The
HARVARD FOUNDATION Journal
SPRING 2015
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
VOL. XXXIV, NO.2.
BETTER WITH AGE: CULTURAL RHYTHMS MARKS ITS 30TH
Eva Longoria, Harvard Foundation 2015 Artist of the Year
Professor Ronald S. Sullivan, Harvard Foundation 2015 Faculty of the Year
Formal Portrait of U.S.Treasurer Rosie Rios ’87 Unveiled in Winthrop House
Professor Alyssa Goodman, Harvard Foundation 2015 Scientist of the Year
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HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
Table of Contents SPRING 2015
VOL. XXXIV, NO.2. Director’s Letter 3 Harvard Foundation Science Conference 4 Luncheon honors a scientist to emulate 5 The first Harvard Latina portrait unveiled at Winthrop House
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Rosie Rios portrait unveiling 7 With Song, Dance and a Special Guest, Cultural Rhythms turns 30
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Cultural Rhythms: Luncheon with the Artist 12 Re: Inspired: On the 30th anniversary, past interns remember 13 Cultural Rhythms: A Taste of the World 14 Cultural Rhythms: A Tribute to the Artist 15 Having and Using Priviledge at Harvard 16 Safe Spaces, Exclusive Spaces 16 Four Films: A Host of Issues 17 Harvard Foundation Awards and Aloian Dinner 18 Student Advisory Committee:Year in Review 19 Student Grant Summaries: 20-21 SAC Member Organizations and Faculty Advisory Committee Members
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The insignia of the Harvard Foundation consists of five interconnecting circles in the colors black, brown, red, white and yellow, symbolizing the major recognized ethnic groups of the human race under the Harvard motto veritas (“truth”). The symbol, “the unbroken circle of humanity,” was designed by Dr. S. Allen Counter in 1981.
The Harvard Foundation Journal has been produced semi-annually since 1982. The publication is designed to inform the Harvard family about the intercultural programs sponsored by the Harvard Foundation throughout the year that address a variety of salient topics related to race, culture, ethnicity, and religion. The Harvard Foundation Journal is produced by the Harvard Foundation staff, interns, and director. For more information, or to be added to the Harvard Foundation mailing list, please contact: The Harvard Foundation 2 Thayer Hall, Harvard Yard Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone: 617-495-1527 | Fax: 617-496-1443 | harvfoun@fas.harvard.edu
HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
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Director’s Letter To the students, faculty, and administrators of Harvard University: I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Harvard Foundation student interns and Student Advisory Committee representatives for their dedication and significant contributions to the intercultural programs and projects of the Harvard Foundation throughout the 2014-15 academic year. I am also appreciative of the support of our Faculty Advisory Committee and its chairman, Professor William Gelbart. I am pleased to report that the Harvard Foundation served the students of Harvard College by supporting a number of student-initiated ethno-cultural projects and traditional Foundation programs on diversity and inclusion in the spring semester of 2015. Foundation-sponsored programs included the Harvard Hong Kong Society’s Chinese New Year social and Hong Kong movie night; the Harvard College Hellenic Society’s Greek economic forum; the Harvard African Students Association’s Africa Night celebration; the Harvard Islamic Society’s Islam in America series; the Harvard Catholic Student Association’s speaker series and spaghetti suppers; the Asian-American’s Women’s Association; Act on a Dream; Harvard Taekwondo’s campus martial arts performances; the Black Men’s Forum’s 21st annual Celebration of Black Women Gala, and numerous other student-initiated programs. Eighty diverse student organizations submitted more than 200 grant applications to the Harvard Foundation, requesting a total of $65,250. The Foundation supported the projects of 55 organizations with a total of $25,000 allocated by the office of the dean of Harvard College. Students of all ethnic backgrounds have requested additional financial support from the dean’s office to enable them to carry out their cultural programs and projects under the auspices of the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations. In February 2015, the Harvard Foundation celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Cultural Rhythms Festival. The project was directed by Irfan Mahmud ’16 and Cary Williams ’16. The 2015 Artist of the Year selected by Harvard Foundation students was the acclaimed actress, human rights supporter, and philanthropist Eva Longoria. U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios ’87 served as the festival’s host. Cultural Rhythms Day began with an honorary luncheon in Kirkland House graciously hosted by House Masters Tom and Verena Conley, who were given roses and tributes of appreciation by the students. Numerous students paid tribute to Longoria’s life and work during a luncheon for more than 100. During the Cultural Rhythms show at Sanders Theatre, Longoria cheerfully joined Rios onstage to introduce the student performers. Accepting the Artist of the Year award, Longoria spoke eloquently about the value of humanitarianism and her philanthropic work to help people in need. The annual Harvard Foundation Albert Einstein Science Conference: Advancing Minorities and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics event honored Harvard Astronomy Professor Alyssa Goodman as the 2015 Scientist of the Year. The award was presented on March 27 during a student-faculty luncheon in Goodman’s honor in the Hastings Room of Pforzheimer House. The luncheon was attended by the Astronomy Department faculty, graduate students, and students from across the College. Goodman’s parents and sister also honored us with their presence. The following day, Goodman joined the student directors in hosting the Harvard Foundation Science Conference Partners in Science program, which connects socioeconomically and culturally diverse groups of elementary, middle, and high school students from Cambridge, Boston, and the metropolitan area with Harvard faculty and college student volunteers studying applied, theoretical, natural, chemical, and biological sciences. More than 100 grade school students from Boston schools attended the Day of Science at Harvard program, and were given certificates of attendance for their participation. continued on page 22
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HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
HARVARD FOUNDATION SCIENCE CONFERENCE
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he front rows of the Harvard University Science Center were filled, but not with your typical College students. For one, it was a Saturday. For another, they were unusually excited. And with good reason: These students were K-12 pupils from public schools in the Boston and Cambridge area, and for many of them it was their first time at Harvard — and their first time experiencing a day dedicated to science. And it was such an incredible day. It began with our co-director’s opening remarks, but that was only the beginning of a journey of inspiration. Harvard Foundation Director S. Allen Counter, himself a professor of neurology, made a rousing, inspirational speech on the students’ ability to one day become scientists regardless of their race or gender. The students explored the galaxy with Harvard Foundation Scientist of the Year Alyssa Goodman, who brought out a video controller and moved the planets with her own hands. They were entranced by Professor Andrew Berry, who took them on a tour of the rainforest with a lively, animated presentation that left them debating whether beetles were sexy. The K-5s also got to see Professor Aspuru-Guzik, who taught them about molecules, and learned how to make ice cream with the Black Society of Scientists and Engineers. The sixth- to 12th-graders explored the upper realms of the forest with a presentation on birds, and then saw science take on a whole new medium with Science Theatre’s performances, including “Copenhagen.” They finished up with Professor Daniel Rosenberg’s demonstrations of popping balloons, chemicals changing color, and exploding trash cans, which had the kids in 3-D glasses, screaming or excitedly, and shooting their hands in the air to volunteer. All for the sake of science. The Harvard Foundation Albert Einstein Science Conference is always inspirational — not just for the students, but for us conference directors as well. It is easy for a Harvard student to take for granted the incredible resources we have at our disposal, but to see what we see every day from the perspective of students still in primary, middle, and high school is to see science at Harvard with wonder. It was an immense privilege to facilitate this opportunity. More than anything, it was a privilege to see the young students realize that the fields of science, math, computer science, and engineering are open to them too, regardless of whether it’s here at Harvard or in the wider world. At the end of the day, I felt with the greatest intensity that the conference had in some way impacted the pupils’ perspectives on science and their roles in the science world. A young boy, maybe in fourth grade, received his certificate and was chanting “Science! Science! Science!” under his breath as he looked at his name with pride. Nuha Saho and I, as co-directors, have to thank Counter, assistant director Loc Truong, administrative coordinator Wairimu Mwaura, and Foundation intern Tiffany Ramos for bringing this conference about, and making it an amazing day for everyone. Written by Jasmine Chia ’18
HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
LUNCHEON HONORS A SCIENTIST TO EMULATE
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n the morning of March 27, the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations hosted the 23rd annual luncheon to celebrate its Scientist of the Year, Professor Alyssa Goodman. I was given the honor of delivering this year’s tribute speech, giving me the chance to formally thank Professor Goodman for being a fearless and inspirational woman in the scientific community. She inspires me to pursue my scientific passions and use my identity as a black man from an underserved community to galvanize, instead of quell, my passion. I mentioned during my tribute that although I was a patient at Lincoln Hospital, in the heart of the South Bronx, Professor Alyssa Goodman with Harvard Foundation interns. all my life, I never had a black doctor there to look up to. Professor Goodman did not let her gender discourage her from her dream to be an astronomer. I believe that she is going to do for many young girls what a black doctor would have done for me: inspire them to continue in their scientific pursuits regardless of social norms and gender roles. This is why I, as well as the rest of the Foundation team, celebrate Professor Goodman. She is a true embodiment of fearlessness and inspiration. The intimate luncheon was held in the beautiful Hastings Room of Pforzheimer House and participants had a sensational view of the Quad while they ate. The room was packed with Harvard Foundation interns, professors from the Astronomy Department, and members of Professor Goodman’s family. We at the Harvard Foundation were honored that Professor Goodman invited her sister and parents to watch us celebrate her outstanding contributions to the scientific community as a member of an under-represented demographic. Written by Nuha Saho ’18
L to R: Dr. Alyssa Goodman with Nuha Saho ’18 and Jasmine Chia ’18; Alyssa Goodman and her parents.
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THE FIRST HARVARD LATINA PORTRAIT UNVEILED AT WINTHROP HOUSE
n April 27, students and faculty gathered in the junior common room of Winthrop House to watch the unveiling of the portrait of distinguished alumna Rosa Gumataotao Rios, class of 1987 at Harvard College and currently the 43rd treasurer of the United States. As U.S. treasurer, Rios has direct oversight over the U.S. Mint, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Fort Knox, the United States Savings Bonds Division, and is a key liaison with the Federal Reserve. In addition, the treasurer serves, as a senior advisor to the secretary of the treasury in the areas of community development and public engagement. She is especially passionate about supporting women in finance and how Main Street is faring in the economic recovery. As an undergraduate at Harvard College, Rosie Rios was an outstanding student leader in the Portrait of Rosie Rios unveiled by Tiffany Ramos ’16, Harvard community and an associate of the Harvard Dorothy Villarreal ’15, and Dr. S. Allen Counter. Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations. In 1986, Rios joined a group of fellow students and organizing the first Cultural Rhythms Festival. Since that time she has returned to the College on numerous occasions to participate in Harvard Foundation programs, including serving as honorary host of contemporary Cultural Rhythms Festivals, including this year’s 30th anniversary celebration. As part of the celebration of Harvard’s 350th anniversary in 1986, Rios led a panel discussion on with history of race relations at Harvard. The panel of alumni featured Naylor Fitzhugh from Harvard College and Muriel Snowden from Radcliffe. Excerpts from Rios’s eloquent presentation were reported in the Boston Globe at that time. Rios is a first-generation Mexican-American and one of nine children raised in Hayward, Calif., by a single mother. She graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Romance languages and literature, having completed a thesis on the “changing notions of Latino identity” focusing on the writings of Tomas Rivera and Sandra Cisneros. She was the artistic director of Harvard’s acclaimed Mexican-American dance performance group, Ballet Folklórico. “The students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation are pleased to honor Rosie Rios, class of 1987, with a portrait in Winthrop House, her residence hall as a student, as part of the Harvard Foundation portraiture project,” said S. Allen Counter, director of the Harvard Foundation. “The occasion marks the first portrait of a Latina to be installed on the walls off Harvard College. Since her graduation, she has served Harvard for a number of years as Commencement Marshal and advisor to the Harvard Foundation. As a distinguished alumna, Rios has returned to Harvard College on numerous occasions over the years at the invitation of Harvard students to speak and serve as honorary host of the annual Cultural Rhythms Festival that she helped to create as a student. She exemplifies the qualities of excellence, equity, inclusion, and diversity that represent the mission of the Harvard Foundation.” The Harvard Foundation Portraiture Project recognizes selected persons of African-American, Asian-American, Latino-American, Native American, and European-American backgrounds who have served Harvard with distinction for many years as faculty, administrators, or alumni. To date 15 portraits (including Rios’) have been commissioned and hung throughout the University. The portrait artist for the Harvard Foundation Portraiture Project is Stephen Coit ’71. Portriat artist Steve Coit ’71 joins Rosie Rios and Written by the Harvard Foundation Staff Dr. S. Allen Counter at the unveiling ceremony.
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ROSIE RIOS PORTRAIT: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
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hen you walk into someone’s home, their décor tells you about them. From the shape of the chairs to the color of the throw pillows, a person’s home is a reflection of who they are. When I first came to Harvard, the décor was largely what I expected: muted colors, rich wood furniture, paintings of important people on the walls. In a home, portraits tell you more about the person who lives there than anything else. At Harvard, I saw exactly what I expected: grand portraits of stately white men. I didn’t think much of it — until, that is, I walked through Annenberg Hall and saw a portrait of a man who looked significantly different from the marble faces surrounding him. He was just as stately and regal as his companions … but he also looked like me. With that one portrait of Native American Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, class of 1665, this place that had felt so foreign, felt like home. Representation is so important. For students of color at Harvard, it can often feel as if we’re intruding in a space that is not our own. Except for a few places on campus, the decor doesn’t match the incredible diversity that the University offers us every day. While in class we are surrounded by a medley of identities, it is rare to find that reflected in the portraits that surround us. It can make us feel lonely, as if we’re the first to come through these gates. When you do find out that others have come before, you wonder why they aren’t on the walls. Did they not match the décor? This is why Rosie Rios’ portrait is so important. As a Latina, I’m constantly searching for faces that look like mine. I cup my hands around my eyes, on the hunt for images of women and people of color who not only have passed through these gates, but have made a difference within and outside of them. I crave the comfort of knowing I am not alone. When I look at the walls of Winthrop, I feel comfortable. This is home. Here, I see a woman who continues to lead by example, a living hero with a pressing need to make our home better. Madam Treasurer Rios leads with passion and commitment, and is making a change now. She exemplifies the completion of the mission of the College, demonstrates the true purpose of a liberal arts education, and gives me someone I can look up to as an ejemplo a seguir. To think that a couple of years ago Rios was in these same buildings, studying in the same classrooms, eating in the same dining halls, and looking up, searching for a face that would remind her of home … She was not alone. I am not alone. I look forward to a future when, thanks to the Foundation, I will walk through these halls and find an updated décor, one that lets my children will feel like they, too, are not alone. They are home. Written by Dorothy Villarreal ’15
Evelyn Ramirez ’15 and Yesenia Ortiz ’17 of Ballet Folklórico performed a dance at the unveiling ceremony to honor Rosie Rios, who helped develop the dance group as a student.
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With Song, Dance, and a Special Guest, Cultural Rhythms Turns 30
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here is something incredibly powerful about filling Sanders Theatre with music, dance, and words from around the world. Each spring, Cultural Rhythms celebrates the diverse cultures represented at Harvard, and students share their creative talents in a rich intercultural dialogue about heritage and tradition. This year was particularly special because it was the 30th anniversary of Cultural Rhythms. This milestone allowed us to reflect on three decades of rich history and look forward to the enormous potential for celebration and engagement with the diversity on campus. While Cultural Rhythms’ mission has remained the same, the 30th anniversary called for a special recognition of the tireless work that generations of Foundation alumni have put into the festival. We were incredibly lucky to bring back nearly 50 alumni to share this special day. The goal of this Cultural Rhythms was to create a big splash on campus, and that we did with CR30. This year, we honored actress Eva Longoria as the Artist of the Year, recognizing her contributions to the arts and her exemplary leadership in philanthropy, social activism, and efforts to empower Latinos worldwide. In the speech she made to students and faculty, she showed how her contributions align perfectly with the mission of the Harvard Foundation. She shared her own story of grappling with multivalent identities as a Mexican-American raised in Texas. Her speech addressed ideas of privilege of birth, freedom from oppression, solidarity, and allyship. Her words moved some members of the audience to tears and garnering a resounding standing ovation. We could not imagine a better artist to award for the special year.
‘The festival gives us the opportunity to recognize the beauty of cultures other than our own.’
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Left to right: Cary Williams ’16, Eva Longoria, the 2015 Artist of the Year, and Irfan Mahmud ’16 onstage at Sanders Theatre.
To celebrate the anniversary, we decided to ramp things up and create a cohesive, daylong festival. We started with the traditional intern breakfast, followed by a wonderfully amusing tribute to Longoria, which rolled into the student luncheon and its many student and faculty speeches. We then took the celebration to the Sanders stage, where incredible student groups made a kaleidoscope display of their cultures and traditions. The Food Festival brought together 20 different cultural cuisines from student organizations eager to share their food with the community. We ended the program with an alumni reception, inviting all our alumni to celebrate 30 years of successful festivals. We were thrilled to be able to spend this day with our alumni, who came back to Harvard from all across the country, and some from even as far away as South Korea. When the lights went down, the performance began with a screening of our CR30 promotional video, showcasing past performances and 30 years of artists. As the event’s co-directors, we opened the show by welcoming Foundation Director S. Allen Counter, Longoria, and our honorary host, U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios. Rios directed the first Cultural Rhythms festival, and we were honored to have her return to mark the anniversary. Her own performance group, Ballet Folklórico de Aztlán, kicked off the show and mesmerized the audience. Many different groups followed, dazzling the packed Sanders Theatre audience. From Wushu to Mariachi Veritas to Kuumba to the Asian-American Dance Troupe, the diversity that is Harvard took the stage. Cultural Rhythms is special. The festival gives us the opportunity to recognize the beauty of cultures other than our own, something we can continue to do every day of our lives. In this way, we can celebrate Cultural Rhythms every day. The respect, appreciation, and celebration of diverse cultures that mark this day should be carried in our hearts and minds long after we leave the four corners of Harvard Square. As co-directors, this was a unique opportunity to see the inside of the largest multicultural festival and performance at Harvard. We were lucky to have the greatest interest from student groups that Cultural Rhythms has ever seen, and happy and honored to have been able to lead this uniquely powerful and dazzling program. Every day we are humbled and inspired by the work that the Harvard Foundation puts together in collaboration with Harvard students. Written by Irfan Mahmud ’16 and Cary Williams ’16 (Lovingly known as Carfan) Cultural Rhythms 2015 Co-Directors
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HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
CULTURAL RHYTHMS: LUNCHEON WITH THE ARTIST
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ollowing a spirited and humorous tribute in the Kirkland House junior common room, the 30th annual Cultural Rhythms Festival continued with the traditional luncheon with the Artist of the Year. More than 120 undergraduates, faculty members, and administrators gathered in Kirkland’s dining hall to listen to speakers and performances in honor of Eva Longoria. Luncheon coordinator Avni Nahar ‘17 opened the event with remarks about Longoria’s incredible work balancing a fulfilling career in business and the arts with a commitment to service and activism on behalf of her community. Kirkland House Master Verena Conley made some welcoming remarks, followed by Foundation Director S. Allen Counter, who introduced Rosa Rios ‘87, the U.S. Treasurer and a former Harvard Foundation intern. Ms. Rios founded the festival, and offered some reflections on that experience. CR30 co-directors Irfan Mahmud ’16 and Cary Williams ’16 had the final words before a delicious lunch was served by the Kirkland House dining staff. After lunch, attendees were treated to an a capella performance by Harvard Mirch, the College’s only South Asian musical group. Mirch performed an original medley of Jay Sean’s “Down” and the Bollywood song “Subha Hone Na De” (“Don’t Let the Morning Come”). The luncheon then turned to tribute, with a number of unique and incredible speakers. The Kirkland House Committee co-chairs Meghamsh Kanuparthy and Kate Buellesbach shared some humorous remarks about Longoria and her connection to Harvard, and presented the actress with a Kirkland House sweatshirt. Following this, Dorothy Villarreal ’15, a former president of Concilio Latino, spoke about the visibility of Latinos in the media, and the importance of a figure like Longoria to spark the imaginations and goals of young Latinos everywhere. Javier Aranzales ’16, a member of the Harvard Ballet Company and a founding member of the Colombian National Ballet, spoke about the importance of the arts and sacrifice to pursue a dream, citing Longoria as an example in his own life. Both speeches were incredibly moving, bringing the Artist of the Year to tears. Finally, in Harvard tradition, David Evans, senior admissions officer, closed the event. He offered some remarks on the changing composition of the University — all the work that has been done, and all the work that remains to be done to improve representation and environment for students of color on this campus. Written by Avni Nahar ’17
Clockwise from top left: Senior Admissions Officer, David L. Evans with guest of honor Eva Longoria; Javier Aranzales ’16, the student guest speaker; Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios, the honorary host of the Cultural Rhythms Festival
HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
RE-INSPIRED: ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY, PAST INTERNS REMEMBER
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t is seriously so heartwarming and re-inspiring to see the heart, energy, and sense of purpose that you bring,” wrote Xi Wang, a Harvard Foundation alumna from the Class of 2006, in an email after the 30th celebration of Cultural Rhythms and the CR30 Alumni Reception. “We are so proud of you as the flag bearers of Harvard Foundation and its mission on campus. Keep being awesome, while having fun along the way.” The Harvard Foundation has had student interns since its founding in 1981, and there are generations of alumni who have continued to work, post-Harvard, on improving diversity relations and promoting interracial and intercultural awareness wherever they are in whatever they choose to do. The CR30 celebration was a perfect opportunity for these alumni to reunite, and many traveled long distances to be here, such as Owais Siddiqui ’07, who came from Texas, and Soy Kim ’14, who flew halfway across the world from South Korea. After attending the CR30 show, Foundation alumni gathered with the current interns and administrators in the parlor room of the Phillips Brooks House for a few hours of merriment and mingling. Conversations over sushi abounded as the alums reminisced together and got to know the current interns. Nuha Saho ’18 said that although he is in the class farthest removed the alumni’s, he was “caught off guard by their love for this place.” Saho said the alumni were “friendly, opened up to us in a warm way… [and] were so ready and willing to help out the current status of the Foundation … [they] inspired me to approach some of them in fields that interested me.” Mingling transitioned into introductions all around, and alumni shared stories about their experiences as interns and their lives after Harvard. It seemed as though the Foundation had alumni in every field in every corner of the world, and most of them pointed to the Foundation as being, as Aubrey Walker ‘15 put it, the “epicenter of their College experience,” heavily shaping their perspectives and ap- Former and current Harvard Foundation interns with Director S. Allen Counter. proaches to life post-Harvard. A photo slideshow of interns through the years followed, then more sharing and laughter through the night, with the likes of Nworah Ayogu ’10 and others amusing everyone with their enthralling and hilarious tales. Current interns and alumni both said that interaction among them should continue on a regular basis, perhaps with an official semesterly or yearly event, along with other, more systematized approaches to ensuring constant and easy contact. Avni Nahar ’17 noted: “I think it is super important to keep talking to alumni! They have so much wisdom and institutional memory we can learn so much from. I think it could be worth it to have an annual meeting for any alumni who are able to stop by and offer advice … we should also be sure to send journals to all alums to keep them posted about what is going on at the Foundation. Eventually, we could set up an alumni database and even mentorship program.” Overall, the CR30 Alumni Reception was, as Irfan Mahmud ’16 (one of the co-directors of CR30) put it, “an amazing way to get to touch with the history of the Harvard Foundation and learn about 30 years of passionate interns who hold a special place in their hearts for the work that we do.” Written by Rahim Mawji ’15
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CULTURAL RHYTHMS: A TASTE OF THE WORLD
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ven before the Food Festival start time of 6:30, the Science Center arcade was infused with excitement. The Francophone Society spread thick layers of Nutella on decadent pains au chocolat; the Bulgarian Club cut crusty baguette slices and spread them with herbed tomato tapenade and salty feta cheese; Fuerza Latina turned up spirited Latin music as they laid their empanadas next to RAZA’s platters of cheese and guacamole-covered nachos; Dharma poured cups of thick mango lassi and added them to their sparkling decorations and beautiful tablecloth.
And this was just the tip of the iceberg.
Walking around the Science Center to make a last check on all the groups, I almost couldn’t contain my joy at seeing ćevapi next to jollof rice next to scallion pancakes next to yakisoba next to pão de queijo next to poutine next to samosas. The Hong Kong society was serving next to the Thai Society; the Haitian Alliance was trading samples of black rice in exchange for biryani from College Students for Bangladesh. Food is truly cultural exchange in its most vibrant form, and this year I had the honor of directing the 30th Annual Cultural Rhythms Food Festival. The experience was exhilarating from start to finish. An unprecedented 20 cultural groups were involved, the most in Cultural Rhythms’ history. The excitement surrounding the event was so great that a flood of people began streaming toward the Food Festival even before the Sanders show finished. With the help of an incredible group of volunteers, tickets and money were exchanged at lightning speed. People from the whole Cambridge community stopped by to tell me how this was the first time they were attending such a festival and how excited they were, or how they’d been coming for 10 years and it was always a high point of their year. To me, that’s what made the festival so much more than just great food: It was seeing the looks of anticipation as people took their first bite of a food they’d never tried, and the thrill of the awe on people’s faces as they took in what a variety of food the cultural groups of the Harvard community have to offer. It makes me proud to be part of a celebration of the fact that our world has so much diversity a diversity that, importantly, can be enjoyed and accessed by everyone. Written by Jasmine Chia ’18
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CULTURAL RHYTHMS: A TRIBUTE TO THE ARTIST
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ur esteemed guest Eva Longoria was welcomed at the Kirkland junior common room to the harmonious sound of the Harvard Marching Band’s “Ten Thousand Men of Harvard.” The tribute, the traditional kick-off for our annual Cultural Rhythms festival, began with a light, humorous roast of Longoria by the Immediate Gratification Players (IGP), a student improvisational comedy troupe. The IGP was followed by an opera performance piece by Asia Stewart ’18 accompanied by Tania Rivers-Moore ’15, selections werefrom Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” and “As Thousands Cheer.” Written by Tiffany Ramos ’16
Clockwise from top left: The Harvard Marching Band; Asia Stewart ’18; Immediate Gratification Players (IGP) and Harvard Foundation intern and CR30 tribute coordinator, Tiffany Ramos ’16 with guest of honor Eva Longoria.
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HAVING AND USING PRIVILEGE AT HARVARD
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n the evening of January 28, a group of 25 students gathered in Ticknor Lounge for a discussion on privilege facilitated by Harvard Foundation interns Jonathan Sands and Doni Lehman, both members of the class of 2017. The room was decorated with signs bearing various identifiers — race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and religion. The facilitators read a series of statements, after each of which the participants gathered under the sign that most saliently reflected their identity. The students who chose the same identifier then took five minutes to discuss why they had selected that aspect to represent themselves, sharing their stories and experiences to build awareness of the privileges implicit in a variety of identities. The statements were both Harvard-specific and general, prompting students to reflect on both spheres of their lives. Comparing and contrasting their experiences with privilege at and outside of Harvard brought into focus the issues and benefits specific to attending the College. After the statements were read and the small groups had reflected on them, all the students came together to provide feedback (overwhelmingly positive) and share the overarching themes they found in their discussions. The most significant issues they identified were gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality. Written by Doni Lehman ’17 and Jonathan Sands ’17
SAFE SPACES, EXCLUSIVE SPACES
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n April 20, 2015, Tiffany Marie Ramos ’16 and Kirin Gupta ’16 moderated a discussion on “Seeking Inclusivity in Exclusive Spaces” in the Winthrop House junior common room.
The talk centered on how identity factors play into the accessibility, or lack thereof, of social spaces on campus. Topics included: Are final clubs “unsafe” spaces for minorities, non-hetero identifying individuals, and women? What is a safe space? What makes a space unsafe? What is it like to be a minority in a final club? Or not straight? Or from a low-income home? Are you a sell-out? What kind of self-interrogation, responsibilities, or both or neither come with belonging to a final club as a woman, or queer, or from a low-income home, or identifying as a minority? What does exclusivity mean? Can Harvard be both exclusive and inclusive? How does this translate to a final club? What does that mean for members? For non-members? The discussion was kept off the record due to its sensitive and interpersonal nature. Invitees included members and non-members of campus social communities such as comp organizations, male and female final clubs, fraternities and sororities, varsity teams, club teams, and acapella groups. Students from campus press groups were also invited, but were asked to attend only as individuals engaging in a private conversation. This discussion topic is likely to turn into a series, and is expected to be held again in the fall of 2015-2016. Written by
Tiffany Ramos ’16
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FOUR FILMS, A HOST OF ISSUES
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he Harvard College Black Film Festival made its debut with a powerful quartet of films examining issues from the growth of hip-hop to the history of Black Power.
The daylong festival on April 18 began with a screening of “The Tanning of America,” a VH1 series about the revolution of hip-hop as a nice musical culture that turned into a national pop cultural movement. This was followed by “Pariah,” a coming-of-age movie from Sundance favorite directed by Dee Rees that follows a teenage girl from Brooklyn as she discovers her sexual identity amid a culture of hetronormativity and prejudices. The film focuses on the dynamics of gender and sexual expression within a tense family environment. “Pariah” was followed by the documentary “The Black Power Mixtape: 1067-1975,” directed by the Swedish filmmaker Goran Hugo Olsson, who came to the United States during the height of the Black Power movement to get a primary source account of the movement. This film includes previously unseen interviews and firsthand accounts from movement leaders such as Angela Davis and Stokely Carmichael. The fourth and final screening was “City of God” by Fernando Miercelles. This film tells a story of gang warfare and love within a poor neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations partnered with Ivory Tower to on the Black Film Festival for a host of reasons. First, we believed it was imperative to deconstruct the master narrative that claims that black movies are monolithic and lack plot lines that are relatable to non-black audiences. We chose the four films specifically to illustrate the nuance that is blackness in America. We wanted to engage viewers in dialogue about the intersection of poverty, sexuality, social mobilization, and race, and we believe these four films illustrate different facets of black America. “The Tanning of America” showcases the power of black culture to permeate American popular culture; “Pariah” shows how hard it can be to move through the world as a black woman while considering other parts of one’s identity; “The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975” examines the personal convictions of movement leaders in an era in which black people proclaimed different visions of the future; while “City of God” portrays blackness outside of the United States as something that is still frowned upon and still challenged even outside of our own paradigm. The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations hopes to make the Black Film Festival a tradition. We believe the festival will give the Harvard community an outlet for racial and ethnic expression through the lens of film. Wirtten by Nuha Saho ’18
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HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
HARVARD FOUNDATION AWARDS AND ALOIAN DINNER
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n April 29, the Harvard Foundation hosted its annual awards ceremony and Aloian dinner in Quincy House. The award recognizes the people who contribute to improving intercultural and race relations on campus, from freshmen just engaging with these important issues, to seniors who have dedicated four years to the work, to tutors and faculty who go above and beyond their responsibilities to make Harvard a more inclusive place. Held at the end of each academic year, the awards dinner is a signature Harvard Foundation event that really allows the community to reflect on and celebrate the students’ accomplishments. Harvard Foundation interns Cary Williams ’16 and Irfan Mahmud ’16 directed and hosted the celebration.
Aubrey Walker ’15, Director’s Award recipient.
Williams opened the ceremony with a few moments of silence to commemorate the protests against racial violence and police brutality in Baltimore and the devastating earthquakes that took thousands of lives in Nepal. The silence recognized that even though the evening was about celebrating the work that has been and is being done, there is always more ahead — and as long as we have the fortitude and determination the awardees have demonstrated, it will be done. More than 35 members of the campus community were recognized at the dinner. The Distinguished Faculty Award was given to Winthrop House Master and Harvard Law School Professor Ron Sullivan for his outstanding work advocating for race relations within Winthrop House, throughout Harvard’s campus, and nationwide as a pre-eminent lawyer. Dunster House race-relations tutor Avik Chatterjee was given the Distinguished Race-Relations Adviser Award for his unparalleled work with students in creating an environment in which all felt comfortable, regardless of identity. The Distinguished Senior Award recognized five students for their continued dedication: Sasanka Jinadasa of Mather House, for her tireless work at the intersectionality of gender and sexuality in race relations; Dorothy Villarreal of Mather House, for her incredible work in shaping and developing the Latino community and fostering intercultural dialogue; Diana Nguyen of Quincy House, for her powerful work in the Asian community and advocacy in the academic space; Neimy Escobar of Quincy House, who took the initiative and created programming where none existed, for her inspiring work and advocacy at the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, and religion; and Amanda Bradley of Dunster House, for her distinguished work in racial advocacy and her use of a variety of platforms on campus to spread the word. Three senior interns were recognized with the Harvard Foundation Senior Service Award. Rahim Mawji, Aubrey Walker, and Maya Dorje led the Harvard Foundation in many capacities, showing time and again that the work on this campus is hard, but meaningful and powerful. Walker was also selected to receive the Director’s Choice Award for his unique contributions to the mission of the Harvard Foundation’s mission.
Lastly, 10 students were honored with the Insignia Award for their continued contributions to the Foundation’s mission on campus, and 20 students were awarded the Certificate of Recognition to honor their year of dedicated service to the work. These awards recognized underclassmen and seniors who demonstrated serious dedication. The evening was a powerful recognition of the important and inspiring work being done by students at Harvard. Their drive and initiative will continue to inspire those around them to action, and leave a lasting impression on this campus as they go to do the same in the world. Insignia Award recepients.
Written by Irfan Mahmud ’16
HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
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STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: YEAR IN REVIEW
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or the Harvard Foundation’s Student Advisory Committee (SAC), the 2014-2015 academic year was one of momentum, action, and change. The SAC continued its growth, voting in groups such as Simplicissimus, a journal on Germanic studies, the Harvard U.S.-India Initiative, and the Asian-American Women’s Association, bringing its membership to more than 80 groups. At the year’s first meeting, in October 2014, Dean Rakesh Khurana held a brainstorming session with SAC group representatives and leaders, soliciting feedback and advice for how the College can better serve its diverse student body. In November, the SAC engaged in a discussion with a representative of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Committee on Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures. The SAC brought to the faculty’s attention the nuanced aspects of minority students’ experience with sexual assault on campus and suggested ways to improve the policy to better serve the School’s multicultural community. In keeping with tradition, the final fall meeting, in December, was hosted at the Office of Career Services, where we discussed race in the workplace and how to navigate alumni connections in the run-up to graduation. To begin the spring semester, SAC co-chairs Tiffany Marie Ramos ’16 and Avni Nahar ’17 revamped the Harvard Foundation Liaison program, through which each SAC group is randomly assigned a Harvard Foundation intern to act as the primary contact with the Foundation. Liaisons are responsible facilitating conversations between the Foundation and the groups, and for deepening each group’s support for the Foundation by offering to attend their meetings, publicize their events, and help meet their needs on the most personal level possible. At the February meeting, liaisons held discussions on how the Foundation and the SAC/FAC board could better serve SAC groups, not only in times of international or domestic crisis (such as the Black Lives Matter movement or the earthquake in Nepal), but on a daily basis. The SAC board found that there is potential for changing the grant process, so that instead of processing grant applications in bulk at the start of the semester, there could be windows for application throughout the semester to give the groups more flexibility to match their programming. Students also said that they strongly appreciate small group discussions during SAC meetings, the thematic nature of the monthly meetings, and the accessibility the liaison program provides. Other spring meetings covered time well spent with interns and staff from the Office of International Education, who discussed “race abroad.” Moving forward, SAC representatives would like to see continued solidarity between people of color, and more informal get-togethers at which SAC groups can mingle. To facilitate this, the Harvard Foundation will provide an alternative gathering space on campus for SAC groups and minority students to meet in times of need. While SAC meetings certainly have provided the structure for important group discussions on intercultural and race relations, the SAC Board and Foundation interns look forward to providing a space where students can engage in dialogue on diversity issues and unite in solidarity.
We hope 2015-2016 will be another year of powerful communication between the Foundation and SAC representatives, so that we can continue listening, responding, and molding ourselves to their needs and serving our diverse student body in the most effective ways possible. Tiffany Ramos’16 and Avni Nahar’17 SAC Co-Chairs Tiffany Ramos’16 and Avni Nahar’17, 2014-2015 SAC Co-Chairs.
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HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
STUDENT GRANT SUMMARIES Hong Kong Society This semester the Hong Kong Society put on a number of events benefiting the Harvard undergraduate community, from the highly popular Chinese New Year Social to a career panel for those who want to work or intern in China or Hong Kong. Through these events we promoted the richness and diversity of the Hong Kong’s culture in the form of food and activities. Other highlights of the semester included the Toast Box Dessert Gala, a make-your-own special for students, and the HK Movie Night, which screened Ip Man films and analyzed their formal elements. Catholic Student Association The Catholic Student Association has held weekly social gatherings following Eucharistic Adoration. We had three spaghetti suppers after student mass that drew together many people from the Catholic community. On Ash Wednesday, when Catholics are called to fast, we served a simple dinner for students. On Easter, we held a festive afternoon-long brunch that served many students. Lastly, we held three speaker events that brought various Catholic speakers to campus. Hellenic Society This was a great semester for the Harvard College Hellenic Society. We enjoyed celebrating Greece’s Independence Day, the 25th of March, with Greek music, food, and dancing. We also co-hosted the Greek Economic Forum, a conference about revitalizing Greece. Both these events provided a space in which our students and other members of the community could contribute to the ongoing discussion about Greek economic policy and the current political state of the European Union. Thank you to the Harvard Foundation SAC for funding our organization!
African Students Association Africa Night was a celebration of the continent’s diverse personalities, foods, clothing, and cultures expressed through its people, who are spread all over the world. Well over seven competitors represented their regions, including East Africa, West Africa, North Africa, the Caribbean, America, and South Africa. We also invited different organizations that are doing work in the continent, including the Amani Hope Foundation, which works on empowering underprivileged children by helping with educational costs.
PADAME The grant we received went to funding our Saturday workshop. We have really had fun with PADAME this past semester, and were able to achieve much more than we had expected. The grant we received helped us perform at many events by covering some instructor and performance fees.
PADAME Islamic Society Islamic Society The Harvard Islamic Society was excited to share a semester of progress and spectacular events. Thanks to the aid of the Harvard Foundation, the society was able to host an Islam in America Series. Key events were attended by big names in Islamic dialogue, including Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X; Carla Powers, the author of “Reading the Quran at Starbucks”; and Syrian-American Hip-Hop artist Omar Offendum. Our organization was also proud to host one of the largest spring dinners in our history, a celebration of our diverse heritages.
Black Men’s Forum The 21st annual Celebration of Black Women Gala (CBW) recognized, honored, and thanked all black women for the contributions they make to their communities through service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. During the senior advice panel, as BMF seniors prepared to graduate from the College, we gathered with them formally to hear their insights and advice about academics, careers, race relations, and other pertinent topics.
Black Men’s Forum
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STUDENT GRANT SUMMARIES Queer Students and Allies Drag Night is a valuable event that lets Harvard College students enjoy wonderful performances, gives them a chance to perform and express themselves, and provides a safe space for them to explore a multitude of gender identities. This semester, we flew in Chicago-based drag queen Gia Gunn (of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”) to host the event.
Asian American Women’s Association We put on a number of events in the spring semester, including VOLUME: A Spoken Word Workshop & Discussion on Asian American Identity (during VISITAS); Championing a Voice, a panel on local Asian American advocacy organizations, with PBHA Lecture and discussion with Professor Ju Yon Kim on AsiaBlackCAST America and theatre; “What’s Your Spotlight, BlackCAST’s biannual Story?,” a writing workshop in event, is a showcase of the arts response to ABC’s “Fresh Off the ranging from monologues to spoken Boat”; a smoothie and wellness word to original song. Spotlight study break with LU and ABHW; provides students on campus, Stressbusters, a Ramen study break; specifically students of color or and lastly a Valentine’s Day brunch. students who might not be very involved in the arts on campus, a safe space in which to participate and showcase their talents. Over the past few years that we have hosted Spotlight, it has been truly exciting to see all of the amazing talent that comes out and the support that we receive from the community. We look forward to more Spotlight in Asian American Women’s the future! Association Harvard Taekwondo Harvard Taekwondo had an Act on a Dream extraordinarily successful semester Over the semester, Act on a Dream and was fortunate to be able to worked toward increasing awareness perform at many on-campus and of the DAPA issue on campus. even off-campus events! This DAPA is an extension of DACA, a semester, our demo team showed program that allows undocumented off their moves at the Harvard students the chance to get jobs on Korean Association’s Culture Show; campus. Among the efforts made Chinese Student Association’s by our members were various banquet; Visitas Palooza, a Harvard speak-outs and image campaigns. Education Portal event for the We also held an ice cream study Allston community; and of course break during Visitas to increase the Cultural Rhythms Show. We incoming freshmen’s awareness of truly appreciated the opportunity to undocumented students. introduce the Harvard community to taekwondo and spread a greater Under Construction understanding of the martial arts, This semester our group was very which we see as an important part active. We went on tour to California, of our culture. and performed at several other gigs at various events, including at a local school and the EdPortal’s opening event. Our culminating
performance was the spring concert, where we were able to showcase our music and intersperse our songs with stories or prayers from each group member. Being a Christian group, these stories reflected our hope to share our faith in an accessible way with the Harvard community — helping people understand how we view the world and inviting them to think about questions of faith. Fuerza Latina We put up two great events this semester. The first was Identity Talks, at which three speakers were selected to represent different components of the Latino experience. Each spoke for about 10 to 15 minutes in a Ted Talk style about their experiences at Harvard, their academic interests, and their past, while connecting it to how these different components were shaped by their identity. At the second, senior dinner, Fuerza hosted one last dinner to honor the graduating seniors apart of the Latina community. Different awards were handed out for different superlatives. South Asian Association Ghungroo was a great success this year. The event is SAA’s annual cultural production and that showcases a variety of South Asian dance styles, music, and skits. Ghungroo is said to be the largest student production on campus, with more than 400 participants, many of whom have no South Asian heritage. Our goal is for students to learn more about South Asian culture and to learn more about each other’s backgrounds through this bonding experience. Soiree, the last event before our new board transitioned, was a night of great fun; and senior dinner was also great as we commemorated our graduating members.
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HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
Director’s Letter continued The students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation wish to express our appreciation to the faculty and staff members participated in this program: Professor Andrew Berry, Professor Aspuru-Guzik, Professor Scott Edwards and Mr. Daniel Rosenberg, teaching assistant in Chemical Biology and his family. This project is directed by Jasmine Chia’18 and Nuha Saho’18. During the spring semester of 2015, we were pleased to announce that the Harvard Foundation Portraiture Committee had commissioned the first portrait of a Latina at Harvard. On April 27, 2015, numerous students and faculty witnessed the unveiling of the portrait of distinguished alumna Rosa Gumataotao Rios, class of 1987, in the Junior Common Room of Winthrop House. Rios is currently the 43rd Treasurer of the United States. Student members of Latinas Unitas and other Latino student organizations attended and participated in the portrait unveiling. On Friday, April 29, 2015 the annual Harvard Foundation Student/Faculty Awards Ceremony and David Aloian Dinner were held in the Quincy House Main Dining Room. Thirty-six Harvard College students who were nominated by the House Masters and tutors were presented Harvard Foundation awards signed by the Director of the Harvard Foundation and the Dean of Harvard College, Dr. Rakesh Khurana, for the outstanding contributions to the intercultural life of the college. The annual Director’s award for outstanding leadership was presented to Aubrey Walker’15 for his contributions to improving race relations during his 4 years at Harvard College. Dunster House race relations tutor Avik Chatterjee was presented with an award of recognition for notable contributions to the intercultural life of the of a residence hall. The annual Harvard Foundation faculty award was presented to Professor Ronald Sullivan, Master of Winthrop House for his special contributions to advancing the mission of the Harvard Foundation and racial understanding of Harvard. We thank Quincy House Masters Lee and Deborah Gehrke and the Quincy House Dining staff for their generous support of this event. I wish to express my appreciation to the members of Harvard’s Alpha-Iota chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for selecting me to serve as the 2015 Orator. I was delighted to be made honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa, and to have the opportunity to deliver the Phi Beta Kappa Oration at the beginning of the 2015 Commencement week to a Sanders Theater audience. My oration, entitled “A Thirst for Exploration” covered the origin, mission and contributions of the Harvard Foundation as well as student engagement in humanitarian projects. Respectfully submitted, Dr. S. Allen Counter Director of the Harvard Foundation Professor of Neurology
Acknowledgements The students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation would like to express our appreciation to: Harvard Foundation Faculty Advisory Committe Harvard Foundation Portraiture Committee and it’s co-chairs; Dr. John E. Dowling and Dr. Sandra Nadaff President Drew Gilpin Faust Dean Rakesh Khurana Sanders Theatre staff Lee and Deborah Gehrke, Quincy House Masters Ronald Sullivan and Stephanie Robinson, Winthrop House Masters John Durant and Anne Harrington, Pforzheimer House Masters Mr. Jay Connor, photographer Mr. Tony Jacobs
HARVARD FOUNDATION JOURNAL, SPRING 2015
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Harvard Foundation Student Advisory Committee Member Organizations 2014-2015 2014-2015 SAC Board Tiffany Marie Ramos, SAC Co-Chair • Avni Nahar, SAC Co-Chair • Varnel Antoine, SAC Treasurer
Africa Business and Investment Club • Association of Black Harvard Women • Ballet Folklórico de Aztlán • Canadian Club •College Students for Bangladesh • Concilio Latino de Harvard • Dharma (Harvard Hindu Students Assoc.) • Disorient Players •Dominican Students’ Association • Fuerza Latina • Harvard African Students Association • Harvard Asian-American Dance Troupe • Harvard Bhangra • Harvard Black Men’s Forum • Harvard Black Pre-Law Society • Harvard Black StudentsAssociation • Harvard BlackCAST • Harvard College Bolivia Association • Harvard Bulgarian Club • Harvard Chinese Music Ensemble • Harvard College Act on a Dream • Harvard College First Generation Student Union • Harvard College Irish Dancers • Harvard College Latino Men’s Collective • Harvard College Lebanese Club • Harvard College Sangeet • Harvard College Teatro • Harvard Francophone Society • Harvard Global China Connection • Harvard GLOW • Harvard Haitian Alliance •Harvard Half Asian People’s Association • Harvard Hellenic Society • Harvard Hillel • Harvard Hong Kong Society • Harvard Islamic Society • Harvard Japan Society • Harvard Korean Association • Harvard Latinos in Health Careers • Harvard Organization for Latin America • Harvard Peruvian Society • Harvard Philippine Forum • Harvard Polish Society • Harvard Queer Students and Allies • Harvard Society of Arab Students • Harvard South Asian Association • Harvard South Asian Dance Company • Harvard South Asian Men’s Collective • Harvard Taekwondow • Harvard Taiwanese Cultural Society • Harvard Thai Society • Harvard Undergraduate Brazilian Association • Harvard Vietnamese Association • Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Association • Harvard Radcliffe Catholic Students Association • Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA • Holoimua O Hawaii • Harvard Radcliffe Chinese Students Association • Iranian Association • Kuumba Singers of Harvard College • La Organización de Puertorriqueños • Latinas Unidas de Harvard • Mariachi Veritas de Harvard • Native Americans at Harvard College Nigerian Students Association • Pan-African Dance and Musical Ensemble • Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia Association • Harvard US-India Initiative • Simplicissimus, Journal of Germanic Studies
Harvard Foundation Faculty Advisory Committee Members 2014-2015
Ali Asani, Professor of the Practice of Indo-Muslim Languages and Cultures Alison Simmons, Samuel H. Wolcott Professor of Philosophy Benedict Gross, George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Mathematics Bruce Price ’72, Associate Professor of Neurology, Chief of the Department of Neurology at McLean Hospital Cassandra Extavour, Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology David L. Evans, Senior Harvard College Admissions Officer Harry Richard Lewis, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science Jay M. Harris, The Harry Austryn Wolfson, Professor of Jewish Studies John E. Dowling ’57, Ph.D. ’61, Gordon and Llura Gund Professor of Neurosciences, Professor of Ophthalmology Leo H. Buchanan, Audiologist, Harvard University Health Services Marla Frederick, Professor of African and African American studies and of Religion Michael McElroy, Gilbert Butler Professor of Environmental Studies Robert Lue, Professor of the Practice of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Director of Life Sciences Education Robin Gottlieb, Professor of the Practice in the teaching of Mathematics S. Allen Counter, Director of the Harvard Foundation, Professor of Neurology Sandra Naddaff, Dean Harvard Summer School Scott Edwards, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Curator of Ornithology Steven B. Bloomfield, Executive Director, Harvard University Weatherhead Center for International Affairs William A. Graham, Dean of the Faculty of Divinity Emeritus, William Gelbart, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology William R. Fitzsimmons ’67, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid to Students Xiao-Li Meng, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Whipple V. N. Jones Professor of Statistics
THE HARVARD FOUNDATION TEAM STAFF AND INTERNS Aubrey Walker ’15 Maya Dorje ’15 Rahim Mawji ’15
Irfan Mahmud ’16 Kirin Gupta ’16 Cary Williams ’16 Tiffany Ramos ’16
Jonathan Sands ’17 Avni Nahar ’17 Gurbani Kaur ’17 Doni Lehman ’17
Cengiz Cemaloglu ’18 Jasmine Chia ’18 Nuha Saho ’18 Olutoyin Demuren ’18
Dr. S. Allen Counter, Director Loc Truong, Assistant Director Wairimu Mwaura, Administrative Coordinator
The Mission of the Harvard Foundation In 1981, the president and deans of Harvard University established the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations with the mandate to “improve relations among racial and ethnic groups within the University and to enhance the quality of our common life.” In pursuit of this mission, the Foundation seeks to involve students of all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds in the ongoing enterprises of the University. The Foundation sponsors annual programs and activities that are designed to promote interracial and intercultural awareness and understanding in the Harvard community, as well as to highlight the cultural contributions of students from all backgrounds.
The Harvard Foundation 2 Thayer Hall Faculty of Arts and Sciences Harvard University
HARVARD COLLEGE