President of Harvard University

Role

The president plays an important part in university-wide planning and strategy. Each names a faculty's dean (and, since the foundation of the office in 1994, the university's provost), and grants tenure to recommended professors. However, the president is expected to make such decisions after extensive consultation with faculty members.

Recently, however, the job has become increasingly administrative, especially as fund-raising campaigns have taken on central importance in large institutions such as Harvard. Some have criticized this trend to the extent it has prevented the president from focusing on substantive issues in higher education.

Each president is professor in some department of the university and teaches from time to time.

The university maintains an official residence for the president's use, which from 1912 until 1971, was President's House, and since then has been Elmwood.

Influence

Harvard presidents have traditionally influenced educational practices nationwide. Charles W. Eliot, for example, originated America's familiar system of a smorgasbord of elective courses available to each student; James B. Conant worked to introduce standardized testing; Derek Bok and Neil L. Rudenstine argued for the continued importance of diversity in higher education.

History

At Harvard's founding it was headed by a "schoolmaster", Nathaniel Eaton. In 1640, when Henry Dunster was brought in, he adopted the title of president. Since Harvard was founded for the training of Puritan clergy, and even though its mission was soon broadened, nearly all presidents through the end of the 18th century were in holy orders.

All presidents from Leonard Hoar in 1672 through Nathan Pusey in 1971 were graduates of Harvard College. Of the presidents since Pusey, nearly all earned a graduate degree at Harvard. The only exception has been Drew Gilpin Faust, who was the first president since the seventeenth century with no earned Harvard degree.

Presidents of Harvard==

The following persons have served as president of Harvard University:

Table notes:

Timeline of Harvard University presidential terms

References

References

1. [http://www.provost.harvard.edu/institutional_research/Provost_-_FB2010_11_Sec01_1_Central_Administration.pdf Central Administration] {{webarchive. link. (November 23, 2011 Governance of the University, from Office of the Provost)
2. (2025-12-16). "Garber Granted An ‘Open-Ended Runway’ With Term Extension". thecrimson.com.
3. Lee, Richard S.. (March 10, 2001). "An Empty Chair at Harvard (Op-Ed)". The New York Times.
4. (2001-10-14). "33 Elmwood". [[The Harvard Crimson]].
5. "History of the Presidency". Harvard University.
6. Graff, Garrett M.. (September–October 2002). "John Harvard's Journal: Of Religious Education and Rotten Cabbage".
7. "Harvard's First President – Et Seq: The Harvard Law School Library Blog".
8. President, Harvard University. "History of the Presidency".
9. (1702). "Magnalia Christi Americana: or, The ecclesiastical history of New-England, from its first planting in the year 1620. unto the year of Our Lord, 1698. In seven books ...". Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and three crowns in Cheapside.
10. "Papers of Urian Oakes".
11. "Harvard College Records Volume 15 Part 1".
12. (2001-03-15). "Harvard Presidents Throughout History". [[Harvard University]].
13. "Biographical Notes on Increase Mather".
14. "Resolution Relating to Samuel Willard and the College".
15. "Papers of John Leverett, 1652-1730".
16. (1728–1779). "Papers of John and Hannah Winthrop".
17. Chase, Theodore. (March 1980). "Harvard Student Disorders in 1770". [[The New England Quarterly]].
18. "Papers of Samuel Locke".
19. "Papers of John and Hannah Winthrop". Harvard University.
20. Proctor, Donald J.. (December 1977). "John Hancock: New Soundings on an Old Barrel". [[The Journal of American History]].
21. (2020). "Wigglesworth, Edward".
22. Harvard Corporation. "Corporation records volume 3, May 5, 1778-August 31, 1795".
23. "Papers of Samuel Webber".
24. "Papers of Henry Ware, Sr.".
25. "Papers of John Thornton Kirkland".
26. "Papers of Josiah Quincy, 1811-1874.".
27. "Papers of Edward Everett".
28. "Papers of Jared Sparks, 1820-1861, 1866.".
29. "Papers of James Walker".
30. "Papers of Cornelius Conway Felton, 1841-1877".
31. "Papers of Thomas Hill".
32. "Rev. Thomas Hill Dead.". The Harvard Crimson.
33. "Papers of Charles William Eliot, 1807-1945.".
34. (2022-02-11). "Charles W Eliot".
35. "Charles William Eliot: A Paradoxical Racial Legacy".
36. "Charles W. Eliot". The Harvard Crimson.
37. "Dr. Walcott Acting President.". The Harvard Crimson.
38. (1909-05-20). "Lowell Harvard's Head.; New President of University Takes His Place at Dr. Eliot's Desk.". [[The New York Times]].
39. (1933-06-25). "Lowell's Passing Marks End of Era; Retirement of President of Harvard Comes After Twenty-four Years. His Incumbency Weighed Doubled the Enrolment, Increased Endowment and Expanded Buildings.". [[The New York Times]].
40. (1978-02-12). "James B. Conant Is Dead at 84; Harvard President for 20 Years". [[The New York Times]].
41. (2023-11-10). "Nathan Pusey {{!}} Harvard President, Philanthropist, Educator".
42. Fenton, John H.. (1953-06-02). "Harvard Elects Dr. N. M. Pusey, Midwest Educator, as President; Lawrence College Head, 46, Has 3 Degrees From University – Favors Humanities Study Harvard Appoints Iowan President". [[The New York Times]].
43. Howe, Peter J.. (1984-11-10). "Bok's Past--and Future". [[The Harvard Crimson]].
44. Abramowitz, Michael J.. (September 13, 1984). "While You Were Out". [[The Harvard Crimson]].
45. (2022-11-16). "Henry Rosovsky, former acting University president, FAS dean, dead at 95".
46. "Henry Rosovsky, Former Harvard FAS Dean, Remembered for Contributions to Undergrad Education and African American Studies". The Harvard Crimson.
47. Tucker, Maggie S.. (September 11, 1991). "Appointments to Make, Appointments to Keep". [[The Harvard Crimson]].
48. (2000-05-25). "Rudenstine leaving presidency in 2001". [[The Harvard Gazette]].
49. Butterfield, Fox. (1997-03-07). "Dismay at Harvard as Provost Decides to Move". [[The New York Times]].
50. (November 29, 1994). "Rudenstine Takes Leave". [[The Harvard Crimson]].
51. (November 29, 1994). "Acting President Carnesale Known for Administrative Skill". [[The Harvard Crimson]].
52. Rimer, Sara. (February 19, 1995). "President Of Harvard Is Ready To Return". [[The New York Times]].
53. ''YUNews'' [https://www.yu.edu/news/director-of-the-national-economic-council-dr-lawrence-h-summers-is-keynote-speaker-at-yeshiva-universitys-annual-hanukkah-dinner-and-convocation-on-december-13 Director of the National Economic Council, Dr. Lawrence H. Summers, is Keynote Speaker at Yeshiva University's Annual Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation on December 13], November 18, 2009
54. ''The Harvard Crimson'' [https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/3/8/harvards-first-jewish-president-in-a/ Harvard's First Jewish President], March 8, 2006
55. ''The Harvard Crimson'' [https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/3/3/did-summers-faith-affect-his-fall/ Did Summers' Faith Affect His Fall?], March 3, 2006
56. (2006-02-22). "President of Harvard Resigns, Ending Stormy 5-Year Tenure". The New York Times.
57. Fogg, Piper. (February 17, 2006). "Harvard President to Face Second Vote of No Confidence Amid Renewed Calls for His Resignation".
58. "Derek Bok".
59. (February 12, 2007). "First Female Harvard President Discusses Priorities and Goals". PBS.
60. (February 11, 2007). "Faust Confirmed as 28th President". [[The Harvard Gazette]].
61. Hartocollis, Anemona. (February 11, 2018). "Harvard Chooses Lawrence Bacow as Its Next President". [[The New York Times]].
62. (December 15, 2022). "Harvard names Claudine Gay 30th president". [[Harvard University]].
63. (January 2, 2024). "Harvard President resigns after antisemitism hearing and plagiarism probe". [[Axios (website).
64. Mangan, Dan. (2024-01-02). "Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigns amid plagiarism claims". [[CNBC]].
65. "Harvard President Claudine Gay steps down". [[Harvard University]].
66. "Alan Garber '76 to Serve as Harvard's 31st President Until June 2027". The Harvard Crimson.