President of Harvard University explained

Post:President
Body:Harvard University
Insigniasize:200
Insigniacaption:Seal of the president of Harvard University
Incumbent:Alan Garber
Appointer:Harvard Corporation
First:Henry Dunster

The president of Harvard University is the chief administrator of Harvard University and the ex officio president of the Harvard Corporation.[1] Each is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to the president the day-to-day running of the university.

Harvard's current president is Alan Garber, who took office on January 2, 2024, following the resignation of Claudine Gay. In August 2024, the Harvard Corporation announced he would be in the position until mid- 2027.[2]

Role

The president plays an important part in university-wide planning and strategy. Each names a faculty's dean (and, since the foundation of the office in 1994, the university's provost), and grants tenure to recommended professors. However, the president is expected to make such decisions after extensive consultation with faculty members.

Recently, however, the job has become increasingly administrative, especially as fund-raising campaigns have taken on central importance in large institutions such as Harvard. Some have criticized this trend to the extent it has prevented the president from focusing on substantive issues in higher education.[3]

Each president is professor in some department of the university and teaches from time to time.

The university maintains an official residence for the president's use, which from 1912 until 1971, was President's House, and since then has been Elmwood.[4]

Influence

Harvard presidents have traditionally influenced educational practices nationwide. Charles W. Eliot, for example, originated America's familiar system of a smorgasbord of elective courses available to each student; James B. Conant worked to introduce standardized testing; Derek Bok and Neil L. Rudenstine argued for the continued importance of diversity in higher education.

History

At Harvard's founding it was headed by a "schoolmaster", Nathaniel Eaton. In 1640, when Henry Dunster was brought in, he adopted the title of president. Since Harvard was founded for the training of Puritan clergy, and even though its mission was soon broadened, nearly all presidents through the end of the 18th century were in holy orders.

All presidents from Leonard Hoar in 1672 through Nathan Pusey in 1971 were graduates of Harvard College. Of the presidents since Pusey, nearly all earned a graduate degree at Harvard. The only exception has been Drew Gilpin Faust, who was the first president since the seventeenth century with no earned Harvard degree.

Presidents of Harvard

Image!Presidents!Term of office!Length!class=unsortable
Notes
–1637–1639Referred to as "schoolmaster" of Harvard College
Fired for "embezzlement and beating students"[5]
11640–1654Forced to resign for speaking out against and interrupting infant baptisms[6]
21654–1672Died in office[7]
31672–1675Forced to resign[8]
41675–1680 (acting); 1680–1681 (total); (acting); Died in office[9]
51682–1684Died in office[10] [11]
61685–1686 (acting); 1686–1692 (rector); 1692–1701 (total); (acting); (rector); Forced to resign[12]
–1701–1707 (acting)Resigned due to illness[13]
71708–1724First lawyer to serve as president. Died in office.[14]
81725–1737Died in office
91737–1769At 79, the oldest president; died in office.
–1769 (acting)Declined presidency on a permanent basis on grounds of old agehttps://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/4/resources/4068
101770–1773Resigned after fathering a child out of wedlock[15] https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/4/resources/3998
–1773–1774 (acting)Declined presidency again on a permanent basis on grounds of old agehttps://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/4/resources/4068
111774–1780Students petitioned the Corporation to dismiss him and he resigned.[16]
–1780–1781 (acting)https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/agents/people/24711
121781–1804Died in office[17]
–1804–1806 (acting)Acting president after death of Willard
131806–1810Died in office[18]
–1810 (acting)Served as acting president after Webber's death.https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/4/resources/4198
141810–1828Suffered a stroke, was accused of financial mismanagement by the Harvard Corporation, and resignedhttps://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/4/resources/4241
–1828-1829 (acting)Served as acting president after the resignation of Kirklandhttps://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/4/resources/4198
151829–1845Retired[19]
161846–1848Resigned due to dissatisfaction with the job.[20] Later became United States Secretary of State and United States Senator.
171849–1853Resigned due to dissatisfaction with the job[21]
181853–1860Resigned due to arthritis[22]
191860–1862Died from a disease of the heart en route to Washington, D.C. for a meeting at the Smithsonian Institution[23]
–1862 (acting)Served as acting president after the death of Felton
201862–1868Resigned due to poor health[24]
–1868-1869 (acting)Served as acting president after the resignation of Hill due to illness[25]
211869–1909[26] At 35, the youngest president.[27] Longest term of office (40 years).[28] [29] For a portion of 1900-1901[30] and 1905, Henry Pickering Walcott served as acting president while Eliot was on vacation.
221909–1933Retired[31] [32]
231933–1953Retired to become Allied High Commissioner for Occupied Germany and later U.S. ambassador to Germany[33]
241953–1971"Pusey called in the Cambridge police to end a student sit-in" in 1969. "Sharply criticized for his handling of the situation, he announced in 1970 that he would retire the following year".[34] [35]
251971–1991[36] Henry Rosovsky served as acting president in 1984 and 1987 when Bok traveled and took brief sabbaticals.[37] [38]
261991–2001[39] Provost Albert Carnesale served as acting president for three months, from November 1994 to February 1995, during Rudenstine's medical leave of absence.[40]
272001–2006First Jewish president[41] [42] [43] [44] [45] Shortest tenure since Civil War. Resigned following several clashes with faculty resulting in a no-confidence vote.[46] [47] [48] [49]
–2006–2007 (interim)Served as acting president after the resignation of Summers[50]
282007–2018First female president[51]
292018–2023Retired[52]
302023–2024Shortest serving president; resigned following congressional hearings into antisemitism on campus and multiple allegations of plagiarism[53] First black president.[54]
312024–PresentAppointed as interim president after Gay's resignation[55] [56] Appointed permanently in August 2024 as 31st president until 2027, when Harvard will appoint a successor.[57]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.provost.harvard.edu/institutional_research/Provost_-_FB2010_11_Sec01_1_Central_Administration.pdf Central Administration
  2. News: 2024-08-02 . Harvard Keeps Alan Garber as President Through Mid-2027 . 2024-08-09 . Bloomberg.com . en.
  3. Web site: An Empty Chair at Harvard (Op-Ed). Lee, Richard S.. March 10, 2001. October 17, 2007. The New York Times.
  4. News: Graff . Garrett M. . Garrett Graff . Miller . Andrew J. . 2001-10-14 . 33 Elmwood . . live . 2024-01-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130621121100/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2001/10/14/33-elmwood-soon-after-assuming-office/ . 2013-06-21 . 1932-4219.
  5. https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2002/09/of-religious-education-a-html John Harvard's Journal : Of Religious Education and Rotten Cabbage
  6. Web site: Harvard's First President – Et Seq: The Harvard Law School Library Blog . 2024-01-08 . etseq.law.harvard.edu.
  7. Web site: President . Harvard University . History of the Presidency . 2024-01-09 . Harvard University President . en-US.
  8. Book: Mather . Cotton . Magnalia Christi Americana: or, The ecclesiastical history of New-England, from its first planting in the year 1620. unto the year of Our Lord, 1698. In seven books ... . 1702 . London . Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and three crowns in Cheapside . John Adams Library at the Boston Public Library.
  9. Web site: Papers of Urian Oakes . 2024-01-02 . Harvard Library.
  10. Web site: Harvard College Records Volume 15 Part 1 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907040918/https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/595 . 2023-09-07 . 2024-01-02 . Colonial Society of Massachusetts.
  11. News: 2001-03-15 . Harvard Presidents Throughout History . . . live . 2024-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200919130001/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2001/03/harvard-gazette-harvard-presidents-throughout-history/ . 2020-09-19 . 0364-7692.
  12. Web site: Biographical Notes on Increase Mather . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924103426/https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/1546 . 2023-09-24 . 2024-01-02 . Colonial Society of Massachusetts.
  13. Web site: Resolution Relating to Samuel Willard and the College . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220705175540/https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/1499/ . 2022-07-05 . 2024-01-02 . Colonial Society of Massachusetts.
  14. Web site: Papers of John Leverett, 1652-1730 . 2024-01-02 . Harvard Library.
  15. Chase . Theodore . March 1980 . Harvard Student Disorders in 1770 . . 61 . 1 . 30 . 10.2307/365219 . 365219 . JSTOR.
  16. Proctor . Donald J. . December 1977 . John Hancock: New Soundings on an Old Barrel . . 64 . 3 . 663–664 . 10.2307/1887235 . 1887235 . 0021-8723 . JSTOR.
  17. Web site: Harvard Corporation . Harvard Corporation . Corporation records volume 3, May 5, 1778-August 31, 1795 . 2024-01-03 . . 137.
  18. Web site: Papers of Samuel Webber . 2024-01-02 . Harvard Library.
  19. Web site: Papers of Josiah Quincy, 1811-1874. . 2024-01-02 . Harvard Library.
  20. Web site: Papers of Edward Everett . 2024-01-02 . Harvard Library.
  21. Web site: Papers of Jared Sparks, 1820-1861, 1866. . 2024-01-03 . Harvard Library.
  22. Web site: Papers of James Walker . 2024-01-03 . Harvard Library.
  23. Web site: Papers of Cornelius Conway Felton, 1841-1877 . 2024-01-03 . Harvard Library.
  24. Web site: Papers of Thomas Hill . 2024-01-03 . Harvard Library.
  25. Web site: Rev. Thomas Hill Dead. News The Harvard Crimson . 2024-01-02 . www.thecrimson.com.
  26. Web site: Papers of Charles William Eliot, 1807-1945. . 2024-01-03 . Harvard Library.
  27. Web site: 2022-02-11 . Charles W Eliot . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230921193759/https://www.nps.gov/people/charles-w-eliot.htm . 2023-09-21 . 2024-01-03 . National Park Service.
  28. Web site: Charles William Eliot: A Paradoxical Racial Legacy . 2024-01-02 . Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University . en.
  29. Web site: Charles W. Eliot Magazine The Harvard Crimson . 2024-01-02 . www.thecrimson.com.
  30. Web site: Dr. Walcott Acting President. News The Harvard Crimson . 2024-01-02 . www.thecrimson.com.
  31. News: 1909-05-20 . Lowell Harvard's Head.; New President of University Takes His Place at Dr. Eliot's Desk. . 6 . . 0362-4331.
  32. News: 1933-06-25 . Lowell's Passing Marks End of Era; Retirement of President of Harvard Comes After Twenty-four Years. His Incumbency Weighed Doubled the Enrolment, Increased Endowment and Expanded Buildings. . 1, 8 . . 0362-4331.
  33. News: 1978-02-12 . James B. Conant Is Dead at 84; Harvard President for 20 Years . 1 . . . 0362-4331.
  34. Web site: 2023-11-10 . Nathan Pusey Harvard President, Philanthropist, Educator Britannica . 2024-01-08 . www.britannica.com . en.
  35. News: Fenton . John H. . 1953-06-02 . Harvard Elects Dr. N. M. Pusey, Midwest Educator, as President; Lawrence College Head, 46, Has 3 Degrees From University -- Favors Humanities Study Harvard Appoints Iowan President . 1 . . 0362-4331.
  36. News: Howe . Peter J. . 1984-11-10 . Bok's Past--and Future . . live . 2024-01-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103170443/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/11/10/boks-past-and-future-pin-1971-when/ . 2024-01-03 . 1932-4219.
  37. Web site: gazetteterrymurphy . 2022-11-16 . Henry Rosovsky, former acting University president, FAS dean, dead at 95 . 2024-01-02 . Harvard Gazette . en-US.
  38. Web site: Henry Rosovsky, Former Harvard FAS Dean, Remembered for Contributions to Undergrad Education and African American Studies News The Harvard Crimson . 2024-01-02 . www.thecrimson.com.
  39. News: 2000-05-25 . Rudenstine leaving presidency in 2001 . . . live . 2024-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200828045548/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2000/05/rudenstine-leaving-presidency-in-2001/ . 2020-08-28 . 0364-7692.
  40. News: Butterfield . Fox . 1997-03-07 . Dismay at Harvard as Provost Decides to Move . en-US . The New York Times . 2024-01-02 . 0362-4331.
  41. YUNews Director of the National Economic Council, Dr. Lawrence H. Summers, is Keynote Speaker at Yeshiva University's Annual Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation on December 13, November 18, 2009
  42. The Harvard Crimson Harvard’s First Jewish President, March 8, 2006
  43. The Harvard Crimson Did Summers’ Faith Affect His Fall?, March 3, 2006
  44. The Harvard Crimson A Milestone of Faith, October 14, 2001
  45. Web site: Lawrence Summers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531235625/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/lawrence-summers . 2023-05-31 . 2024-01-02 . Jewish Virtual Library.
  46. News: FINDER . ALAN . HEALY . PATRICK D. . ZERNIKE . KATE . 2006-02-22 . President of Harvard Resigns, Ending Stormy 5-Year Tenure . 2024-01-05 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  47. Web site: SUMMERS RESIGNS: SHORTEST TERM SINCE CIVIL WAR; BOK WILL BE INTERIM CHIEF News The Harvard Crimson . 2024-01-05 . www.thecrimson.com.
  48. News: Golden . Daniel . Stecklow . Steve . 2006-02-22 . Facing War With His Faculty, Harvard's Summers Resigns . 2024-01-05 . Wall Street Journal . en-US . 0099-9660.
  49. Web site: Fogg . Piper . February 17, 2006 . Harvard President to Face Second Vote of No Confidence Amid Renewed Calls for His Resignation . January 5, 2024 . The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  50. Web site: Derek Bok . 2024-01-02 . ethics.harvard.edu . en.
  51. Web site: February 12, 2007 . First Female Harvard President Discusses Priorities and Goals . March 15, 2020 . pbs.org.
  52. News: Hartocollis . Anemona . February 11, 2018 . Harvard Chooses Lawrence Bacow as Its Next President . . February 13, 2018.
  53. News: January 2, 2024 . Harvard President resigns after antisemitism hearing and plagiarism probe . . .
  54. News: December 15, 2022 . Harvard names Claudine Gay 30th president . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221215183546/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/12/harvard-names-claudine-gay-30th-president/ . 2022-12-15 . 2022-12-15 . . . 0364-7692.
  55. News: Mangan . Dan . 2024-01-02 . Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigns amid plagiarism claims . . live . 2024-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102193058/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/02/harvard-university-president-claudine-gay-resigning-her-post-reports-say.html . 2024-01-02.
  56. News: Harvard President Claudine Gay steps down . . . live . 2024-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102193224/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/01/harvard-president-claudine-gay-steps-down/ . 2024-01-02 . 0364-7692.
  57. Web site: ALAN GARBER ’76 TO SERVE AS HARVARD’S 31ST PRESIDENT UNTIL JUNE 2027 News The Harvard Crimson . 2024-08-02 . www.thecrimson.com.

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