Social Sciences Division
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.
Colin Kaepernick, Dave Chappelle Among Du Bois Medal Awardees
The medal — the University’s highest honor in the field of African and African American studies — recognizes individuals who have made “significant contributions” to African and African American culture.
Lawrence D. Bobo Named Next Dean of Social Science
Lawrence D. Bobo, professor of African and African American Studies and Sociology, will become the dean of Social Science on October 1.
‘A Leader of Growing Stature in the Art World’: Sarah Lewis Makes Her Mark
Lewis holds a joint assistant professorship in the Department of History of Art and Architecture and the Department of African and African American Studies.
Government, History Professors Weigh In On Leaving Iran Deal
Several Harvard social science professors criticized President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
Polling Shows Strong Union Support Among Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences Students
Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences students were much more likely to vote to unionize in Harvard’s election last week than were Sciences and Engineering and Applied Sciences students.
Facebook Partners With Harvard Researcher To Study Election Impacts
King and Persily’s commission, composed of academics across the social sciences, will have access to all of Facebook’s user data in an anonymized form.
New FAS Policy Restricts Professors’ Ability to Hold Public Service Positions
Some professors believe the measures, meant to ensure faculty members' "professional loyalty" remains with Harvard, are too stringent.
As Social Studies Juniors Begin Thesis Process, Some Have Second Thoughts
Faculty and staff say that the Social Studies’ mandatory thesis is an intense project that likely requires summer research, though some upperclassmen worry about lost opportunities during their junior summer.
Gov Grad Students Send Letter Demanding More Action on Dominguez
The same day the graduate students sent the letter, administrators announced the department was undertaking several initiatives in response to the allegations.
Gov Dept Forms Committee to Investigate Climate Post-Dominguez
Administrators also outlined a series of steps the department is taking to address academic and cultural concerns surrounding the allegations.