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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 2024 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 August, class officers from the 25th Reunion are contacted and asked to select a class nominating committee. The committee invites suggestions from the Class and screens candidates 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 2024 candidates

Baratunde Thurston headshot

Class of 1999 elects Baratunde Thurston as chief marshal of alumni

February 14, 2024

Writer, TV host, comedian, commentator to join in 125-year-old tradition.

Learn more about Baratunde

Past Chief Marshals

  • Sewell Chan, 1998 Chief Marshal
    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.

  • Allyson Hobbs
    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.

  • Anurima Bhargava
    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.

  • Koma Gandy Fischbein ’95
    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.

  • Tracy K. Smith ’94
    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.

  • Gina Raimondo portrait
    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.

  • Maura Healey portrait
    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.

  • Sheryl Sandberg ’91, M.B.A. ’95
    April 20, 2016

    Sandberg named chief marshal

    Facebook COO to lead 25th reunion class at Commencement

  • Writer Farai Chideya
    April 22, 2015

    This year’s chief marshal

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

  • Richard Barth portrait
    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.

  • Stephanie Wilson portrait
    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.

  • Raphael Bostic portrait
    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.