Alumni Profiles

Spotlight stories on alumni who are leading, innovating, and making a difference.

Catherine Zipf smiling, wearing striped shirt and dark sweater outdoors.

Preserving the History of Jim Crow Era Safe Havens

Architectural historian Catherine Zipf is building a database of Green Book sites.  

by Lydialyle Gibson

Scheft (left) shares a laugh with his boss.

Letters & Letterman

Bill Scheft ‘79 writes comedy for David Letterman, as well as novels.

by Craig Lambert

In Yup’ik lore, the crane—depicted in the mask above—connotes stealth, power, and insight. The human face on the bird’s belly represents its <em>yua,</em> or spirit—the part of the animal that understands, and can relate to, humans. The porcelain “teeth” that border the face are a reminder to use one’s innate gifts to good effect, or risk being consumed by them. The porcelain “bones” hanging from the wings ward off evil spirits; wooden rings represent this world and the spirit world.

Mnemonic Masks

Inspired by his Yup’ik heritage, Phillip Charette educates through his art.

by Elizabeth Gudrais

Agee as an aspiring writer at Harvard, cigarette and Dostoevsky's <em>The Posses

Vistas of Perfection

A profile of writer James Agee, at Harvard and beyond

by Adam Kirsch

Caroline Farrar Ware

A brief profile of the activist and scholar

by Anne Firor Scott

U.S. district judge Nancy Gertner (left) listens as Linda Greenhouse ’68, formerly the Supreme Court reporter for the <em>New York Times,</em> questions Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

A Walk through History with Justice Ginsburg

The Supreme Court associate justice speaks at a Radcliffe Institute conference on gender and the law.

"We gave ourselves an hour of quality Wi-Fi time,” says Charlene Li of a recent hotel stop on a family vacation.

Plugged In

Charlene Li urges businesses to embrace social technologies.

by Nell Porter-Brown

Jonathan Newmark's inaugural CD

Life in Counterpoint

Jonathan Newmark balances his day job and his music.

by Krysten A. Keches

Edibles entrepreneur Jessi Walter on the job

Life and Cupcakes

Jessi Walter has fun on the job.

by Krysten A. Keches

The Rythmeter, circa 1944, came with a more complicated set of instructions than the earlier “scientific prediction dial” (see next image), reflecting increasingly precise knowledge of human reproduction—knowledge that Rock played no small part in advancing.

A Pioneer in Family Planning

A new exhibition honors John C. Rock, the Harvard Medical School professor whose research and advocacy were instrumental in the development of modern fertility treatments and contraception.

Oranges stacked for sale at a Moroccan bazaar

Second-Life Photography

A profile of cultural photographer Lee Smith

by Craig Lambert