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First Ph.D. Class Arrives on Campus

Dean James Ryan welcomed 24 new Ph.D. students last week to the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

“This is an important moment in the history of HGSE,” Ryan said. “You are our first ever cohort of Ph.D. students. While this marks a new day for us, there is also a great deal of continuity. I see the Ph.D. program as the next phase of a continuous tradition of educating doctoral students, and I encourage you to learn from your Ed.D. peers already on campus.”

In the spring of 2012, Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted unanimously in favor of creating a new interfaculty Ph.D. program in education to be offered jointly by HGSE and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The program combines the social sciences, sciences, arts, and humanities with deep expertise in educational research, policy, and practice. Building off of the doctoral concentration, the Ph.D. trains students for careers as academics, researchers, policymakers, and leaders who will improve educational outcomes in the United States and around the world.

The students took part in an orientation last week, which exposed them to multiple aspects of life at HGSE.

“We are delighted to welcome the new doctoral students to campus,” said Professor Nonie Lesaux, faculty director of the program. “Hailing from across the country and around the globe, this cohort brings a spirit of investigation and an intellectual diversity that will resonate strongly with all of us here on Appian Way.” Among the 24 students — including six international students — there are varied backgrounds and research interests.

Ryan encouraged students to stay committed to finding the answers to the big questions that brought them to HGSE, to find time outside of school for something they enjoy, and to engage as full members of the community. 

“You will be here longer than any other students,” he said. “I hope that you will help us create the best educational experience we can for you and for your colleagues. If you see ways we can improve, please speak up — or better yet, offer a suggestion or a solution.”   

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