History of Claudine Gay in Timeline

Claudine Gay is an American political scientist and academic administrator serving as the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government and of African and African-American Studies at Harvard University. Her research focuses on American political behavior, particularly voter turnout and the intersections of race, identity, and politics.

August 4, 1970: Birth of Claudine Gay

Claudine Gay was born on August 4, 1970.

1988: Claudine Gay Graduates from Phillips Exeter Academy

Claudine Gay graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, a private boarding school in New Hampshire, in 1988.

1992: Claudine Gay Graduates from Stanford University

Claudine Gay earned her bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University in 1992, receiving the Anna Laura Myers Prize for her outstanding thesis.

1998: Claudine Gay Earns Ph.D. from Harvard University

In 1998, Claudine Gay completed her Ph.D. in government from Harvard University, earning the prestigious Toppan Prize for the best dissertation in political science.

2000: Claudine Gay Begins Teaching at Stanford University

Claudine Gay embarked on her academic career as an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University in 2000.

2003: Claudine Gay's Fellowship at Center for Advanced Study

Beginning in 2003, Claudine Gay spent a year as a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.

2004: Claudine Gay Concludes Fellowship

Claudine Gay completed her fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in 2004.

2006: Claudine Gay Leaves Stanford University

Claudine Gay concluded her tenure at Stanford University in 2006, having served as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Political Science.

2006: Claudine Gay Joins Harvard University Faculty

In 2006, Claudine Gay returned to Harvard University, this time as a faculty member, accepting a position as a professor of government.

2007: Claudine Gay Appointed Professor of African American Studies

Expanding her academic portfolio, Claudine Gay was appointed professor of African American studies at Harvard University in 2007.

2014: Claudine Gay's Involvement with Midwest Political Science Association

From 2014 to 2017, Claudine Gay held a leadership position within the Midwest Political Science Association, serving as a vice president and contributing to the organization's mission.

2015: Claudine Gay Named Dean of Social Sciences at Harvard

In 2015, Claudine Gay was appointed as the Dean of Social Sciences at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), taking on a significant leadership role. She was also designated the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government and of African and African-American Studies.

2017: Claudine Gay Begins Roles as Trustee and Vice President

In 2017, Claudine Gay assumed the role of a trustee at Phillips Exeter, her alma mater, demonstrating her commitment to the institution's continued success. She also continued her involvement with the Midwest Political Science Association as a vice president.

2018: Claudine Gay Becomes Dean of Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Claudine Gay's responsibilities expanded further in 2018 when she was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.

2019: Claudine Gay Announces Plans to Expand Ethnic Studies Faculty

In 2019, Claudine Gay revealed Harvard's aim to hire multiple professors specializing in ethnic studies, a move intended to enhance diversity and representation within the faculty.

2019: Claudine Gay Involved in Controversy Surrounding Professor Ronald Sullivan

In 2019, Claudine Gay was involved in a controversy surrounding Harvard Law School professor Ronald Sullivan's decision to join Harvey Weinstein's legal defense team. Gay deemed Sullivan's response to the ensuing student protests as "insufficient," highlighting his responsibility as a house dean. This ultimately led to the non-renewal of Sullivan's contract as Winthrop dean, a decision that drew criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union.

January 2020: Claudine Gay Initiates Review of Harvard's Tenure Process

Responding to protests following the denial of tenure to ethnic studies scholar Lorgia García Peña, Claudine Gay announced a review of the tenure process at Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences in January 2020.

August 2020: Harvard FAS Appoints First Associate Dean for Diversity

Under Claudine Gay's leadership as Dean, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard hired its inaugural Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in August 2020, highlighting a commitment to fostering a more inclusive academic environment.

2020: Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences Reports Financial Losses Due to COVID-19

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University recorded significant financial losses, amounting to $15.8 million, for the 2020 fiscal year due to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2021: Harvard Releases Findings of Tenure Process Review

The review of Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences tenure process, commissioned by Claudine Gay, was released in October 2021. The review largely found the process to be structurally sound but acknowledged a lack of trust and low morale among faculty regarding the system.

2021: Launch of New Science and Engineering Complex at Harvard

Claudine Gay oversaw the inauguration of a cutting-edge, billion-dollar Science and Engineering Complex on Harvard's Allston campus in 2021, a testament to the university's commitment to advancing research and innovation. This included the establishment of a PhD program in quantum engineering.

2021: Claudine Gay Announces Cost-Cutting Measures at Harvard FAS

In early 2021, Claudine Gay disclosed that the expenses associated with the core academic functions of Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences surpassed its revenue. In response, she initiated processes aimed at reducing expenditures and mitigating the financial strain.

June 2022: Harvard President Lawrence Bacow Announces Resignation

In June 2022, Lawrence Bacow, then-president of Harvard University, announced his intention to step down from the position the following year, initiating the search for his successor.

December 15, 2022: Claudine Gay Selected as Harvard University's 30th President

On December 15, 2022, Harvard University announced the selection of Claudine Gay as its 30th president, a historic decision as she would be the first Black person to lead the institution.

2022: Harvard Hires Three Ethnic Studies Professors

Harvard University successfully recruited three new faculty members specializing in ethnic studies in 2022, fulfilling part of the initiative announced by Claudine Gay to bolster the university's expertise in this area.

June 2023: Claudine Gay Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action

Following the Supreme Court's June 2023 ruling in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case, which deemed race-based affirmative action in college admissions unconstitutional, Claudine Gay affirmed Harvard's commitment to comply with the decision while upholding its core values.

July 1, 2023: Claudine Gay Becomes President of Harvard University

On July 1, 2023, Claudine Gay assumed the role of the 30th president of Harvard University, marking a historic moment as the first Black president of the institution.

October 7, 2023: Hamas-Led Attack on Israel Sparks Criticism of Claudine Gay's Response

Following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Claudine Gay, as president of Harvard University, faced criticism, notably from former Harvard President Lawrence Summers, for what was perceived as an inadequate condemnation of the attacks.

October 2023: Harvard Denies Plagiarism Allegations Against Claudine Gay

In October 2023, The New York Post contacted Harvard University regarding a story alleging 27 instances of plagiarism by Claudine Gay. The university vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them "demonstrably false," and went as far as to threaten legal action against the newspaper for libel.

December 2023: Claudine Gay Questioned on Antisemitism at Congressional Hearing

During a Congressional committee hearing in December 2023, Claudine Gay, alongside the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, was questioned about the responses of their respective institutions to antisemitism on campus. Gay's initial response regarding whether a hypothetical call for the genocide of Jewish people would violate Harvard's code of conduct sparked further controversy. She later clarified that antisemitic rhetoric crossing into harassment or intimidation would indeed be considered actionable conduct.

December 2023: Claudine Gay Resigns as Harvard President Amid Controversies

In December 2023, Claudine Gay resigned from her position as the president of Harvard University. This followed mounting pressure and public scrutiny stemming from her handling of alleged antisemitism on campus, coupled with allegations of plagiarism against her.