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 traffic sign with the words "Stop Road Closed" submerged in several feet of water

Scholars Advocate “Managed Retreat” from Flooding Coastlines

The question is no longer if, but when and how. 

by Lydialyle Gibson

A crow perched on a branch inside an aviary holds a stick tool in its beak during downtime from the experiment

Crows Know How to Have Fun

Surprising research about highly adept birds making and using tools

by Marina N. Bolotnikova

Upsolve co-founder Rohan Pavuluri (right) and summer staffer Nick Brown in front of an Upsolve sign.

Rohan Pavuluri and Upsolve: helping low-income families deal with debt

Rohan Pavuluri and Upsolve help low-income families cope with debt.

by Nina Pasquini

The cover from the March-April 2001 issue of Harvard Magazine with an illustration depicting an anatomical drawing of a human surrounded by the different contributions to aging well, or not.

The Talent for Aging Well

George E. Vaillant's generational research on Harvard men unveils the differences that distinguish the "happy-well" from the "sad-sick" in later life.

by Craig Lambert

Illustrated portrait of John Rawls

John Rawls and the remaking of political philosophy

The lasting influence and limitations of John Rawls’s political philosophy

by Marina N. Bolotnikova

Elizabeth Thomas shown on her couch at home with her own small dogs, Chapek and Kafka, and her son’s large dog, Clover, whom she watches when he is away.

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas profile

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas’s “laser beam” insights into the lives of animals and humans

by Marina N. Bolotnikova

An illustration depicts the torso of a patient as teams of tiny, Lilliputian physicians run tests and examinations.

Isaac Kohane studies exceptional responders

Do patients who defeat cancer hold biological secrets?

by Bennett McIntosh

Photograph of Alice Hill

HAA president Alice Hill

Harvard Alumni Association president Alice Hill ’81, Ph.D. ’91

by Nell Porter-Brown

Photograph of electrical engineering and applied math associate professor Na Li

An electrical engineer and applied mathematician, in brief

For a star electrical engineering professor, it's all about systems.

by Jacob Sweet

Photograph of Hansjörg Wyss

Hansjörg Wyss boosts biologically inspired engineering

The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering gets another boost.

by Jonathan Shaw