Lawrence Bacow

Lawrence Bacow is an American academic administrator and lawyer who served as the 29th president of Harvard University from 2018 to 2023. A respected figure in higher education, he previously led Tufts University as its president for a decade and served as chancellor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His tenure at Harvard University was marked by navigating significant challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing initiatives in climate change research and institutional equity.

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, Michigan, to immigrant parents who survived the Holocaust, Bacow demonstrated early academic promise. He earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972, followed by a Master of Science from the same institution. He then pursued graduate studies at Harvard University, where he earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Doctor of Philosophy in public policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. His interdisciplinary education laid a strong foundation for his future career in academic leadership and public policy.

Academic career

Bacow began his academic career as a professor of environmental policy and law at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he also held several administrative roles. In 2001, he was appointed the 12th president of Tufts University, a position he held until 2011. During his decade-long presidency, he oversaw significant growth in the university's research enterprise, expanded its global partnerships, and launched a major capital campaign. Following his service at Tufts University, he returned to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the Hauser Leader-in-Residence at the Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership, further cementing his reputation as a thoughtful leader in higher education administration.

Presidency of Harvard University

Elected as the 29th president of Harvard University in 2018, succeeding Drew Gilpin Faust, Bacow assumed leadership of one of the world's most prominent institutions. His presidency was immediately tested by the global COVID-19 pandemic, requiring difficult decisions to transition to remote learning while maintaining the university's core missions of teaching and research. He championed a university-wide initiative to address climate change, committing Harvard University to achieving fossil fuel-neutrality by 2026 and total greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. Bacow also focused on issues of inclusion and belonging, overseeing the creation of the Harvard College Task Force on Belonging and Inclusion and reaffirming the university's commitment to need-blind admission for undergraduate students.

Other professional activities

Beyond his university presidencies, Bacow has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, contributing his expertise in governance, finance, and strategic planning. He has been a member of the Board of Directors for Liquidnet, IEX Group, and the Harvard Management Company, which oversees the university's endowment. In the nonprofit sector, he has served on the boards of Campus Compact, the Association of American Universities, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His counsel is frequently sought on matters of educational policy, philanthropy, and institutional management.

Personal life and legacy

Bacow is married to Adele Fleet Bacow, an accomplished landscape architect and urban planner who has been actively involved in campus and community projects at each institution he has led. They have two adult children. Known for his approachable demeanor and deep commitment to student engagement, Bacow's legacy is characterized by steady leadership during a period of unprecedented disruption and a forward-looking vision for the role of the research university in society. Upon concluding his presidency in 2023, he was succeeded by Claudine Gay, and he remains a member of the Harvard University faculty, continuing to teach and write on issues of leadership and public policy.

Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Presidents of Harvard University Category:American university and college presidents Category:People from Detroit Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni