Harvard Business School Professor Sadun Resigns as Antisemitism Task Force Co-Chair

Harvard Business School professor Raffaella Sadun resigned from the presidential task force on antisemitism, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 appointed Sadun in January to lead the task force as a co-chair last month. Her decision to resign was confirmed in statements from Sadun and Garber on Sunday.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to help advance the vital work to combat antisemitism and believe that President Garber has assembled an excellent task force,” Sadun wrote. “I will continue to support efforts to tackle antisemitism at Harvard in any way I can from my faculty position.”

“Professor Sadun has expressed her desire to refocus her efforts on her research, teaching and administrative responsibilities at HBS,” Garber wrote. “Her insights and passion for this work have helped shape the mandate for the task force and how it can best productively advance the important work ahead.”

Sadun’s decision to resign is just the latest setback for Garber’s antisemitism task force, which has been dogged by controversy since its inception. After Garber announced Sadun would co-lead the group with Jewish history professor Derek J. Penslar, Penslar’s appointment drew criticism over allegations that he had minimized campus antisemitism.

Sadun’s shock decision to step down from the task force comes after The Crimson reported that Penslar considered resigning from his role as co-chair over the criticism surrounding his appointment.

The Crimson reported earlier this month Computer Science professor Boaz Barak would also be a member of the task force and that former Harvard Hillel Executive Director Jonah C. Steinberg would serve as an advisor.

—Staff writer Tilly R. Robinson can be reached at tilly.robinson@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @tillyrobin.

—Staff writer Neil H. Shah can be reached at neil.shah@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @neilhshah15.