Dear Members of the Harvard Community,
When I moved into the president’s office nearly two years ago, I could not have anticipated that leading the University would become the most meaningful chapter of my professional life. I have you to thank for that. Your commitment to pursuing opportunities to learn and discover, to building a stronger and more welcoming community, and to addressing our shortcomings with urgency and resolve has only deepened my appreciation for our work together. Our progress has made me prouder than ever to be part of the University—and determined to see us through this uniquely challenging period in our long history. I am profoundly honored by the trust that the governing boards have placed in me by extending my appointment and deeply grateful for the support I have received from you and from many others.
Through the centuries, Harvard has drawn its strength from the perpetual curiosity that treats all knowledge as subject to scrutiny, refinement, and revision. We meet the present guided by purpose and imagine a future lit by possibility. We continually strive to achieve excellence in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. We promote the free exchange of ideas and foster constructive dialogue. And we build our capacity, as individuals and as a community, to find as much opportunity in challenge as in encouragement. At the heart of our endeavors lies a willingness to consider risk not as an insurmountable obstacle but as a necessary ingredient in achieving our boldest aspirations. Nurturing that inclination will serve us well in the years to come.
I am exceedingly fortunate to have countless colleagues, friends, and supporters among you, true partners in the work of fulfilling our mission. Thanks to you, Harvard will continue to serve humanity in ever more imaginative and consequential ways. I look forward to working together toward a new year of possibility and promise fulfilled.
Sincerely,
Alan M. Garber
