Commencement 2019

Commencement Day 2019

Commencement

Bacow Confers 1,554 College Degrees at 368th Commencement

Bacow awarded 6,665 degrees to students across the University — including College seniors, students from Harvard’s graduate schools, and students from the Extension School — in Tercentenary Theatre Thursday.

One-Fifth of Winthrop Seniors Opt Out of Receiving Diplomas From Sullivan, Robinson

Law School Professor Intisar A. Rabb delivered those students' diplomas instead of Sullivan and Robinson, who have been the target of criticism for months following Sullivan’s announcement in January that he would represent Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein as Weinstein faces criminal charges for rape and sexual assault.

Commencement Divestment

During Morning Exercises, some students in the crowd held up orange signs as part of the divestment movement. Orange is the color of fossil fuel divestment.

College Commencement

Members of the Harvard College Class of 2019 stand and cheer as their degrees are conferred during Morning Exercises.

Merkel Honorary Degree

The crowd gives a standing ovation to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she is introduced as the recipient of an honorary degree.

Merkel Implores Harvard Grads to Tackle Seemingly Impossible Challenges

Looking back on her time in East Germany during the Cold War and its aftermath, German Chancellor Angela Merkel assured members of the Class of 2019 that change is always possible in her address during the afternoon exercises of the 368th Commencement Thursday.

Harvard Announces New Board of Overseers Members

Margaret M. Wang ’09, president of the Harvard Alumni Association, announced seven new alumni to serve on the Board of Overseers — the University’s second highest governing body — and six as directors of the HAA during their annual meeting Thursday.

Speakers Call for Leadership, Bravery, and Climate Change Activism at Harvard Graduate School Class Days

Across Harvard’s campus, graduate students gathered Wednesday under cloudy skies for Class Day ceremonies ahead of Commencement Thursday.

Staying ‘InTouch’: SEAS Support Network Provides Peer-to-Peer Help to Graduate Students

Two graduate students at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have created a peer-to-peer support network for graduate students, which launched at the beginning of this academic year.

A Moment of Recognition

Members of the new recognized social groups say the College’s policies still remain unclear.

Last Call for John Harvard’s Brewery: Beloved Square Restaurant to Close

As students head out of Harvard Square for the summer, another familiar place will be packing up too. John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House will leave its flagship location May 30th.

Corporation Supports Decisions to Not Renew Sullivan, Sanction Dominguez

Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow William F. Lee ’72 said the Corporation was briefed on and supports Harvard administrators’ recent decisions to relieve Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr. of his Winthrop House faculty deanship and to sanction former professor Jorge I. Dominguez.

Ahead of Commencement, Divestment Organizers Call on Alumni to Suspend Donations to Harvard

Harvard fossil fuel and prison divestment activists launched pledges this week calling on alumni to withhold donations to the University until administrators concede to their demands.

Krystian and Monica

Krystian W. Jurkowski ’19 and Monica R. Kelly

Meredith and Victor

Meredith A. Jones ’19 and Victor A. Mezacapa ’18

Bryan and Karina

Bryan Calvo-Herrera ’19 and Karina Nogueras

Harvard Students Attend Graduation Ceremonies for Latinx and Black Seniors

College students gathered Tuesday evening for two commencement ceremonies for students from underrepresented backgrounds, one for Latinx students and another for black students.

Balancing the Professorial and Professional

Harvard Law School Professor Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. is not the first faculty member to conduct outside work during his time at the University.

Barriers to Entry

Students with physical disabilities sometimes struggle to navigate Harvard’s campus.

Denise Jillson Maps Harvard Square’s Future

The executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association works to navigate a challenging commercial landscape.

A Changing Funding Landscape

Harvard researchers are pivoting away from the federal government to private companies for funding.

‘We Will Tell Our Stories’: Students of Color Build Coalitions In Face of Threat to Affirmative Action

Outside of the courtroom, students from different affinity groups united to protest publicly and host teach-ins to show their support for affirmative action and diversity at large.