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The Office of Undergraduate Education delivers a transformative educational experience for all students.
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The Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) stewards the academic mission of Harvard College, both curricular and co-curricular.
The OUE works with the FAS Faculty as a whole to set academic policy and with individual departments to maintain the excellence of the concentrations and secondary fields. The OUE also oversees the courses required of all undergraduates (General Education, Expos, and Quantitative Reasoning with Data) as well as special academic opportunities (First-Year Seminars, Mindich courses in engaged scholarship and Lemann courses on creativity and entrepreneurship). In addition, the OUE superintends instructional resources, allocating teaching fellows, awarding course innovation funds, and directing the Classroom to Table program.
The OUE provides comprehensive academic advising, from the pre-concentration advisors and peer advising fellows assigned to first-year students to the academic coaches, peer tutors, and career advisors available throughout their time at Harvard. The OUE also provides opportunities (research and fellowships, internships and study abroad) that enable students to carry their learning from the Harvard classroom out into the world.
Dean
Amanda Claybaugh
Dean of Undergraduate EducationSamuel Zemurray Jr. and Doris Zemurray Stone Professor of Englishamanda_claybaugh@harvard.edu
Academic Engagement
Manny Contomanolis
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Academic Engagementcontomanolis@fas.harvard.edu
Manny serves as Associate Dean for Academic Engagement. As such, he works in advancing of the efforts of the offices that comprise Academic Engagement within the Office of Undergraduate Education – Academic Programs Office, Academic Resource Center, Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Office of International Education, and the Mignone Center for Career Success.
Academic Resource Center (ARC)
Academic Resource Center (ARC)
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) at Harvard University exists to support the academic mission of Harvard College and the GSAS by ensuring every student has full access to the transformative power of a liberal arts and sciences education. The ARC supports Harvard’s students in developing reading strategies, time management skills, and metacognitive approaches to learning.
Through the ARC, students have access to peer tutoring, workshops, academic coaching, and skills-based resources.
Ashley Selva-Rodriguez
Associate Director for Academic Support Programsashley_selva-rodriguez@fas.harvard.edu
Rebecca Skolnik
Assistant Director of Administration for the Academic Resource Center and the Harvard College Writing Programrskolnik@fas.harvard.edu
Margaret Rennix
Assistant Director for Humanities and Social Sciences Supportmcrennix@fas.harvard.edu
Advising Programs Office (APO)
Advising Programs Office (APO)
The goal of academic advising at Harvard is to help students transition to college academics, prepare to declare a concentration, and delve deeply into their chosen field of study. Starting in their first year, advisors help students immerse themselves in the intellectual life of the university, develop plans of study that best cohere with their evolving interests, and take full advantage of the many intellectual enrichment opportunities that Harvard offers. Academic advisors are an essential part of students’ advising networks in the College. The Advising Programs Office supports students and their advisors in forming lasting and effective mentoring relationships.
Dawn Ling
Assistant Director of Administration – Advising Programs Office, Office of International Education, and First-Year Academic Programsdawn_ling@fas.harvard.edu617-496-0509
Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS)
Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS)
The Mignone Center for Career Services (MCS) offers a wide range of services and resources tailored specifically to internships, summer opportunities, and entry-level jobs for Harvard College students and recent alumni.
MCS also serves students in the Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Harvard Extension School degree and certificate programs.
Anthony Arcieri
Senior Associate Director, Undergraduate Career Advising and Programmingarcieri@fas.harvard.edu
Christiana Cough
Assistant Director, Consulting, Finance, Real Estate, Business Schoolccough@fas.harvard.edu
Amy DiGiovine
Assistant Director, Entertainment, Media, Law, Sports, Marketing, Advertising, Fashion/Retail, Hospitalityadigiovine@fas.harvard.edu
Loredana George
Assistant Director, International Relations and Development, Global Health, Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation & Educationgeorge3@fas.harvard.edu
Rob Harrington
Assistant Director of Pre-Med and Health Career Advisingrobert_harrington@fas.harvard.edu
Maria Peña
Assistant Director of Administration for the Mignone Center for Career Success and the Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurshipmaria_pena@fas.harvard.edu
Nicole Satyanarayan
Assistant Director, Law, Government, Non-Profits, Foundations, and Military Servicensatya@fas.harvard.edu
Meaghan Shea
Assistant Director, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics, Life & Physical Sciencesmeaghanshea@fas.harvard.edu
Office of International Education (OIE)
Office of International Education (OIE)
The Office of International Education (OIE) supports undergraduate students through facilitating enriching and engaging study abroad experiences for an academic year, a semester, and/or summer, guided by the academic standards of Harvard College.
Camila Nardozzi
Director, Intellectual Vitality InitiativesDirector of the Office of International Educationcnardozzi@fas.harvard.edu617-384-7893
Dawn Ling
Assistant Director of Administration – Advising Programs Office, Office of International Education, and First-Year Academic Programsdawn_ling@fas.harvard.edu617-496-0509
Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF)
Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF)
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships helps students navigate the many research opportunities available here on campus, in the Cambridge area, and around the world. URAF helps students find projects and make connections among stakeholders in the academic research landscape.
Jonna Iacono
Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowshipsjonna_iacono@fas.harvard.edu
Jasmine Stecker
Assistant Director, Research and Fellowshipsjasmine_stecker@fas.harvard.edu617-495-5050
Ariel Lepito
Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowshipsariel_lepito@fas.harvard.edu617-495-434
Toni Trainor
Assistant Director of Administration for First-Year Seminar Programs and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowshipsatrainor@fas.harvard.edu617-496-3993
Academic Programs and Policy
Gillian Pierce
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Academic Programs & Policygillian_pierce@fas.harvard.edu
As Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Academic Programs and Policy, Gillian oversees academic policy, academic program review, academic program support, and first-year academic programs as well as the programs that make up the Harvard College Curriculum: Expository Writing, General Education, First-Year Seminars, the Mindich Program and the Lemann Program in Engaged Scholarship, all with the goal of ensuring that these programs contribute to a transformative educational experience for students.
Academic Policy, Academic Programs Review, and Academic Program Support
Academic Policy, Academic Programs Review, and Academic Program Support
The Office of Academic Policy is engaged with the development, implementation, and interpretation of undergraduate academic policy. This work is conducted in coordination with the FAS Faculty, academic departments, the Dean of Students Office, affiliated departments of the Office of Undergraduate Education, and the Office of Student Services.
Lisa Laskin
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education, Academic Program SupportDirector of Studies in Special Concentrationselaskin@fas.harvard.edu
Meghan Lockwood
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education, Program ImprovementSenior Advisor to the Dean of Studentsmlockwood@fas.harvard.edu617-384-0080
First-Year Academic Programs
First-Year Academic Programs
First-Year Academic Programs at Harvard aim to provide every student, regardless of their background, with the foundation for a successful academic journey. These programs are designed to enhance the quality of the first-year experience, and include placement exams, orientation programming, the Rising Scholars Program, the assessment and refinement of gateway courses, and support for concentration selection.
Dawn Ling
Assistant Director of Administration – Advising Programs Office, Office of International Education, and First-Year Academic Programsdawn_ling@fas.harvard.edu617-496-0509First-Year Seminar Program (FYSP)
First-Year Seminar Program (FYSP)
The First-Year Seminar Program was established in 1959 to provide small-group instruction to first-year students in the College. Its goal is to provide a diverse set of course offerings that foster intimate and engaging interaction between incoming students and members of the faculty. The atmosphere in a First-Year seminar is uniquely collegial and participatory, offering a superb opportunity for shared learning with dedicated instructors and like-minded peers.
Toni Trainor
Assistant Director of Administration for First-Year Seminar Programs and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowshipsatrainor@fas.harvard.edu617-496-3993Harvard College Writing Program
Harvard College Writing Program
The Harvard College Writing Program designs the curricula and pedagogy for four important undergraduate skills and critical thinking courses:
- the required expository writing course Expos 20, which is the one academic experience required of all Harvard students since 1872;
- Expos Studio 10 and Expos Studio 20, two elective introductory analytical writing courses designed to help students who would benefit from additional intensive instruction;
- Expos 40, an elective public speaking practicum, which focuses on developing and strengthening the skills necessary for successful public speaking.
In addition to teaching the fundamentals of analytical argument to first-year students, the Writing Program extensively supports undergraduate writing beyond Expos.
Karen Heath
Associate Director of the Harvard College Writing ProgramSenior Preceptorklheath@fas.harvard.edu
Rebecca Skolnik
Assistant Director of Administration for the Academic Resource Center and the Harvard College Writing Programrskolnik@fas.harvard.edu
Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship (LPCE)
Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship (LPCE)
The Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship (LPCE) prepares Harvard students to solve global challenges by fostering entrepreneurial thinking within a liberal arts education. Students in this program are able to address various problems, such as global health and social injustice, by participating in studio labs, developing entrepreneurial skills, making industry connections, and seeking funding opportunities.
Maria Peña
Assistant Director of Administration for the Mignone Center for Career Success and the Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurshipmaria_pena@fas.harvard.eduInstructional Support
Instructional Support
Instructional Support facilitates the appointment process for teaching positions such as Teaching Fellows (TFs) and Teaching Assistants (TAs) in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The Instructional Support team hosts training sessions, manages resources for department appointments, and oversees the Instructional Meeting Fund to support the collaboration between course heads and teaching staff.
Candice Wesson
Academic Administrator, Office of Undergraduate Education Coordinator, Special Concentrationscwesson@fas.harvard.edu617-496-8516
Mindich Program in Engaged Scholarship (MPES)
Mindich Program in Engaged Scholarship
The Mindich Program in Engaged Scholarship (MPES) supports innovations in teaching and learning through civically engaged experiential learning in or with community beyond the Harvard context. MPES hosts courses, research, and internship opportunities to engage students with communities and social issues through academics. Through hands-on experience, students will learn how to respond to opportunities and face challenges as engaged citizens and future civic leaders. MPES also offers resources to teaching staff, course fellows, and students to support the pursuit of engaged coursework and research.
Flavia Peréa
Director of the Mindich Program for Engaged Scholarshipflaviaperea@fas.harvard.edu617-495-3321
Program in General Education
Program in General Education (Gen Ed)
Harvard has long required that students take a set of courses outside of their concentration in order to ensure that their undergraduate education encompasses a broad range of topics and approaches. The Program in General Education seeks to prepare students for a life of civic and ethical engagement with a changing world. The material taught in general education courses is continuous with the material taught in the rest of the curriculum, but the approach is different. These courses aim not to draw students into a discipline, but to bring the disciplines into students’ lives. The Program in General Education introduces students to subject matter and skills from across the University, and does so in ways that link the arts and sciences with the 21st century world that students will face and the lives they will lead after college.
Administration and Operations
Ruth Wilson
On leave in Spring 2025Executive Director for Administration
mrwilson@fas.harvard.edu
As Executive Director for Administration and Finance for the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE), Ruth works closely with the Dean of Undergraduate Education and the Associate Deans of Undergraduate Education, to execute the vision and strategy of the OUE. She oversees a team of Associate and Assistant Directors of Administration in the OUE who manage the administrative and financial functions of the offices reporting to the Dean of Undergraduate Education.
Administration and Operations
Administration and Operations
Dawn Ling
Assistant Director of Administration – Advising Programs Office, Office of International Education, and First-Year Academic Programsdawn_ling@fas.harvard.edu617-496-0509
Jayscott Crosley
Senior Executive Assistant and Project Coordinatorjcrosley@fas.harvard.edu617-384-5014
Maria Peña
Assistant Director of Administration for the Mignone Center for Career Success and the Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurshipmaria_pena@fas.harvard.eduRebecca Skolnik
Assistant Director of Administration for the Academic Resource Center and the Harvard College Writing Programrskolnik@fas.harvard.eduToni Trainor
Assistant Director of Administration for First-Year Seminar Programs and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowshipsatrainor@fas.harvard.edu617-496-3993Contact us
You may reach the OUE via email at oue@fas.harvard.edu.