It was a pleasure to see so many members of the Harvard community come together on campus to celebrate at the 2023 Committee on University Resources (COUR) Annual Symposium. Below are some highlights from this two-day program that we will not soon forget. To learn more about Harvard’s work on any topic discussed at COUR, please contact Marc Francis.
Friday, May 5
The 2023 COUR Annual Symposium began with a series of immersive, small-group experiences held across campus. Members accompanied John M. Doyle and Mikhail Lukin on an exclusive tour of the labs and future headquarters of the Harvard Quantum Initiative.
Others engaged in a thought-provoking conversation on Buddhist studies led by Janet Gyatso at Harvard Divinity School. To foster inner calm and reflection, they also participated in an afternoon meditation guided by the Venerable Deung Myoung Sunim.
At the Harvard Graduate School of Design, attendees put their skills to the test in an activity called “The Game Plan,” led by Daniel D'Oca MUP ’02, whose students developed a series of board games centered around housing production in Los Angeles.
At the Harvard Art Museums, members enjoyed a moment to reconnect during a reception prior to the evening’s program, where Julie Sakellariadis AB ’78 introduced Dean Rakesh Khurana PhD ’98, who led a conversation with a group of first-generation Harvard alumni.
Panelists included Sadé Abraham EdM ’18, Andrew Pérez AB ’20, Layla Ramirez MBA ’17, and Erica Scott-Puopolo AB ’06, who shared their personal stories and reflected on their Harvard journeys. Their experiences demonstrated not only the transformative potential of higher education but also the vital importance of fostering an ever more inclusive and supportive University environment.
Over a celebratory dinner, President Larry Bacow JD ’76, MPP ’76, PhD ’78 welcomed guests to campus and expressed his appreciation for their support, before offering a heartfelt toast to the president-elect, Dean Claudine Gay PhD ’98.
Carl J. Martignetti AB ’81, MBA ’85 took to the podium to celebrate President Bacow and Adele Fleet Bacow and all that has been accomplished during their time at Harvard.
To close out the evening, Ethan Chaves ’26 performed an original composition and a medley of Harvard classics in honor of President Bacow.
Saturday, May 6
On Saturday, the group reconvened at Harvard Kennedy School, where they began the day with a breakfast featuring students from across the University, who shared their experiences engaging in public service.
Martha Minow EdM ’76 sat down with President Bacow in the historic John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum to reflect on Harvard’s many accomplishments, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Harvard faculty discussed the immense potential for driving innovation in human health while fostering more effective and equitable health care practices. Featured speakers included Amitabh Chandra and Sarah Fortune. The session was moderated by Mark Namchuk.
Attendees explored the power of storytelling—and language itself—to shift perspectives and bring attention to the key issues of our time through the work of Jill Lepore, Tracy K. Smith AB ’94, and Terry Tempest Williams. The session was moderated by Stephen J. Greenblatt.
Sarah E. Dryden-Peterson AB ’97, EdD ’09, Archon Fung, and Jonathan L. Zittrain JD ’95, MPA ’95 considered the future of democracy in a discussion led by Daniel Ziblatt. Together with the audience, they explored everything from the role that technology has played in accelerating societal divisions to the power of education in creating the citizens of tomorrow and the critical need to embrace a more inclusive form of democracy.
Provost Alan M. Garber AB ’77, PhD ’82 introduced longtime collaborators and pioneers in data visualization and analytics Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg, whose keynote addressed their work building artificial intelligence and machine learning models that are broadly accessible and reflective of human values.
To learn more about Harvard’s work on the topics discussed at COUR this year, please contact Marc Francis.