Legacy of Slavery Project Launches Database
In May, as part of the Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Initiative, the University released a publicly accessible database of 1,613 individuals who were enslaved by Harvard affiliates between 1636, when the University was founded, and 1865, when the Civil War ended slavery in the United States. Harvard’s search for its connections to slavery goes farther than some other universities’ by working to identify not only enslaved people with direct ties to the institution itself or the campus, but also all those who had been enslaved by Harvard leaders, faculty, and staff, including in the Caribbean. Researchers have so far identified roughly 600 living descendants, although they expect the numbers of both the enslaved and their descendants to grow exponentially as research progresses. The University says it will update the database periodically with new findings.
Harvard Management Company to Change Leadership
N.P. “Narv” Narvekar, who manages Harvard’s $57 billion endowment, told the board of the Harvard Management Company (HMC) that he plans to retire in late 2027, according to The Wall Street Journal. During his tenure, Narvekar outsourced more investments to external managers, replaced a siloed asset class approach with a generalist model, increased the portfolio’s exposure to private equity, and changed the compensation structure. Separately, the Harvard Corporation has appointed Patrick Healy ’89, M.B.A ’94, to the HMC board of directors. Healy is the CEO of private equity firm Hellman & Friedman.
Crime Strikes in Cambridge
Two unrelated criminal actions subverted the sense of safety around campus this spring. Midday on May 11, a gunman opened fire on Memorial Drive, wounding two motorists before being shot and subdued by a State Police trooper and a former marine. The shooter, who had recently been released from a psychiatric hospital, was on parole after serving a five-year sentence for shooting two Boston police officers in 2020; he was charged with eight counts including assault with intent to murder with a firearm.
Eight days later, in an unrelated incident, an unknown assailant gained entry to Lowell House and tried to force a female student into her room. Her screams brought neighboring students into the hall, and the suspect fled. A man fitting his description was later reported entering a residence hall at MIT, but evaded capture. On May 27, Massachusetts State Police arrested a 31-year-old New Hampshire man in connection with the incident, identified using surveillance video. He is charged with assault and battery, kidnapping, and breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony.
College Expands Language Offerings
Harvard will collaborate with other Ivy League colleges on an initiative to teach less commonly taught languages, joining Yale, Columbia, and Cornell in the effort on a trial basis. The Shared Course Initiative will allow Harvard to expand its language offerings through teleconferenced classes. Harvard classes will still meet in person, and students will receive full course credit. Harvard is expected to contribute languages including Uyghur and Chagatai. About a third of the languages offered through the initiative are not currently taught at Harvard.
Faculty Leaders Named
Aetna professor of the practice of public policy Jason Furman has been named Weil director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School. He replaces Eliot University Professor Lawrence H. Summers, who resigned from the position amidst furor over his connections to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lee Rubin, professor of stem cell and regenerative biology, has been named faculty co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. He succeeds Doug Melton, who co-founded the institute in 2005.
Five Faculty of Arts and Sciences members were named Harvard College professors, recognized for their contributions to education, research, and mentoring: Daniel Carpenter, Freed professor of government; Jeff Lichtman, Knowles professor of molecular and cellular biology; Hannah Marcus, professor of the history of science; Samantha Matherne, professor of philosophy; and Ariel Procaccia, Lin professor of computer science.
Harvard Awards 2026 Cambridge Scholarships
Four members of the College class of 2026 have won Harvard-Cambridge Scholarships to study at the University of Cambridge during the 2026-27 academic year. Ella Foulkes, of Lowell House, has been named the Lt. Charles H. Fiske III Scholar, studying at Trinity College. Sachiko Kirby, of Lowell House, has been named the John Eliot Scholar, studying at Jesus College. Makanaka Nyandoro, of Leverett House, has been named the Lionel de Jersey Harvard Scholar, studying at Emmanuel College. Austin Wang, of Lowell House, has been named the Gov. William Shirley Scholar, studying at Pembroke College.
Harvard Names 2026 Centennial Medalists
The Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences awarded its highest honor to four alumni who have made contributions to society that emerged from their graduate studies: poet Frank Bidart, A.M. ’67; molecular and cellular biologist Anjana Rao, Ph. D. ’78; nature solutions leader at the Bezos Earth Fund Cristián Samper, Ph. D. ’92; and international authority on gender in science and technology Londa Schiebinger, Ph. D. ’84.
