Commencement | June 8, 2017

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Centennial Medalists of 2017

Honorands whose contributions to society emerged from graduate study

From The July-August 2017 Issue

**Graduate School of Arts and Sciences honorees (from left) Russell A. Mittermeier, Sarah P. Morris, Thomas F. Pettigrew, and Richard Sennett** | Photograph by Tony Rinaldo/Courtesy of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ Centennial Medal, first awarded in 1989 on the occasion of the school’s hundredth anniversary, honors alumni who have made contributions to society that emerged from their graduate studies. It is the highest honor GSAS bestows, and awardees include some of Harvard’s most accomplished alumni. The 2017 recipients, announced at a ceremony on May 24, are: Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D. ’77, a primatologist, herpetologist, and conservation advocate; Sarah P. Morris, Ph.D. ’81, a classicist and archaeologist; Thomas F. Pettigrew, Ph.D. ’56, an expert on racism and intergroup relations; and Richard Sennett, Ph.D. ’69, a sociologist who writes about cities, labor, and culture. For more about the medalists, see harvardmag.com/centennial-17.

Published in the July-August 2017 print issue under the headline “Centennial Medalists,” in the Alumni section.

You might also like

Graduates in caps and gowns celebrate joyfully, raising their hands in excitement.

Harvard’s 375th Commencement Exercises

Conan O’Brien headlines a star-studded cast

Older woman in a white outfit with a cane and red sash, alongside an elderly man in a gray suit holding a sign.

Harvard Honors Its Oldest Alumni

At 97 and 101, Linda Cabot Black ’51 and William “Bill” Dubey ’46 led the way on Alumni Day.

Smiling astronaut in blue jumpsuit speaking at a podium, colorful background.

Don’t Be A ‘Solo Superhero,’ Jonny Kim Tells Harvard Alumni

The astronaut, doctor, and Navy SEAL delivered keynote remarks on Alumni Day.

Most popular

Historic brick building with a tall, ornate tower against a clear blue sky.

As Union Protests Continue, Stephen Colbert and Yo-Yo Ma Event at Harvard Cut Short

A conversation between the comedian and the celebrated cellist was interrupted by a fire alarm in Sanders Theatre.

Crowd of picketers holding signs advocating for fair pay on a sunny day.

Cancellations, Disruptions as Harvard Graduate Student Strike Enters Second Week

Some faculty complain about the protests’ effect on students.

A woman jogs on a path beside a boy riding a bicycle, surrounded by trees.

To Promote Healthy Habits in Patients, Start with the Doctors

Why Harvard Medical School is training physicians to think more like coaches

Explore More From Current Issue

Black and white portrait of a woman with medium-length hair, smiling softly.

Alumni

The outgoing executive director and Harvard Business School graduate went from dancing The Nutcracker to growing a ballet company.

Delicate green cocoa pods and small white flowers on a tree branch, surrounded by soft greenery.

Research

Harvard researchers investigate climate’s impact on cocoa crops, innovations in nasal vaccines, and links between pain and skull marrow.

A man with a long beard and formal attire stands next to a chalkboard with an equation.

Harvard History

Two tales of University greats—and an encounter with a Tiger