Social Sciences Division
Panelists Discuss Social and Racial Tensions in South Florida in the Wake of Cuba’s 1980 Mariel Boatlift
Three professors spoke at a lecture Thursday on the effects of the April 1980 Mariel Boatlift — which brought over 15,000 Cubans to Miami in a matter of weeks, and about 125,000 refugees by October of that year — on the politics of southern Florida.
Government Dept. Chair Apologizes for ‘Pain and Hurt’ in Wake of Gov 50 Allegations
Government department chair Jeffry A. Frieden acknowledged a history of student mistrust in the department and reiterated the concentration’s commitment to inclusion in a Friday email to colleagues, in the wake of allegations that Government 50: “Data” preceptor David D. Kane made racist blog posts under a pseudonym.
Students Allege Harvard Instructor David Kane Made Racist Posts on Blog
Harvard undergraduates allege David D. Kane, Government preceptor and Government 50: “Data” instructor, authored racist posts over the course of several years under the pseudonym “David Dudley Field ’25” on his website EphBlog.
Social Science Faculty Transform Their Courses for Online Learning
During an unprecedented semester of virtual learning, Social Sciences professors teaching large lecture courses say they are working hard to keep their classes as engaging and interactive as possible.
Economics Professor Emmanuel Farhi, Who Wielded His Intellect for Public Good, Dies at 41
Economics Professor Emmanuel Farhi died unexpectedly on July 23 at the age of 41.
College Will Require All Fall Courses to Guarantee Students Two to Four Hours of Live Interaction
Though all courses will be virtual this fall, Harvard College expects professors to guarantee every student — regardless of time zone — between two and four hours of live interaction with course staff or peers each week, according to official College guidelines.
Danielle Allen Awarded Kluge Prize by Library of Congress
The Library of Congress named University Professor Danielle S. Allen as the 2020 recipient of the John W. Kluge Prize Monday, an international award for scholarly achievement in disciplines not covered by the Nobel Prizes.
Harvard Economists Find Political Bias Skews Americans' Perception of Verifiable Facts
According to a recent paper from a team of Harvard economists, not only do partisans see things differently, but their political views distort their basic understanding of the issues — even when reality may be contrary.
Harvard, University of Michigan Professors Discuss the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Prisons
Heather Ann Thompson, a Pulitzer prize-winning author and University of Michigan professor, discussed the relationship between pandemics and prisons in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic during a virtual event on Thursday.
Coronavirus Disrupts Writing, Research for Harvard Faculty on Leave
While the novel coronavirus pandemic has uprooted the lives of many faculty working on campus this year — forcing them to switch to remote teaching and ramp down laboratory research — it has also disrupted the work of many faculty currently on leave.
Music Department Chair Suzannah Clark Named Director of Harvard's Mahindra Humanities Center
Music department chair Suzannah E. Clark will serve as the next director of Harvard’s Mahindra Humanities Center, the University announced in a Wednesday press release.
Harvard Celebrates 50 Years of African and African American Studies
Harvard’s African and African American Studies department celebrated its 50th anniversary at a two-day symposium Friday and Saturday, which boasted a global guest list of pre-eminent scholars in the field.
High-Profile History Prof. Hinton to Depart for Yale
Associate professor Elizabeth K. Hinton will depart for Yale this summer after six years in Harvard’s History and African and African American Studies departments.
Students and Faculty Flock to Discussion on the Relationship Between Humans and Whales
Graduate students, professors, and whale enthusiasts gathered to hear Brown University Professor Bathsheba Demuth discuss the history and ethics of humanity’s relationship with whales Wednesday at the Center for Government and International Studies.
Stephen Marglin
Stephen Marglin, the Walter S. Barker Professor of Economics, has dedicated his professional career to expanding and complicating mainstream views of economic thought.
Harvard University Professor Danielle Allen Receives Governor’s Award in the Humanities
University Professor Danielle S. Allen received a 2019 Governor's Award at the annual Massachusetts Humanities Dinner Sunday evening.
More Than 800 Institutions Sign Harvard Letter Calling on Brazil to Fund Philosophy, Sociology
Scholars from more than 800 institutions worldwide have signed an open letter — written by two Harvard graduate students — in response to Brazil’s plan to disinvest in philosophy and sociology at public universities.
Jury Could Hear Former Associate Professor’s Gender Discrimination Suit Against Harvard, Judge Says
A lawsuit brought by former Harvard Associate Professor Kimberly S. Theidon alleging the University unfairly denied her tenure could be headed to trial after a federal judge said at an appeal hearing Wednesday that the case may be better left to a jury.
Economics Department Starts Initiatives to Improve Student Wellbeing Following Mental Health Survey
The Economics Department is taking steps to improve its graduate students' mental health in light of a survey conducted among Ph.D. students in the department which showed high percentages of anxiety and depression.
Harvard Economics Department Plans More Intro Classes Focused on Real-World Applications
The Economics Department is working to create more entry-level courses focused on the applications — as opposed to theory — of economics in an effort to attract more freshmen and sophomores, according to Department Chair Jeremy C. Stein.
Harvard Economists Join Policy Proposal to Combat Climate Change
More than 3,300 economists, a number of whom are Harvard affiliates, signed the “Economists’ Statement on Carbon Dividends,” calling for a bipartisan climate change solution, the Climate Leadership Council announced last month. The statement is the largest of its kind, with a historic number of economists signing onto it, including 27 Nobel Laureates.
New Econ Class Sails into Top Enrollment Rankings as Ec 10b Maintains Dominance for Sixth Year
Economics 10B: “Principles of Economics” has long reigned as spring semester's most enrolled-in class, but this year the course saw a new contender from within its own department — the brand new course Economics 1152: “Big Data," which had just 32 fewer students.
Striving to Become a Department, Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Sees Growth
Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality — though currently a small program offering only undergraduate degrees and graduate secondary fields — is working towards one day becoming a “full-fledged” department, Acting Chair of WGS Françoise Lionnet said in an interview Friday.
In Letter, Hundreds of Students Call for Changes to University Econ Depts Following Fryer Allegations
More than 285 graduate students and research assistants — at least 18 of them at Harvard — signed a letter Thursday calling for changes within the field of economics in response to allegations of sexual harassment against Professor Roland G. Fryer, Jr.
Devah Pager, Harvard Sociology Professor and Pioneer, Dies at 46
Harvard Sociology Professor Devah I. Pager, a groundbreaking researcher, advisor, teacher, and mother beloved by her students and family, died on Nov. 2. She was 46 years old.