July 20, 2016
 
Dear Harvard College Students,

As I wrote you in March of this year, Harvard College is working to strengthen our community– and today, we write with an update for you regarding our important work on ensuring we are a place where the dignity, rights, and differences of all of our students is respected.

Both the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and its Office of BGLTQ Student Life are important resources for our community – offering programs and initiatives that help to permanently embed diversity and inclusion in the fabric of our academic, residential, and work environment. Further, they assist in connecting our community through social events, creating opportunities for fellowship and understanding, and fostering a safer, more diverse, and inclusive campus. To that end, we are pleased to share with you that the College will create an integrated, permanent space for both Offices in Grays Hall. Over the coming year, the College will work closely with you as students to design the new space, beginning with focus groups that will be held this fall. As we work through the planning process, the BGLTQ team and the Diversity Peer Educators will move to 5-7 Linden Street on the 2nd floor for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Additionally, we would like to share with you that the College will conduct a national search for a Director of BGLTQ Student Life, to replace Dr. Van Bailey, who departed this summer for the University of Miami. Sheehan Scarborough, Assistant Director of Student Services at the Harvard Summer School and a Proctor in the Freshman Dean’s Office (FDO), has agreed to serve as the Interim Director of BGLTQ Student Life.  He will begin this new role on August 22, 2016. For additional updates on staff transitions and support, please visit the Office of BGLTQ Student Life.

If you have additional questions over the summer and throughout the transition, please feel free to contact us directly.

Warmly,

Dean Rakesh Khurana
Danoff Dean of Harvard College

Dean Emelyn dela Peña
Assistant Dean of Student Life for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion