Five Degrees of Separation: Neil Patrick Harris & Drew Faust

In honor of Neil Patrick Harris’s upcoming visit, FM presents a revelatory string of connections linking our own University President Drew Gilpin Faust to the aforementioned dynamo.

1) In 2013, Forbes magazine named Faust one of the “100 Most Powerful Women,” citing both her status as the first female president of Harvard University and her intimidating deadlifts.

2) Michael Perlis, the current president and CEO of Forbes Media, was formerly employed by Playboy Magazine, a fact we assume he sometimes denies in conversation.

3) Playboy founder Hugh Hefner once told ESPN that he believed he met the late LA Lakers owner Jerry Buss at a Playboy party, but, not surprisingly, he couldn’t quite remember all the details.

4) Earvin “Magic” Johnson, arguably the greatest point guard of all time and, coincidentally, an avid reader of Faust’s histories, played 13 seasons for the LA Lakers.

5) The president of the board of directors of Hollywood’s “Magic Castle,” a position held by magic’s most enthusiastic supporter, is Neil Patrick Harris.