“Those who founded the nation’s first non-sectarian theological school in 1816 would be astounded by this gathering, which represents these ever-widening circles of inclusion.”

Harvard President Claudine Gay shared those words while addressing a crowd of nearly 200 Harvard Divinity School community members on Thursday during the School’s 208th Convocation. She pointed out that two centuries later, the School’s mission has evolved beyond “to quote early advocates, ‘the serious, impartial, and unbiased investigation of Christian truth’ to ‘a just world at peace across religious and cultural divides,’” noting that the student body now represents more than 40 different faith traditions—as well as those of no faith tradition.... Read more about At Harvard Divinity, Claudine Gay Sees ‘Aspirations for What We Can Achieve as a University’

On a fall afternoon in November inside Harvard Divinity School’s Swartz Hall, the School’s Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Melissa Wood Bartholomew along with Assistant Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Steph Gauchel and their colleagues Professors David Holland and Diane Moore, prepared to lead a small group restorative circle session for the HDS community to discuss the report of the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery. They arranged chairs in a circle for participants and readied an agenda with multiple questions to pose to attendees.... Read more about Head and Heart Work: Harvard Divinity Community Spends Year Deeply Engaged with Harvard Legacy of Slavery Report