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

The Long Game

A standout golfer’s patient approach

by Jacob Sweet

Ibrahim Barry with a basketball on a court

“No Going Back to Normal”

Addressing the complexities of children’s mental health

by Jacob Sweet

Photograph of Richard Evans Schultes at Chiribiquete conservation area

Richard Evans Schultes

Brief life of a pioneering ethnobotanist and conservationist: 1915-2001

by Mark J. Plotkin

Illustration of students choosing different paths through college

Investing vs. Harvesting

Why (and how) to help undergraduates make the most of their extracurriculars

by Richard J. Light , Allison Jegla

David Reich standing in his Harvard Medical School laboratory

Telling Humanity’s Story through DNA

Geneticist David Reich rewrites the ancient human past.

by Jonathan Shaw

A portrait phot of Emily Carmichael

Beasts of the Big Screen

Jurassic World Dominion screenwriter Emily Carmichael on scripting Hollywood sci-fi epics

by Nicolas Rapold

Disagreeing Well

Harvard debater Bo Seo writes about productive differences of opinion.

Illustration of students and challenges in college today

Aiming for Excellence

New books by Harvard experts on college preparation, rankings, student experiences, and institutional strategies

by John S. Rosenberg

Wendy Lesser standing happily among her books

Wendy Lesser's "Threepenny Review:

The revered literary magazine editor discusses the writing (and reading) life.

by Lydialyle Gibson

Harvard Medalists

Avarita L. Hanson, William F. Lee, Dwight D. Miller, and Tom Reardon