In Your Service

We salute two outstanding contributors to Harvard Magazine for their work on readers’ behalf during 2013, and happily confer on each a $1,000 honorarium.

Art historian Jennifer L. Roberts—Agassiz professor of the humanities and chair of the committee on degrees in American studies—sparked wide discussion with “The Power of Patience” (November-December, page 40), her probing essay on teaching students to decelerate and to immerse themselves in their subjects in pursuit of deep learning. It is fitting that we recognize her work with the Smith-Weld Prize (in memory of A. Calvert Smith ’14, a former secretary to the Governing Boards and executive assistant to President James Bryant Conant, and of Philip S. Weld ’36, a former president of the magazine), which honors thought-provoking writing about Harvard.

Nathan Heller ’06, a past Harvard Magazine Ledecky Undergraduate Fellow, now a staff writer for The New Yorker, crafted a richly reported and wonderfully composed feature on Porter University Professor Helen Vendler’s long collaboration with Arion Press, one of the country’s most distinguished fine-book publishers, in “A Nearly Perfect Book” (September-October, page 34)—the latest of his many excellent articles in these pages. We take special pleasure in awarding him the McCord Writing Prize, named for David T.W. McCord ’21, A.M. ’22, L.H.D. ’56, in recognition of his legendary prose and verse composed for these pages and for the Harvard College Fund.

We warmly thank both.

Click here for the January-February 2014 issue table of contents

Sub topics

You might also like

House Committee Subpoenas Harvard Over Tuition Costs

The University must turn over all requested materials related to tuition and financial aid by mid-July. 

Nieman Foundation Names Henry Chu as Interim Curator

Veteran LA Times journalist calls attention to press freedom

Harvard Can Continue Hosting International Students, Judge Says

Trump hints at a possible settlement with the University.

Most popular

In Federal Court, Harvard and the Government Have Friends

A look at the amicus curiae briefs in Harvard’s funding case

Trump Administration Alleges Harvard Violated Student Civil Rights

In a court filing, the University says government has ignored procedure to “inflict pain.”

John Goldberg named Dean of Harvard Law School

A professor at HLS since 2008, he steps up from the interim role.

Explore More From Current Issue

Harvard Summer Reading Picks | 2025

The wealth gap, shamanism, the life of David Nathan, and more

A Justice’s Modest Counsel

Remembering David Souter ’61, LL.B. ’66

Walter Wick’s I Spy Series

I Spy Creator Walter Wick at the Norman Rockwell Museum