December 16, 2008

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan ’86

President-elect Obama has selected Chicago school superintendent Arne Duncan '86 to serve as Secretary of Education.

President-elect Barack Obama has selected Arne Duncan '86 as his Secretary of Education, the New York Times reported. Duncan became superintendent of Chicago's schools in 2001, and has been credited with improving performance in the nation's third-largest district. Read Harvard Magazine's profile here. The Times reports that Duncan, who helped draft Obama's education platform, has been particularly interested in expanding early-childhood education.

For Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan's warm reflections on Duncan's undergraduate basketball and academic career, and his work since, see here.

You might also like

A man in a suit waves while smiling, with greenery in the background.

He was Harvard’s quintessential people person.

Soccer player and goalkeeper Matt Freese standing in front of the net

The former economics concentrator brings his talent for crunching numbers to netminding.

A man in a tuxedo gestures while holding an award on a stage.

Graduates John Lithgow, Bill Rauch, and Bess Wohl took home prizes on Sunday night.

Most popular

Star-filled night sky with the Milky Way arching over a rocky silhouette.

There’s a growing movement to curb light pollution. It starts on your front porch.

A blue refrigerator covered with animal pictures, notes, and drawings, surrounded by greenery.

An animal’s journey from grief to love shows how much humans need each other, too.

White House and Harvard University buildings split diagonally with contrasting colors.

Harvard Weathers a Year of Turmoil

The federal government has launched unprecedented actions against the University. Here’s a guide.

Explore More From Current Issue

A chaotic scene in a messy room with people engaging in various activities, some cleaning.

Harvard History

Until the 1950s, professionals cleaned up after students in the dorms.

Aerial view of modern high-rise buildings surrounded by greenery and city skyline.

Architecture & Design

In a sea of red brick, the Science Center and Peabody Terrace make their mark.

Massachusetts Hall at Harvard Red brick building with a large clock on top, surrounded by green trees.

University News

With a grade inflation vote and in the courts, the University argued that it’s taking steps to change.