Dear Members of the Harvard Community,
I wrote in August 2024 to let you know that Alan Garber, then serving as Harvard’s interim president, would assume the title of president and lead the University through the end of the 2026-27 academic year.
I am very pleased to write today with the news that the governing boards and Alan have agreed to extend his service as president for an indefinite time beyond June 30, 2027 – as Harvard and other universities continue to navigate a period of extraordinary challenge and work to affirm higher education’s indispensable role in driving discovery and improving lives.
Since taking up the duties of the presidency in January 2024, Alan has demonstrated even more fully the remarkable qualities apparent during his twelve-plus years as Harvard’s provost and chief academic officer. He is a servant leader with uncommon intellectual breadth and unbounded curiosity. He is both principled and pragmatic, both deliberative and decisive, and both respectful of tradition and intent on innovation. And, most importantly, he models open-mindedness and civility, with compassion toward others, a selfless concern for Harvard’s best interests, and an unwavering focus on how Harvard can best serve the wider world.
Members of the governing boards have consistently heard similar expressions of admiration and appreciation for Alan’s service in the course of our engagement with the larger university community – faculty, students, staff, and alumni – during his tenure.
The experience of the last few years has given new meaning to the words sung each year at commencement – “calm rising through change and through storm.” Alan’s humble, resilient and effective leadership has shown itself to be not just a vital source of calm in turbulent times, but also a generative force for sustaining Harvard’s commitment to academic excellence and to free inquiry and expression. In his short tenure, he has moved us forward on nearly every level. From restoring a sense of community during a period of intense scrutiny and division to launching vital new programs on viewpoint diversity and civil discourse and instituting new actions to fight antisemitism as well as anti-Arab bias, Alan has not only stabilized the university but brought us together in support of our shared mission.
As our university community looks ahead – attentive to shifting realities while resolute in upholding enduring values – we remain fortunate to have Alan Garber at the helm to guide us forward. My colleagues on the governing boards join in thanking him for his steadfast service. And we join in thanking all of you as well for the countless ways you advance and support not only Harvard but the entire enterprise of higher education, at a time when such efforts are as consequential as they have ever been.
Sincerely,
Penny Pritzker
Senior Fellow, Harvard Corporation