The R. Buckminster Fuller Professorship of Design Science will be awarded to an eminent scholar working to advance innovation in design and promote a sustainable future. The Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) announces the establishment of the R. Buckminster Fuller Professorship of Design Science, thanks to the generosity of Amy C. Edmondson…
Dear Alumni & Friends, I am thrilled to present the GSD’s Annual Impact of Giving report, where we celebrate your generous support of the GSD during the 2022–2023 fiscal year. Throughout this time of transition at Harvard, and amidst ongoing challenges, our students continue to innovate and design for our shared future. Our alumni and…
In December 2018, a gift from Samuel Plimpton MBA ’77, MArch ’80 and his wife, Wendy Shattuck, established the Plimpton Professorship of Planning and Urban Economics. The professorship will advance the GSD in the field of urban economics, fundamental for understanding the economics of cities, as well as land use, planning, and real estate decisions in…
Frederick Chan MAUD ’74 believes that the most impactful design happens outside of the studio, and that the most important work of a graduate school is to carry out research that can shape the profession. That deep conviction in training designers of the future led to Chan’s generous gift to the GSD’s Annual Fund, which will…
As the child of artists and an artist herself, Melissa Kaish GSD ’85 grew up with painters, musicians, and writers gathering at her home for creative discussions. For her, art and design are not bound by walls; these disciplines can—and should—spill into the public sphere for the community’s benefit. With that value in mind, Kaish and her…
Statistical analysis and love don’t usually go together, but Kay O’Neil MCRP ’78 and David Nelson MCRP ’78 have found success with this unique pairing. The couple, who met at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD), have been together for 42 years. They are thankful to the GSD both for the foundational skills…
Thomas Holtz MArch ’77 made his first mark on the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) library as an architectural draftsman. Holtz’s drawings in the Frances Loeb Library’s Special Collections trace the arc of his life and design career: the Cologne and Munich cathedrals in Germany, a country where Holtz studied as a Fulbright…
After almost two decades of working with Harvard University to support transformational capital expansions, Leif L. Selkregg LF ’89 is increasing his philanthropic support of the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) and the Loeb Fellowship with one of the largest gifts to the Fellowship in its 46-year history. The Selkregg Loeb Fellowship Innovation Fund…
The GSD’s deep and ongoing relationship with the Tange family reinforces Kenzo Tange’s legacy at the School. When Paul Tange AB ’81, MArch ’85 came to Harvard in the fall of 1977, he explored courses in statistics and economics, but ultimately decided to focus on architecture. Paul credits Harvard with giving him the opportunity to…
Brian D. Lee MArch ’78 and Wendy Szeto Lee made a significant philanthropic investment in the School this year aimed toward student financial aid. After nearly four decades of successful professional practice, Brian and Wendy are big believers in the continued relevance of a GSD education and the capacity of cutting-edge research and forward-thinking curriculum…
By way of pedagogy, exhibitions, lectures, research, and the act of making, the GSD is championing the vital role of the arts and culture in Gund Hall and beyond. Art’s purpose lies deeper than aesthetic delight; it has the power to question, unite, and change cultures. The broader GSD community is increasingly supportive of the…
With a contribution of $10 million to the Harvard GSD, John K. F. Irving AB ’83, MBA ’89 and his sister, Anne C. I. Oxley, kickstarted the School’s Grounded Visionaries campaign. The gift was inspired by their late father’s passion for both built and natural environments. “Our father (John E. “Jack” Irving)’s first job was working in the…
