Alumni
Could Losing Legacy Admissions Sustain Racial Diversity?
With the fall of affirmative action, some have suggested that elite universities like Harvard could maintain racial diversity by eliminating legacy admissions preferences. But questions linger over whether dismantling the practice would lead to a meaningful expansion in diversity — and whether alumni donation dollars would wither.
In Photos: The 51st Annual An Evening with Champions
An Evening with Champions brings together Harvard alumni and skaters from around the world to raise money for The Jimmy Fund, which supports cancer research and treatment.
Recent Harvard Graduate Ayah Al-Zubi ’23 Declares City Council Candidacy
Less than two months after graduating from Harvard, Ayah Al-Zubi ’23 launched her campaign for Cambridge City Council. The 21-year-old is the youngest of 24 candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring for one of the Council’s nine at-large seats up for election in November.
A Legacy of Leadership in Dallas: Eric L. Johnson ’98
If Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson ’98 hadn’t met Robert Bridgeman — then the director of programs at the Phillips Brooks House Association — while walking across Harvard Yard in his freshman fall, his life of public service might not have been the same.
‘First Draft of History’: Kristen Welker ’98 Charts Path from Crimson Reporting to White House
Leading the crowd of reporters in the White House briefing room, Kristen Welker ’98 sat in the front row, poised to ask about the ongoing fight over the debt limit and budget deal.
The Making of a Prime Minister: Benazir ‘Pinkie’ Bhutto ’73 Remembered as ‘Great Messenger’ for Pakistan
Before Benazir Bhutto ’73 broke the “glass ceiling” as the first democratically elected woman of a Muslim nation, she was a shy girl from Eliot House known to all as “Pinkie.”
Seth Waxman ’73 Reflects on Path from Quincy House to the Supreme Court
In October 2022, nearly 50 years after his graduation from Harvard, Seth P. Waxman ’73 defended his alma mater before the Supreme Court.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy ’98 Guided by ‘Inspiration in the Moment’
Vivek H. Murthy ’98 has more than enough on his plate. His resume features numerous board positions, nonprofit and business ventures, and a bestselling book. He now serves as U.S. surgeon general — the youngest person ever to be confirmed to the position and the first of Indian descent.
Robert W. Decherd ’73, Titan in Texas Journalism, Reflects on Changing Media Landscape
Fifty years ago, as Robert W. Decherd ’73 stood with his fellow editors at The Crimson’s centennial celebration, he said that the event “has meant more in an institutional way than any Harvard Reunion or office party ever could.” Now, as Decherd returns to Harvard for his 50th reunion, he remains convinced.
A Crimson Commonwealth: The Harvard Alumni Who Run Massachusetts
As Harvard affiliates continue to interact with and fill the Massachusetts government, it often falls to the University’s own to create policy and settle disagreements that directly affect Harvard. How does their time at the University influence the way they approach these disputes, and what is the effect of Harvard’s impact on Massachusetts leaders?
Harvard College Alum Ryosuke Takashima ’19-’22 Becomes Youngest Mayor in History of Japan
Following a decisive win in a unified local election on April 23, Harvard College alum Ryosuke Takashima ’19-’22 became the youngest mayor in Japanese history.
Harvard Alumni Association Will Retain Email Forwarding and Offer Service to Graduates, Following Outcry
The Harvard Alumni Association announced Monday that it will continue to offer email forwarding services for alumni in partnership with an external company, reversing course following alumni outcry.
Meredith Hodges ’03 Elected President of Harvard Board of Overseers
Meredith L. “Max” Hodges ’03, the executive director of Boston Ballet, was elected as president of Harvard’s Board of Overseers for the 2023-24 academic year, the University announced on Thursday.
Four Earn 2023 Harvard Medals for Distinguished Service to the University
Four Harvard affiliates will receive the 2023 Harvard Medal for “extraordinary service” to the University, the Harvard Alumni Association announced last Thursday.
How the ‘Harvard Plan’ Shaped College Admissions and Campus Diversity
The “Harvard Plan” represented the University’s largest formal push to increase campus diversity, though students and activists had advocated for change for years prior. With affirmative action and the Harvard Plan in jeopardy, alumni, legal scholars, and administrators reflected on the push for campus diversity and how it changed the College’s student body.
