Alumni
Stephen E. Sachs Named Harvard Law School’s Inaugural Antonin Scalia Professor of Law
Stephen E. Sachs ’02 — a prominent legal scholar of constitutional law, civil procedure, and conflict of laws — will become Harvard Law School’s inaugural Antonin Scalia Professor of Law as of July 1, the Law School announced Wednesday.
Crimson Connections: Walter Isaacson ’74 and Evan W. Thomas III ’73
Walter S. Isaacson ’74 and Evan W. Thomas III ’73 met briefly at Harvard but became close after working together at Time Magazine. They began their accomplished media careers as print journalists after both having written for The Harvard Crimson. In 1986, the two co-wrote a book profiling key players in post-World War II American foreign policy. Since then, they have individually authored definitive biographies of figures including Steve Jobs, Robert F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, Richard Nixon, and Leonardo da Vinci. Filmed October 19, 2020. Hosted by Andrew W. Liang and Samuel W. Zwickel. Edited by Ryan N. Gajarawala.
Crimson Connections: Walter Isaacson ’74 and Evan W. Thomas III ’73
In the final episode of "Crimson Connections", we spoke to Walter S. Isaacson '74 and Evan W. Thomas III '73. They met briefly at Harvard but became close after working together at Time Magazine. They began their accomplished media careers as print journalists after both having written for The Harvard Crimson. In 1986, the two co-wrote a book profiling key players in post-World War II American foreign policy. Since then, they have individually authored definitive biographies of figures including Steve Jobs, Robert F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, Richard Nixon, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Crimson Connections: Andrei Shleifer ’82 and J. Bradford DeLong ’82
In the next episode of "Crimson Connections", we spoke to Andrei Shleifer ’82 and J. Bradford DeLong ’82. As Weld Hall freshman roommates, they spent evenings working through problem sets for Math 55 — among the most difficult undergraduate math courses in the country. Their collaborations soon turned to groundbreaking papers in behavioral finance and political economics.
Crimson Connections: Andrei Shleifer ’82 and J. Bradford DeLong ’82
As Weld Hall freshman roommates, Andrei Shliefer ’82 and J. Bradford DeLong ’82 spent evenings working through problem sets for Math 55 — among the most difficult undergraduate math courses in the country. Their collaborations soon turned to groundbreaking papers in behavioral finance and political economics. Now a Harvard economics professor, Shleifer has been awarded the coveted John Bates Clark Medal and is IDEAS’ top-ranked economist in the world. DeLong is an economics professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and previously oversaw economic policy for the U.S. Treasury under President Clinton. Filmed October 7, 2020. Hosted by Andrew W. Liang and Samuel W. Zwickel. Edited by Ryan N. Gajarawala.
Crimson Connections: Mary Louise Kelly ’93 and Tracy P. Palandjian ’93
Mary Louise Kelly ’93 and Tracy Palandjian ’93 aren’t in the same profession today, but their lives were intertwined as Harvard undergraduates. Kelly is now co-host of All Things Considered on NPR, and Palandjian is the co-founder of Social Finance, the impact investing nonprofit, and former vice chair of the Harvard Board of Overseers. While in college, Kelly wrote for The Harvard Crimson, and Palandjian worked in the Eliot House Grille. The two were “honorary roommates” in the house—members of a tight-knit friend group that continues to gather annually. Filmed October 11, 2020.
Crimson Connections: Mary Louise Kelly ’93 and Tracy P. Palandjian ’93
In the next episode of "Crimson Connections", we spoke to Mary Louise Kelly '93 and Tracy Palandjian '93. They aren’t in the same profession today, but their lives were intertwined as Harvard undergraduates. Kelly is now co-host of All Things Considered on NPR, and Palandjian is the co-founder of Social Finance, the impact investing nonprofit, and former vice chair of the Harvard Board of Overseers.
Crimson Connections: Jill E. Abramson ’76 and Amy Wilentz ’76
Before Jill E. Abramson ’76 sat at the helm of The New York Times and Amy Wilentz ’76 embedded herself within post-Duvalier Haiti, the two’s college misadventures were the subject of a Commencement feature in The Harvard Crimson. These decorated journalists were Mather House roommates and kicked off their reporting careers as undergraduates — Wilentz for The Crimson and Abramson as a theatre critic for The Harvard Independent. They were part of the first cohort of women to live in Harvard Yard. Filmed October 2, 2020.
Crimson Connections: Jill E. Abramson ’76 and Amy Wilentz ’76
In the next episode of "Crimson Connections", we spoke to Jill E. Abramson '76 and Amy Wilentz '76. Before Abramson sat at the helm of The New York Times and Wilentz embedded herself within post-Duvalier Haiti, these decorated journalists were Mather House roommates and kicked off their reporting careers as undergraduates — Wilentz for The Crimson and Abramson as a theatre critic for The Harvard Independent. They were part of the first cohort of women to live in Harvard Yard.
Crimson Connections: Mark J. Penn ’76 and Doug E. Schoen ’74
A revolutionary approach to polling took Harvard buddies Mark J. Penn ’76 and Doug E. Schoen ’74 from the halls of The Harvard Crimson to South America, Israel, and New York City — just three of the locations where political leaders won stunning electoral triumphs based on their advice. Their collaboration culminated in half a decade as the architects of the polling-driven strategy of President Bill Clinton; the duo is commonly credited with helping Clinton to win re-election in 1996. Penn remembers giving the final poll result to the incumbent president on Air Force One on election night, and Doug recalls personally walking into Trump Tower to demand a check from future president Donald Trump, who in the 1980s was already surveying his political viability. Filmed December 10, 2020.
Crimson Connections: Mark J. Penn ’76 and Doug E. Schoen ’74
In the next episode of "Crimson Connections", we spoke to Mark J. Penn '76 and Doug E. Schoen '74. Their collaboration culminated in half a decade as the architects of the polling-driven strategy of President Bill Clinton; the duo is commonly credited with helping Clinton to win re-election in 1996. Penn remembers giving the final poll result to the incumbent president on Air Force One on election night, and Doug recalls personally walking into Trump Tower to demand a check from future president Donald Trump, who in the 1980s was already surveying his political viability.
Crimson Connections: William A. Ackman ’88 and Paul C. Hilal ’88
Two decades before their careers converged as activist hedge fund managers, William A. Ackman ’88 and Paul C. Hilal ’88 were arguing about everything, including the physics of weightlifting in a Harvard gym. Bill recalls that he was always right. He would not have submitted a timely Social Studies thesis, however, without a kick from Paul. The Lowell House roommates — who came to invest billions together at Pershing Square Capital Management — first met in their house dining hall after an introduction by a mutual friend. They reflect on finding fulfillment in finance and in the company of one another. Filmed October 15, 2020.
Crimson Connections: William A. Ackman ’88 and Paul C. Hilal ’88
In a new video series presented by The Crimson, we reunite two prominent figures who were roommates back at Harvard. Two decades before their careers converged as activist hedge fund managers, William A. Ackman ’88 and Paul C. Hilal ’88 were arguing about everything, including the physics of weightlifting in a Harvard gym.
Harvard College Applicants and Alumni Navigate Virtual Admissions Interviews
As the College conducts alumni interviews for applicants to the Class of 2025 virtually due to the pandemic, applicants and interviewers alike reported mixed feelings about the unconventional circumstance.
Coalition for a Diverse Harvard Endorses Five Board of Overseers Candidates
The Coalition for a Diverse Harvard — an alumni group centered on increasing diversity and promoting equity at the University — endorsed five candidates for this year’s Board of Overseers election and six candidates for elected directorships on the board of the Harvard Alumni Association on Wednesday.
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Charleston Lays Out Steps Toward ‘Inclusive Excellence’ at Alumni Webinar
Sherri A. Charleston, Harvard’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, outlined her approach to creating an environment of “inclusive excellence” during a Tuesday webinar co-sponsored by the Harvard Alumni Association and the Asian American, Black, Latino, and Native American alumni groups.
Alan Dershowitz Nominates Kushner, Berkowitz for Nobel Peace Prize For Work on Abraham Accords
Alan M. Dershowitz, professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, nominated former White House advisor Jared C. Kushner ’03 and his deputy Avrahm “Avi” Berkowitz for the Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday for their work on the Abraham Accords.
3 TDs in 3 OTs
Tight end and long snapper Tyler Ott ’14 heads for the end zone on Harvard’s home turf against Princeton. Despite eventually falling to the Tigers 51-48 in this triple-overtime thriller on October 26, 2013—the Crimson’s only loss of Ott’s senior season—Ott finished the game with three touchdowns, tying the program record for single-game touchdown receptions.
The Path Less Taken: Tyler Ott ‘14’s Road to First NFL Pro Bowl Selection
This NFL season marks the first time that two Harvard football alumni have been selected to the Pro Bowl (the NFL’s all-star contest) in the same year. Harvard tight end and pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk ‘13 of the San Francisco 49ers and Ott of the Seattle Seahawks—former teammates—earned selections to “play” virtually in the Pro Bowl this Sunday, January 31.
Not Just TDs (FGs Too)
Tyler Ott ’14, wearing number 82, blocks the Princeton defensive line with the rest of the Crimson kicking unit after delivering the snap to kicker Andrew Flesher ’15 in a 2013 contest at Harvard Stadium.
Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman ’20 To Perform at Super Bowl Following Inaugural Poem
The first National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda S. C. Gorman ’20 will recite an original poem at the Super Bowl LV pre-show on Feb. 7, following a streak of success that led her to the nation’s Capitol to perform at President Joe Biden's inauguration last week.
The Juice Got Loose
Kyle Juszczyk '13 became the first Harvard player to ever score a touchdown in the Super Bowl with his 15-yard receiving score in Super Bowl LIV for the San Francisco 49ers.
Brate '14 Set to Appear in Super Bowl LV, Marking Back-to-Back Years with Harvard Alum in Game
Cameron Brate, tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is set to become just the sixth Crimson alum to play in the Super Bowl. Harvard has now been represented on the biggest stage two consecutive years, thanks to its increasing talent, especially at the tight end position.
The Biggest Stage
Cameron Brate '14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will become just the sixth Harvard player in history to appear in the Super Bowl.
With Days to Go, Harvard Forward’s 2021 Candidates Seek Nomination Goal
Following the successful election of three candidates last year, Harvard Forward is again vying for seats on the Board of Overseers, the University’s second-highest governing body.