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

Montage depicting a road leading to the capitol with a street sign with the republican party symbol

The GOP's Return to Ideas?

Proposing a new Republican platform

by Max J. Krupnick

Moungi Bawendi

Alumnus Moungi Bawendi Shares Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Chemist revolutionized production process of quantum dots

by Max J. Krupnick

Cecilia Zhou

Bringing Art to Life

Cecilia Zhou’s approach to makeup, protest, and science

by Max J. Krupnick

Woman sitting in front of a screen with a blue glow

Practicing Public Thoughts

For a young journalist, digital footprints have always been tricky.

by Josie Abugov

Claudine Gay at the podium

A “Romper Room” Diploma

President Claudine Gay’s first semester-opening Morning Prayers

by John S. Rosenberg

Jarvis Givens and Clint Smith

Black Students Speak

Jarvis Givens on two centuries of African American education 

by Lydialyle Gibson

Illustration that blends iconic images of knowledge and civilization

What Makes Humans Smart?

The critical role of cultural intelligence

by Jonathan Shaw

Fanciful illustration of plastic-eating microbes

Polishing off Plastic Pollution?

Engineering microbes to metabolize plastic waste

by Colleen Walsh

Illustration of two teams working together. One is well-coordinated, the other is not.

Picking Team Players

A test can identify these productivity-boosting personnel.

by Max J. Krupnick

Irene Soto Marín with Harvard's Ancient Mediterranean Classical Sculptures

Irene Soto Marín

Ancient history professor studies coins, ceramics, and Zelda.

by Max J. Krupnick