Harvard’s first black President, Claudine Gay, has resigned her history-making appointment.
The embattled academic and administrator, who assumed duty in September 2023, became ensnarled in a plagiarism row soon after a controversial appearance before the US Congress this past December. She subsequently succumbed to ever-mounting pressure on Tuesday with the resignation of her appointment.
In that Congressional hearing, Gay declined to affirm that calls on the Harvard campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy.
In her resignation letter Tuesday, the former Harvard President said: “Dear Members of the Harvard Community, It is with a heavy heart but a deep love for Harvard that I write to share that I will be stepping down as president. This is not a decision I came to easily.
“Indeed, it has been difficult beyond words because I have looked forward to working with so many of you to advance the commitment to academic excellence that has propelled this great university across centuries. But, after consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.”
Gay added that it was a singular honour to be a member of the Harvard university community, which she said had been her home and her inspiration for most of her professional career.
She added that her deep sense of connection to Harvard and its people had made it all the more painful to witness the tensions and divisions that had riven the community in recent months, weakening the bonds of trust and reciprocity that should be their sources of strength and support in times of crisis.
“Amidst all of this, it has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor—two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am—and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus.
“I believe in the people of Harvard because I see in you the possibility and the promise of a better future. These last weeks have helped make clear the work we need to do to build that future—to combat bias and hate in all its forms, to create a learning environment in which we respect each other’s dignity and treat one another with compassion, and to affirm our enduring commitment to open inquiry and free expression in the pursuit of truth.
“I believe we have within us all that we need to heal from this period of tension and division and to emerge stronger. I had hoped with all my heart to lead us on that journey, in partnership with all of you. As I now return to the faculty, and to the scholarship and teaching that are the lifeblood of what we do, I pledge to continue working alongside you to build the community we all deserve,” Gay said.
She stated that when she became president, she considered herself particularly blessed by the opportunity to serve people from around the world who saw in her presidency a vision of Harvard that affirmed their sense of belonging—their sense that Harvard welcomed people of talent and promise, from every background imaginable, to learn from and grow with one another.
“To all of you, please know that those doors remain open, and Harvard will be stronger and better because they do.
“As we welcome a new year and a new semester, I hope we can all look forward to brighter days. Sad as I am to be sending this message, my hopes for Harvard remain undimmed.
“When my brief presidency is remembered, I hope it will be seen as a moment of reawakening to the importance of striving to find our common humanity—and of not allowing rancor and vituperation to undermine the vital process of education.
“I trust we will all find ways, in this time of intense challenge and controversy, to recommit ourselves to the excellence, the openness, and the independence that are crucial to what our university stands for—and to our capacity to serve the world,” the former Harvard President added.