Students & Alumni

Features on student life and alumni journeys, capturing the spirit, impact, and diversity of the Harvard community.

a couple sitting at a park overlooking the ocean

Your Guide to Summer 2025 Along Boston Harbor

Enjoying Boston Harbor’s Renaissance this summer

by Nell Porter-Brown

Kermit "Kim" Roosevelt in 1950

Brief life of Harvard CIA agent who helped install the shah of Iran

Brief life of a Harvard conspirator: 1916-2000

by Gwen Kinkead

Four New York firefighters with John Weidman and <i>Sesame Street</i> character Elmo in 2001.

Storytelling with Sondheim: a profile of librettist John Weidman

Librettist John Weidman writes books for the best.

by Jesse Kornbluth

In <i>Black Swan</i>, Natalie Portman's character dances the role of the Swan Queen and her dark rival in <i>Swan Lake</i>. Here, Portman as the White Swan.

The film "Black Swan" has Harvard creators behind it

A tense thriller, with ballerinas

by Craig Lambert

James Snyder stands in front of the exterior dome of the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Profile of Israel Museum director James Snyder

American James Snyder ’73 recreates an Israeli national landmark.

by John Gendall

Marshall Ganz

Profile of community organizer-turned-teacher Marshall Ganz

The community organizer, who once worked with César Chávez, now teaches at the Kennedy School.

Monimbo, Nicaragua, 1979

Major retrospective showcases photographer Susan Meiselas and her work

Photographer Susan Meiselas’s quest to understand via images. With audio from the interview.

“I like people to stand on tiptoe when they read my work,” says Bernard. “Not that it’s difficult to understand—but I’m trying to articulate complex ideas and feelings.”

Profile of poet April Bernard

Romanticism, a new collection by poet April Bernard, mixes disillusionment with emotion and playfulness.

by David Scribner

Elizabeth Whittaker, at her office in Boston, with basswood architectural models for residential and commercial structures

Elizabeth Whittaker’s inventive architecture

Elizabeth Whittaker’s beautiful buildings look expensive, but aren’t.

by Craig Lambert

Soulfège co-founders Jonathan Gramling (left) and Derrick N. Ashong, a.k.a. “DNA”

The music of Derrick Ashong and Soulfège fuses reggae, hip-hop, and funk

The band Soulfège has international sound and a positive message. With a music video.

by Craig Lambert

Francine Prose

Prolific writer Francine Prose

Francine Prose writes fiction and nonfiction in many forms. With an audio clip of the author discussing her writing process.