Harvard Corporation
Ten Stories That Shaped 2023
In 2023, Harvard had a tumultuous year. Claudine Gay’s first semester ended amid a leadership crisis as she came under fire for her response to tensions on a campus divided by the Israel-Hamas war and faced allegations of plagiarism. Harvard’s legacy and donor preferences in admissions also faced national scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling striking down the University’s affirmative action policy. Across campus, scandal after scandal hit parts of the University. Here, The Crimson looks back at the 10 stories that shaped 2023 at Harvard.
Harvard Corporation Members Did Not Discuss Gay’s Removal During Private Dinner, Faculty in Attendance Say
Two members of the Harvard Corporation and four faculty members discussed a perceived culture of self-censorship on campus during a private dinner last Tuesday but did not address Claudine Gay’s future as president, according to all four professors in attendance.
A Law Firm Said Plagiarism Allegations Against Harvard President Gay Were ‘Demonstrably False.’ Then She Submitted Corrections.
Harvard threatened to sue the New York Post for defamation over accusations of plagiarism against President Claudine Gay in October, calling the claims “demonstrably false.” Then, the University’s own review found several instances of “duplicative language” in Gay’s work.
D. Ronald Daniel, Former Harvard Treasurer Who Saw Endowment Quadruple During 15-Year Tenure, Dead at 93
D. Ronald Daniel, a longtime treasurer of Harvard University who saw the University’s endowment quadruple in value during his 15-year tenure, died on Dec. 16 at his home in New York City. He was 93.
Harvard President Claudine Gay to Submit 3 Additional Corrections, Corporation Says Improper Citations Fall Short of Research Misconduct
Harvard President Claudine Gay will request three corrections to her 1997 Ph.D. dissertation in the latest series of updates Gay has submitted amid mounting allegations of plagiarism against the University’s embattled leader.
Congress Widens Investigation into Harvard to Include Plagiarism Allegations Against President Claudine Gay
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce expanded the scope of its congressional investigation into Harvard to include allegations of plagiarism against University President Claudine Gay, the committee wrote in a letter to the Harvard Corporation Wednesday.
Harvard President Claudine Gay Submits Corrections to Two Articles Amid Allegations of Plagiarism
Harvard President Claudine Gay submitted corrections to two articles published in 2001 and 2017, after the Harvard Corporation acknowledged allegations of plagiarism against her earlier this week, University spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain wrote in a statement Friday.
Harvard Alumni Association Executive Committee Asks Governing Boards to Publicly Back President Claudine Gay
The Harvard Alumni Association Executive Committee expressed its unanimous support for Harvard President Claudine Gay and asked the University’s governing boards to publicly back Gay in a letter sent Monday.
Harvard Corporation Breaks Silence, Stating Support for Gay While Addressing Plagiarism Allegations
The Harvard Corporation expressed concerns about allegations of plagiarism in University President Claudine Gay’s academic work Tuesday morning, even as the board declared its support for Harvard’s embattled president, providing Gay with a path forward to remain in office.
Amid Calls for Gay’s Resignation, Harvard Corporation Convenes for Scheduled Meeting
The Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers — the University’s governing bodies — convened on campus Sunday for a regularly scheduled meeting that comes five days after calls for President Claudine Gay to resign grew following her congressional testimony, according to a source close to the governing boards.
As Harvard’s Governing Boards Meet, More than 700 Faculty Urge Against Gay’s Removal, Citing University Independence
More than 650 faculty as of Monday morning have signed a letter to the Harvard Corporation, which convened for a scheduled meeting that day, urging Harvard’s top governing body to resist calls to remove University President Claudine Gay from her post.
Harvard Endowment Value Falls For Second Consecutive Year, Records Modest 2.9% Return During FY2023
The value of Harvard’s endowment fell for the second consecutive year, despite delivering a 2.9 percent return for fiscal year 2023, as distributions to school operations outpaced investment gains and new contributions.
Want to Rename Harvard Medical School? The Price is $1 Billion
Harvard Medical School’s naming rights are for sale. The asking price? An unrestricted donation of $1 billion.
Biden Appoints Senior Fellow Penny Pritzker as Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery
President Joe Biden appointed Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow Penny S. Pritzker ’81 to serve as special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery, the White House announced Thursday morning.
Billionaire David Rubenstein to Depart Harvard Corporation Next Month
Billionaire and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein will step down from the Harvard Corporation — the University’s highest governing body — at the end of June after six years on the board, top Harvard administrators announced Wednesday.
Barakett to Become Harvard Treasurer as Finnegan Steps Down
Timothy R. Barakett ’87 will replace Paul J. Finnegan ’75 as the University’s treasurer beginning July 1, Harvard announced Wednesday afternoon.
CFO Search Has Identified ‘Very Good Candidates,’ Says Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow Penny Pritzker ’81
Harvard Corporation senior fellow Penny S. Pritzker ’81 said “several very good candidates” have been identified in the search for the University’s next chief financial officer.
Harvard Corporation Member David Rubenstein Talks Public Service at Harvard IOP Forum
Philanthropist David M. Rubenstein — a member of the Harvard Corporation, the University’s highest governing body — discussed leadership lessons from his experience in private equity and public service at a Harvard Institute of Politics Forum Monday evening.
Coalition for a Diverse Harvard Announces Endorsements for 2023 Board of Overseers Election
The Coalition for a Diverse Harvard, an alumni advocacy group that aims to promote diversity and equity at the University, announced endorsements for five candidates in this year’s Board of Overseers election.
James Houghton, Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow Who Selected First Female President, Dies at 86
James R. “Jamie” Houghton ’58 died Dec. 20, 2022 at the age of 86. As senior fellow, Houghton oversaw the transition across three University presidents and reviewed Corporation governance.
Harvard Corporation Members Donated Heavily to Democrats Ahead of 2022 Midterm Elections
Members of the Harvard Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, contributed more than $1.5 million in political donations to federal candidates and political action committees in 2021 and 2022. Of that number, just $12,900 went to Republican political causes.
Free Speech Advocate Running Outsider Campaign for Harvard Board of Overseers Will Not See Name on Ballot
Harvey A. Silverglate, a 1967 Harvard Law School graduate who is staging an outsider campaign for election to the Harvard Board of Overseers, said he will probably not meet the signature threshold to see his name on the ballot, but pledged to continue his bid with a write-in campaign.
Ex-Provost, Harvard Corporation Member Will Investigate Stanford President’s Scientific Misconduct Allegations
A Harvard Corporation member and a former Harvard provost will help investigate Stanford’s president for potential academic misconduct in journal articles he co-authored, a Stanford special committee announced last week.
Harvard Corporation Approved New Voting Guidelines on Climate, Racial Equity, and Cybersecurity in 2022
Harvard’s Corporation Committee on Shareholder Responsibility approved new voting guidelines in 2022 on climate commitments, racial equity audits, and cybersecurity, according to an annual report released Thursday.