Alumni & People

curation of alumni people, faculty and student profiles

Conan O’Brien in a dark suit and light shirt, smiling and posing with hands clasped.

Conan O’Brien Named Harvard’s 2026 Commencement Speaker

The comedian, host, and 1985 graduate will deliver remarks at the May 28 ceremony. 

by Schuyler Velasco

A photomontage showing how, when a whole panther worm is cut in two, the parts heal, form regeneration, and then develop into two complete panther worms.

Could Regenerative Biology Work in Humans?

Mansi Srivastava’s basic research seeks to uncover the origins of whole-body regeneration in animals.

by Aleksandra Prochera

Portrait photograph of Sidney Verba

Sidney Verba, and a classy class reporter

Harvard’s mensch, and a record-setting recorder of Crimson lives

by Primus VI

An illustration of the crumpled front end of a car that has been in an accident with mountains that are the result of crumpling of Earth's crust, rising in the background

How Paper Crumples

The research provides insight into the way materials react to repeated strain.

by Steve Nadis

Illustration of open doors, tied to concept of commitment instead of just seeking opportunities

Open Book: the case for commitment

Pete Davis expands on his Commencement address.

Photograph of 60 Oxford Street, new center for quantum science and engineering

News Briefs: Important University Updates

A large leap in the smallest science, decarbonization debates, admissions lawsuit

A stylized illustration of a tree with many small flowers blooming on one side and on the other one small branch on which a small human figure is nurturing one large blossom

Pondering the Extracurricular “Founders” Puzzle

Why do so many Harvard students start clubs, instead of joining them?

by Meena Venkataramanan

Jason Rosenfeld delivers a presentation with microphone in hand

Harvard Graduate Leads in NBA Analytics

Jason Rosenfeld ’12 traces his path to sports-statistics success.

by Jacob Sweet

Joan Donovan

Can disinformation be stopped?

Scholars’ perspectives on a pervasive new threat

by Jacob Sweet

Daguerreotype portrait of Unitarian minister Thomas Starr King

Thomas Starr King: Protector of the Union, and Yosemite

Brief life of a transcendentalist out West

by John Buehrens

Emily Balskus

Probing the Microbial World Within Us

Emily Balskus deciphers the human microbiome.

by Jonathan Shaw