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.

 

 

Related topics

You might also like

Novelist Lev Grossman on Why Fantasy Isn’t About Escapism

The Magicians author discusses his influences, from Harvard to King Arthur to Tolkien.

This TikTok Artist Combines Monsters and Mental Heath

Ava Jinying Salzman’s artwork helps people process difficult feelings.

Mount Vernon, Historic Preservation, and American Politics

Anne Neal Petri promotes George Washington and historic literacy.

Most popular

FAS Announces New Endowment for Ph.D. Candidates

A $50 million gift from alumni donors aims to protect research opportunities amid political uncertainty

Martin Nowak Sanctioned for Jeffrey Epstein Involvement

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences announces disciplinary actions.

Harvard Students, Alumna Named Rhodes and Marshall Scholars

Nine Rhodes and five Marshall scholars will study in the U.K. in 2026.

Explore More From Current Issue

Four young people sitting around a table playing a card game, with a chalkboard in the background.

On Weekends, These Harvard Math Professors Teach the Smaller Set

At Cambridge Math Circle, faculty and alumni share puzzles, riddles, and joy.

A football player kicking a ball while another teammate holds it on the field.

A Near-Perfect Football Season Ends in Disappointment

A loss to Villanova derails Harvard in the playoffs. 

Man in a suit holding a pen, smiling, seated at a desk with a soft background.

A Congenial Voice in Japanese-American Relations

Takashi Komatsu spent his life building bridges.