Chief Marshal

Serving as chief marshal of alumni during Harvard Alumni Day is a special honor. As a longstanding Harvard tradition that dates back to 1899, this role is elected each year from the ranks of the 25th Reunion Class.

Meet the 2026 Chief Marshal Candidates

The Chief Marshal represents all University alumni at Harvard Alumni Day. In a traditional year, the Chief Marshal greets classes as they process into Harvard Yard, invites alumni marshals to help with Alumni Day duties working in partnership with the Happy Committee, and hosts the Chief Marshal’s Luncheon.

Each July, classmates from the 25th Reunion class submit recommendations for chief marshal along with thoughts as to why their nominee would be an ideal candidate. The chief marshal nominating committee (also made up of classmates) then discusses all nominees and works toward putting together a final slate. Candidates are reviewed based on one’s career success, vocations, and avocations; contributions to their community and the larger society; and service to the College.

Read about the 2026 candidates

Class of 2000 elects Dara Olmsted Silverstein as chief marshal of alumni

February 11, 2025

Food sustainability advocate to serve in longstanding alumni tradition.

Learn more about Dara

Past Chief Marshals

February 14, 2024

Class of 1999 Elects Baratunde Thurston as Chief Marshal of Alumni

Writer, TV host, comedian, commentator to join in 125-year-old tradition
February 16, 2023

Sewell Chan is elected Class of 1998’s chief marshal

Leader in the field of nonprofit news, Chan is an award-winning editor and longtime mentor.
March 31, 2022

Class of 1997 Elects Hobbs as Chief Marshal of Alumni

Author, scholar, and educator Allyson Hobbs AB '97 will lead the alumni parade as part of Harvard Alumni Day.
March 10, 2021

Anurima Bhargava AB '96 elected chief marshal

Lawyer who has fought for civil rights of underserved and marginalized will represent the alumni community at Harvard’s 370th Commencement.
February 13, 2020

Koma Gandy Fischbein ’95 elected chief marshal

The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) has announced that decorated U.S. Navy veteran and rugby pioneer Koma Gandy Fischbein ’95 will serve as chief marshal at Harvard’s 369th Commencement on May 28.
March 7, 2019

Tracy K. Smith elected chief marshal

U.S. poet laureate Tracy K. Smith ’94 will serve as chief marshal of the alumni at Harvard’s 368th Commencement on May 30.
March 15, 2018

Gina M. Raimondo ’93 elected chief marshal

Rhode Island Gov. Gina M. Raimondo ’93 has been elected by her classmates to serve as chief marshal of the alumni at Harvard’s 367th Commencement Exercises on May 24.
April 10, 2017

Maura Healey named 2017 chief marshal

Maura Healey ’92, attorney general for the commonwealth of Massachusetts, has been elected by her Harvard and Radcliffe College classmates to serve as chief marshal at Harvard’s 366th Commencement ceremony on May 25.
April 20, 2016

Sandberg named chief marshal

Facebook COO to lead 25th reunion class at Commencement
April 22, 2015

This year’s chief marshal

Writer Farai Chideya ’90 will lead her class for its 25th reunion at Commencement
April 15, 2014

Richard Barth ’89 named Commencement’s chief marshal

The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) announced that Richard Barth ’89, chief executive officer of the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Foundation, has been chosen to serve as Harvard University’s chief marshal at this year’s Commencement ceremonies.
March 26, 2013

Astronaut named chief marshal

The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) announced that Stephanie D. Wilson ’88, a NASA astronaut and engineer who flew three missions aboard the space shuttle Discovery, has been chosen by her classmates to serve as Harvard’s chief marshal for Commencement 2013.
April 17, 2012

Raphael Bostic named chief marshal

The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) announced that Raphael W. Bostic ’87 has been chosen by his classmates to serve as chief marshal for Commencement 2012 as the University concludes its yearlong 375th anniversary celebration.