The year in photos

December 19, 2023 5 min read

Harvard’s campus and community through the lens of our photographers.

Academic and athletic highs, dramatic scenes on- and offstage, quiet moments, a changing of the presidential guard. The year 2023 added its imprint to the long Crimson line.

Postdoc William Allen performs research with lasers in the lab of Xiaowei Zhuang.

Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Students building a Japanese river skiff. — During the 2023 Wintersession, 12 students build a Japanese river skiff in an apprenticeship-style “silent” workshop. Sachiko Kirby ’26 closely examines the boat edge for straightness as she uses the plane tool.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Students in a Wintersession class on portraiture. — During the 2023 Wintersession, 12 students build a Japanese river skiff in an apprenticeship-style “silent” workshop. Sachiko Kirby ’26 closely examines the boat edge for straightness as she uses the plane tool.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Chilly crowds join the Parade for Hasty Pudding 2023 Woman of the Year Jennifer Coolidge.

Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Medical students during Match Day in the Tosteson Medical Education Center at the Harvard Medical School. — Alexander Yang (from left), Katherine Marguerite, and Leen Al Kassab receive their residency assignments during Match Day at Harvard Medical School.

Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Harvard Climbing Club members socialize before getting in a workout.

Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

2023 Artist of the Year Issa Rae holds her award. — The Harvard Foundation hosts the 37th Annual Cultural Rhythms celebrating 2023 Artist of the Year Issa Rae, flanked by Alta Mauro (left) and Sade Abraham (right). Devon Gates performs during the show.
Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Devon Gates performs. — The Harvard Foundation hosts the 37th Annual Cultural Rhythms celebrating 2023 Artist of the Year Issa Rae, flanked by Alta Mauro (left) and Sade Abraham (right). Devon Gates performs during the show.
Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Students strut during Eleganza, an annual fashion and talent show put on at the Bright-Landry Center.

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Mia Word ’24 is pictured outside Longfellow House. — Poetry of the past and present intermingle. Harvard student poet Mia Word ’24 stands for a portrait outside Longfellow House on Brattle Street. She selected the location because of its connection to Phyllis Wheatley, the first African American published poet.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Quinn Lewis, '23, Government concentrator is seen at CGIS Knafel. — Poetry of the past and present intermingle. Harvard student poet Mia Word ’24 stands for a portrait outside Longfellow House on Brattle Street. She selected the location because of its connection to Phyllis Wheatley, the first African American published poet.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

A model poses wearing “Water of Life” during the Marine Debris Fashion Show.

Photo by Scott Eisen

Chloë LeStage ’23. — Chloë LeStage ’23 is an undergraduate who trained to become a doula during a COVID gap year and is dedicating her thesis to doulas in prison.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Cerbone poses with a robotic arm fixed to a synthetic lizard foot of his own design. — Chloë LeStage ’23 is an undergraduate who trained to become a doula during a COVID gap year and is dedicating her thesis to doulas in prison.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

A late afternoon sun creates distinctive shadows on the Carpenter Center.

Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Kelly Jenkins carries a large photo of her daughter Shea as she heads to commencement. — Kelly Jenkins carries a large photo of her daughter Shea Jenkins ‘23, captain of the women’s lacrosse team, across the street on her way to Commencement Exercises 2023.
Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Harvard College Baccalaureate Service takes place in Tercentenary Theatre. — Kelly Jenkins carries a large photo of her daughter Shea Jenkins ‘23, captain of the women’s lacrosse team, across the street on her way to Commencement Exercises 2023.
Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Harvard Commencement Exercises in Tercentenary Theatre. Katalin Karikó (left) and Tom Hanks are pictured as Hanks’ name is read as the “winner.”

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Goat standing on women's back for Goat Yoga on the QUAD. — As part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing initiative, Goat Yoga on the QUAD is offered to Harvard Medical School students. Miriam Zawadzki (left) and Carla Winter, both M.D./Ph.D. students at HMS, react as goats join their poses.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

People with umbrellas pass beneath trees. — As part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing initiative, Goat Yoga on the QUAD is offered to Harvard Medical School students. Miriam Zawadzki (left) and Carla Winter, both M.D./Ph.D. students at HMS, react as goats join their poses.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

The columns of Austin Hall are reflected in the entrance to the building at Harvard Law School.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Professor of French History works Inside Busch Hall. — The columns of Austin Hall are reflected in the entrance to the building at Harvard Law School.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Little Amal is the 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child at the heart of The Walk. Over the last year she has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees.

Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Anhphu Nguyen '25 shows a monocle. — Anhphu Nguyen ‘25 shows a monocle inside the Harvard Science and Engineering Complex (SEC). Nguyen studies specialize in human-computer interaction.
Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Kelly Miller on a treadmill. — Anhphu Nguyen ‘25 shows a monocle inside the Harvard Science and Engineering Complex (SEC). Nguyen studies specialize in human-computer interaction.
Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Students and faculty participate in conversation in the garden at the Center for Government and International Studies.

Photo by Dylan Goodman

Inauguration Arts Prelude features a performance by the Asian American Dance Troupe in Sanders Theatre.

Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Harvard President Claudine Gay visits Harvard Archives. — Harvard President Claudine Gay visits Harvard Archives to see the presidential insignia that will play an important ceremonial part of her Inauguration. Gay is pictured with the Harvard Charter of 1650.

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

View of the procession into Tercentenary Theatre for the Inauguration Ceremony of Harvard President Gay.

Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Harvard Professor Claudia Goldin is named the winner of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023. Goldin (pictured) speaks during a press conference.

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer