Having shed the “interim” title on August 2, President Alan M. Garber—now expected to serve through June 30, 2027—today solidified his administration by ending the interim status of his designated successor as provost, former Harvard Law School dean John F. Manning ’82, J.D. ’85. In an announcement to the community, Garber said that Manning has become the provost proper.
Manning’s appointment as interim provost, announced March 1 and effective March 14, both helped Garber assume leadership at a time of extraordinary demands on Massachusetts Hall and enabled the administration to address pressing challenges. He was immediately assigned responsibility for a University task force examining institutional voice and neutrality (its recommendations were adopted just after Commencement) and a separate working group on civil discourse (whose efforts continue). The provost of course oversees a wide array of University policies and policymaking initiatives, and has responsibility for huge operations ranging from the Art Museums (whose new director Manning recently announced) and the Arnold Arboretum to the Harvard Libraries and the University Health Services.
In today’s announcement, Garber said of his leaderly colleague (who joined the law faculty in 2004 and became dean in 2017):
Since he became interim provost in March, John has done an outstanding job maintaining momentum across a broad portfolio of academic activities while leading efforts to articulate, communicate, and uphold the values of the University. John is a widely respected colleague, rigorous scholar, and celebrated teacher who is admired as much for his dedication to Harvard as for his broad and deep intellect.
Through his efforts to understand more about more parts of our community, he has demonstrated both humility and wisdom, two attributes that will serve him exceedingly well throughout his tenure. Most important, he is the right person for the moment in which we find ourselves, motivated by love for and service to the institution that raised his own sights, and eager to make it possible for all members of our University to thrive.
Manning said:
I love this university, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Harvard community at this critical time. Over the past five months as interim provost, I have gotten to know better the depth and breadth of this university’s academic excellence—in the arts and humanities, in the social sciences, in the sciences, and in our world-class professional Schools. I’m excited about meeting and hearing from colleagues across this great University and learning more about the spectacular work they do. I am also looking forward to working with colleagues to nurture academic excellence, collaboration, open and constructive dialogue, and a sense of belonging in which everyone feels that this is their Harvard and that they can thrive here.
John C.P. Goldberg continues to serve as interim law dean; a search for a permanent successor will begin in September, according to the announcement.
The news announcement apparently leaked to the Crimson earlier this morning. Read the University announcement here.
