Harvard University has named Alan M. Garber as its new president, bringing a sense of stability to the institution after months of intense scrutiny and internal turmoil. Dr. Garber, who had been serving as the interim president since January following Claudine Gay's resignation, is expected to lead Harvard until the end of the 2026-2027 academic year.

The announcement of Dr. Garber's appointment comes as Harvard grapples with numerous challenges and controversies. Last summer, the university faced a setback when the Supreme Court struck down its race-conscious admissions program. Then, its response to the Hamas attack on Israel drew criticism and sparked turmoil on campus. Dr. Gay's testimony on Capitol Hill about antisemitism and her handling of calls for the genocide of the Jewish people further fueled the ongoing furor.

Amidst these turbulent times, Dr. Garber -- a fixture of Harvard's administration for over 12 years -- emerged as a steady hand to guide the university. Described as having done an exceptional job leading Harvard through the extraordinary challenges during his interim presidency, the university's highest governing body, the Harvard Corporation, expressed its confidence in Dr. Garber's capabilities.

Penny Pritzker, the senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation, said in a message to the campus, "After serving with distinction as Harvard's provost for more than 12 years, Alan has done an outstanding job leading Harvard through extraordinary challenges since taking on his interim presidential duties seven months ago." Pritzker also emphasized that the title "interim" would be dropped to recognize Dr. Garber's notable service and underscore the need for active and engaged leadership.

Dr. Garber's deep ties to Harvard span over a half-century, beginning as an undergraduate student in 1973. He holds three degrees in economics from Harvard, including a bachelor's, a master's, and a doctorate. Additionally, he obtained a medical degree from Stanford University and became a distinguished faculty member at Stanford for approximately 25 years. His expertise in health policy positions him well to navigate the complex challenges faced by the university.

While Dr. Garber's appointment brings a sense of stability, Harvard is not completely in the clear. The university continues to clash with Congress, faces a decline in applications, and grapples with issues of antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias on campus. Dr. Garber acknowledged the challenging times in an open letter, stating, "This is a challenging time, one of strong passions and strained bonds among us. But I know that we are capable of finding our way forward together because we share a devotion to learning and because we recognize our pluralism as a source of strength."

Looking ahead, Harvard plans to conduct a "full-scale search" for Dr. Garber's successor in approximately two years. This delay will allow the university's leaders to reflect and gather input from various stakeholders on the best approach for the future presidential search.

Dr. Garber's leadership and experience will undoubtedly be crucial as he navigates the path forward for Harvard University, steering the institution through the ongoing turbulent times and ensuring its continued commitment to excellence in education and research.