Conversations
Flipping the Script on @askharvardstudents
Sean Park’s Instagram success seems almost obvious in hindsight. His content sits at the intersection of short-form street interviews and online college advice — two genres that have exploded in popularity in recent years. Add in the allure of the Harvard brand, and it seems a bulletproof concept for virality.
What’s Next in the Fight for Harvard’s Future?
Lawrence H. Summers, a former Harvard president and Secretary of the Treasury, backs the University’s decision to push back against the Trump administration, explains how the endowment could help weather the storm, and says this crisis will ultimately strengthen higher education.
Fifteen Questions: Caroline M. Elkins on Liberal Imperialism, Running in the Kenyan Highlands, and “The Crown”
The Professor of History and African American Studies sat down with Fifteen Minutes to talk about the two-sided coin of liberalism, her undergraduate years at Princeton, and her favorite historically inaccurate television shows.
Fifteen Questions: John C. Urschel on Numerical Linear Algebra, Coffee Shops, and the NFL
The MIT professor and Junior Fellow at Harvard sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss numerical analysis, CTE, and his favorite NFL team.
The Archives of Mira Nair
Only a few decades later, the archives of Mira Nair's own artistic career have a home at the Radcliffe Institute’s Schlesinger Library, where you can see for yourself the gray boxes that include her undergraduate exams a few manila folders away from The New Yorker articles and lists of awards, all testaments to a life of activism and art.
Fifteen Questions: Alison Frank Johnson on the Power of Stories, Lacrosse, and Why She Speaks Up
The Germanic Languages and Literature department chair sat down with Fifteen Minutes to talk about how history enables reasoned debate, her research on post-war Germany, and her most recent reads.
Fifteen Questions: Leslie Fernandez on Techno-Orientalism, AI Ethics, and an Ethnic Studies Concentration
The Program Director for the Committee on Ethnicity, Migration, and Rights sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss their favorite sci-fi novels, multiculturalism, and Blade Runner.
In the Eye of the Storm
“Getting ready to respond to an emergency, building capacity to respond to an emergency, and educating leaders so that they can better respond to emergencies” are the goals that guide Michael J. VanRooyen’s life.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Slams Sanctuary Cities as ‘Irresponsible’ at IOP
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas condemned sanctuary cities as “irresponsible” in a Wednesday Institute of Politics forum, criticizing Democratic mayors and governors who refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities.
Time-Capped Faculty, In Their Own Words
We talked to 16 time-capped FAS faculty members past and present — in their offices, favorite cafes, and over call — to understand the living realities and reflections of faculty members on the clock.
The Blond Boy in the Big Blue Bus
Aidan’s lived in his repurposed school bus for the past five years and three months, traversing the U.S. in pursuit of the “Great American Novel.”
Fifteen Questions: Christina Maranci on Medieval Armenian Churches, Crumbling Grandeur, and the Best Kardashian
The Armenian Studies professor sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss Armenian art history, architectural palimpsests, and the necessity of coffee in the ghost city of Ani.
Fifteen Questions: Daniel L. Smail on Deep History, Lateral Learning, and Bike Lanes
The Professor of History sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss 19th century forgeries, his new book, and why he considers himself a "non-traditional historian."
Most Harvard Students Do Not Feel Comfortable Sharing Controversial Opinions in Class, Survey Finds
Only one third of Harvard’s last graduating class felt comfortable expressing opinions about controversial topics during their time at the College, per the University’s 2024 senior survey, a 13 percent decrease from the Class of 2023.
Fifteen Questions: David Sinclair on Age Reversal, Exercise, and Immortal Yeast Cells
The Professor of Genetics sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss anti-aging research, the wellness industry, and his grandmother.
Fifteen Questions: Anna Wilson on Fanfiction, Medieval Literature, and Interdisciplinarity
The Assistant Professor of English sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss "The Book of Margery Kempe," coffee shops AUs, and the gender politics of fanfiction.
Fifteen Questions: Reginald Dwayne Betts on Vulnerability, Collective Memory, and Freedom Reads
The visiting professor of English sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss poetry, prison literature, and collective memory.
For Sara Jane Ho, Etiquette is Everywhere
An etiquette expert, Ho is best known as the host of the Netflix series “Mind Your Manners” and for founding Institute Sarita, China’s first finishing school.