All About Harvard’s New Interim President Alan Garber
Meet Alan Garber, the newly appointed President of Harvard University at the age of 68, born in 1955. This change in leadership came swiftly after the departure of Claudine Gay on January 2, 2024, amid criticism regarding on-campus antisemitism and plagiarism allegations. The Harvard Corporation made a prompt decision to have Alan, an accomplished physician and economist, step in as the interim president while the university searches for a permanent leader.
Alan Garber boasts an impressive background, holding the prestigious title of Mallinckrodt Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. His academic influence extends across various faculties, including Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Public Policy in the Kennedy School of Government, and Health Policy and Management in the T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Early Life and Education: Born in 1955 in Illinois to Jean and Harry Garber, Alan’s formative years unfolded in Rock Island. His academic journey led him to Harvard College, where he earned his AB in economics in 1976. His thirst for knowledge persisted, leading to an AM and a PhD in economics, all while concurrently pursuing studies at Stanford University. In 1983, he added the prestigious MD title to his list of achievements, culminating his residency training in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1986.
Career Highlights: Alan Garber’s career has been marked by significant achievements in education and leadership. In 2011, he became the Provost of Harvard University, succeeding Steven Hyman. Prior to that, he held key positions at Stanford University, contributing as a Professor of Medicine and Economics and playing a vital role in establishing research centers.
As Harvard’s Provost, Alan oversaw various academic activities, fostering collaborations between schools, supporting faculty, shaping research policies, dealing with international affairs, and enhancing learning methods. Despite his successful career, he faced challenges related to graduate student union issues, with tensions peaking in 2019 when Harvard’s graduate student union went on strike.
Personal Life: Alan Garber’s personal life is intertwined with a successful marriage to Anne Yahanda, an esteemed oncologist with teaching experience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Their love story began at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where Alan completed his internship and residency in internal medicine. The couple, now happily navigating parenthood, is raising four children together.
FAQs:
- Who is Alan Garber? Alan Garber is the current interim President of Harvard University, appointed after Claudine Gay’s departure in 2024. He is a seasoned leader, physician, and economist with a diverse academic background.
- What are Alan Garber’s key roles at Harvard? Alan holds the title of Mallinckrodt Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School and has academic positions in Economics, Public Policy, and Health Policy and Management across different faculties.
- What controversies has Alan Garber faced at Harvard? Alan faced challenges related to graduate student union issues at Harvard, with tensions escalating in 2019 when the graduate student union went on strike.
- Who is Alan Garber married to? Alan Garber is married to Anne Yahanda, an esteemed oncologist with teaching experience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. They met during Alan’s internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
- How many children does Alan Garber have? Alan Garber and Anne Yahanda are joyfully navigating parenthood, raising four children together.
