Hopi Hoekstra, a pathbreaking scholar of the life sciences, has led the Faculty of Arts and Sciences since August 1, 2023. Her research lies at the intersection of genetics and neurobiology, with a focus on understanding how genes can affect behavior. Her research has been recognized with the National Academy of Sciences’ Lounsbery Award and the American Society of Mammalogists’ Merriam Award, among other honors.

Dean Hoekstra’s extensive teaching portfolio includes her role as course head and longtime instructor in Life Sciences 1b, one of Harvard College’s foundational science courses, which attracts hundreds of students each year. She has a strong record of mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, and her teaching has been honored with a Harvard College Professorship and the Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching.

Since joining the Harvard faculty in 2007, Hoekstra has been deeply engaged in collaborative work across campus, chairing and contributing to various committees within FAS and across the University. Through her leadership positions in several scientific societies, she has advocated for promoting women faculty and improving inclusion and belonging in the sciences. She has presented dozens of named and public lectures nationwide and abroad, served as a member of numerous advisory councils and editorial boards, and has been elected to our country’s highest scientific societies, including the National Academy of Sciences.