Dear Harvard Griffin GSAS Students,
To all students—new and continuing, in the Cambridge/Boston area or conducting research throughout the world—welcome to the 2023–2024 academic year! As I shared with incoming students at Convocation last week, the start of the term is invigorating, and I hope that you all are able to harness that inspiring energy into your time here.
I’m looking forward to seeing all of you around campus and at the Student Center at Harvard Griffin GSAS this year, especially at Café Gato Rojo, where I’ll be stopping by for a cappuccino and hopefully meeting many of you in the process. As you settle into your own routines, remember that Harvard Griffin GSAS and Harvard have a host of resources to help you academically and personally. Be sure to take advantage of them as you connect with one another.
The School will be in touch with you throughout the academic year so please keep an eye on your inbox for two monthly emails: Need to Know on the first of the month and the Bulletin, which arrives on or near the 15th. Both provide critical information designed to help you navigate your graduate career. You will also receive important updates from me about Harvard Griffin GSAS and Harvard policies that affect your academic activities. I urge you to pay close attention to these emails.
Building and maintaining connections with your peers is crucial to a well-rounded academic experience, and I encourage you to honor your interests outside academics. The Student Center at Harvard Griffin GSAS is your hub for extracurricular activities, with the Center Fellows developing exciting programs and a host of student groups ready to help you make connections with peers and continue pursuing what matters to you and what you enjoy. Be sure to check out what’s happening on Engage, our student activities platform, which includes events happening this week. And, of course, remember to follow our social media accounts for the latest from The Graduate School and The Student Center at Harvard Griffin GSAS.
You also don’t have to wait until you graduate to connect with Harvard Griffin GSAS alumni. The Harvard alumni community is a tremendous resource, offering mentorship, career networking, and affinity groups to join. I encourage you to explore the many ways you can connect with alumni.
I do hope I will get a chance to engage with you over the course of the academic year and learn about your projects. As you begin or continue your graduate studies, I hope that you have an excellent year. You and your extraordinary promise are meant to be here.
With all best wishes,
Emma Dench
Dean of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History and of the Classics
