President and Fellows of Harvard College
Encyclopedia
The President and Fellows of Harvard College (also known as the Harvard Corporation) is the more fundamental of Harvard University
's two governing boards. (The other is the Harvard Board of Overseers
.) On 9 June 1650, at the request of President
Henry Dunster
, the Great and General Court of Massachusetts (i.e., the colonial legislature) issued the body's charter, making it the oldest corporation
in The Americas
. In fact, due to the history of the Harvard Corporation, its set of laws is written into the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Although Harvard is today generally referred to as a university the corporation's legal title still formally refers to "Harvard College."
When it was originally founded, the corporation was probably intended to be a body of the college's resident instructors, like the fellow
s of an Oxbridge
college. However, from an early date it instead fell into what has become the familiar American model of a governing board—an outside body, made up mostly of people not involved in Harvard's daily life, which meets regularly to consult with the day-to-day head, the president
(whom it appoints). It is self-perpetuating, selecting new members for itself whenever a vacancy opens; in recent years it has always comprised six fellows in addition to the president.
On 6 December 2010, the Corporation announced that, as a result of a year-long governance review, it would dramatically alter its "composition, structure, and practices." The number of fellows will increase from 7 to 13, and fellows will now have prescribed periods of service. A number of new committees within the Corporation will endeavor to improve the group's integration with the activities of the University as a whole, especially regarding long-term planning.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's two governing boards. (The other is the Harvard Board of Overseers
Harvard Board of Overseers
The Harvard Board of Overseers is one of Harvard University's two governing boards...
.) On 9 June 1650, at the request of President
President of Harvard University
The President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
Henry Dunster
Henry Dunster
Henry Dunster was an Anglo-American Puritan clergyman and the first president of Harvard College...
, the Great and General Court of Massachusetts (i.e., the colonial legislature) issued the body's charter, making it the oldest corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
in The Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. In fact, due to the history of the Harvard Corporation, its set of laws is written into the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Although Harvard is today generally referred to as a university the corporation's legal title still formally refers to "Harvard College."
When it was originally founded, the corporation was probably intended to be a body of the college's resident instructors, like the fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
s of an Oxbridge
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
college. However, from an early date it instead fell into what has become the familiar American model of a governing board—an outside body, made up mostly of people not involved in Harvard's daily life, which meets regularly to consult with the day-to-day head, the president
President of Harvard University
The President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
(whom it appoints). It is self-perpetuating, selecting new members for itself whenever a vacancy opens; in recent years it has always comprised six fellows in addition to the president.
On 6 December 2010, the Corporation announced that, as a result of a year-long governance review, it would dramatically alter its "composition, structure, and practices." The number of fellows will increase from 7 to 13, and fellows will now have prescribed periods of service. A number of new committees within the Corporation will endeavor to improve the group's integration with the activities of the University as a whole, especially regarding long-term planning.
Current Fellows
There are currently seven members of the Corporation. Their names, positions, and degrees that each received from a school of Harvard University are also shown below.- Catherine Drew Gilpin Faust, President of Harvard UniversityPresident of Harvard UniversityThe President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
, A.M (honorary) 2001 - Patricia A. King, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Medicine, Ethics and Public Policy at Georgetown Law Center, J.D. 1969
- Nannerl Keohane, Professor, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International AffairsWoodrow Wilson School of Public and International AffairsThe Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs is a professional public policy school at Princeton University. The school has granted undergraduate A.B. degrees since 1930 and graduate degrees since 1948...
and the University Center for Human Values, Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.... - Robert ReischauerRobert ReischauerRobert D. Reischauer is an economist and president of the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan social and economic policy research institute in Washington D.C. He is a nationally known expert on the federal budget, health reform, Medicare, and Social Security...
, President, Urban InstituteUrban InstituteThe Urban Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that carries out nonpartisan economic and social policy research, collects data, evaluates social programs, educates the public on key domestic issues, and provides advice and technical assistance to developing governments abroad...
, A.B. 1963 - James F. RothenbergJames F. RothenbergJames F. Rothenberg, "a leading figure in the investment world", has served as president and director of Capital Research and Management Co. and as investment adviser to American Funds...
, President and Director, Capital Research and Management CompanyThe Capital Group CompaniesThe Capital Group Companies is one of the world’s largest investment management organizations with assets of around one trillion USD under management. It comprises a group of investment management companies, including Capital Research and Management, American Funds, Capital Bank and Trust, Capital...
, A.B. 1968, M.B.A. 1970 - Robert RubinRobert RubinRobert Edward Rubin served as the 70th United States Secretary of the Treasury during both the first and second Clinton administrations. Before his government service, he spent 26 years at Goldman Sachs eventually serving as a member of the Board, and Co-Chairman from 1990-1992...
, former Director and Chair of the Executive Committee, CitigroupCitigroupCitigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
, A.B. 1960; LL.D. (honorary) 2001 - William F. LeeWilliam F. LeeWilliam F. Lee is a lawyer, presently co-managing partner of the international law firm of WilmerHale, which was formed from the merger of Wilmer Cutler and Hale and Dorr. He is the first Asian-American to lead a major American law firm....
, A.B. 1972, Co-Managing Partner, WilmerHale
External links
- The President and Fellows
- Governance of the University from The Harvard Guide