutual understanding. Vigorous and open discussion…
Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing
Dear Members of the Harvard Community, Tomorrow marks the anniversary of last year’s Boston Marathon tragedy. The occasion offers us a moment to remember and reflect on the lives so terribly lost and the incalculable pain suffered by the victims and their loved ones. It is a moment to recognize and marvel at the survivors’…