Dear Harvard College Students,

I hope that you have enjoyed a peaceful and restorative summer. While it is always nice to take a break and enjoy time with friends and family, I have missed you all and cannot wait to welcome you back home. Nothing is more energizing for me than running into you in the Yard or sharing a meal in one of our dining halls. I love our serendipitous conversations, and I am looking forward to hearing about your summer experiences. (And yes, I have missed having the opportunity to recite the College’s mission of educating citizens and citizen-leaders for society over the last three months!)

When we reconvene on campus in the days ahead, we are not simply “going back to school.” We are coming home. This is not a word I use lightly. “Home” is one of the most meaningful words that any language has to offer. But it is appropriate in this context because you have people here who care about you and want you to know that each of you matters and we accept you for who you are and who you are becoming.

While my heart rejoices at the prospect of seeing our campus come to life with all of your smiling faces, I am also mindful of the challenges we are facing as a society. As we prepare for the fall semester, I hope we can also stay focused on the world beyond our campus. In the coming weeks, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can embrace our responsibility to make meaningful change at Harvard and beyond.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Semper veritas,

Rakesh Khurana
Danoff Dean of Harvard College