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 cast of "The Hot Wing King"

Playwright Katori Hall on the joy—and trauma—of black life

Playwright Katori Hall on the joy—and trauma—of black life

by Stuart Miller

Multiple small paper tabs, each decorated with a simple line drawing of a different facial expression

Excerpt from Marjorie Garber, “Character: The History of a Cultural Obsession”

Marjorie Garber explores the word’s complexity and history.

Protestors with a large poster demanding reform of the Electoral College

Excerpt from Alex Keyssar “Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?”

Problematic features of the Electoral College

Photograph of composer Paul Moravec

Paul Moravec’s soulful music

Paul Moravec’s soulful music

by Lydialyle Gibson

Illustration of a dog with a brain made up of different colorful regions depicting skills such as hunting and herding

Canine behavioral specializations reflected in brain structures

Researchers hope to tease out the effects of breeding and training on dog brain structure.

by Jonathan Shaw

Karen Chee holding a flower to her face

Profile of comedian Karen Chee

Comedian Karen Chee finds her voice.

by Jacob Sweet

Illustration showing Greek pillars to represent democracy made from rolled newspapers. One of the pillars has tipped over and spilled a jumble of letters.

Protecting the press as a foundation of democracy

If the press is essential to democracy, what can be done to save news organizations?

by Erin O’Donnell

Author Gabrielle Zevin seated on a sofa in Los Angeles with her dog Nico

Author Gabrielle Zevin profiled by Nell Porter Brown

A prescient novelist is hopeful that “after great change, amazing things can happen.”

by Nell Porter-Brown

Illustration of a woman in a lab coat studying shadows cast by vials of blood, each shadow a readout indicating the presence of a past exposure to a specific pathogen.

Harvard’s VirScan exposes viral vulnerabilities

A serological test may reveal the COVID-19 virus’s weaknesses—and expose its strategic decoys.

by Bennett McIntosh

2020 Harvard Cambridge Scholars

Headed to the other Cambridge