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Grier is an engineer at the @nasa Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where she does flight control and astronaut training, specializing in preparing astronauts for spacewalks. She’s also about to graduate from Harvard Kennedy School with a Master’s in Public Policy and is walking away from her experience at Harvard grateful for the community she has built.

“You become classmates with decision-makers in government and the policy world,” she said. “We have directors of the police force in India, we have people fighting real humanitarian crises in Sudan and Ethiopia—and honestly, the coolest part is how we show up for each other.”

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We are celebrating the extraordinary members of the Class of #Harvard26 🎓

The Commencement banners are up 😊

Photo: @veaseyconway/Harvard University

Lael has spent her time at Harvard College balancing a very busy schedule. A mechanical engineering concentrator, she is also an outfielder on the varsity softball team and a member of the Army ROTC.

Growing up outside of Atlanta, Lael was fascinated with how things work and was also a natural athlete. When she was 12 she attended a Harvard softball camp, and then knew she wanted to pursue collegiate softball at the Division I level. She ultimately chose to attend Harvard because she felt she would have an opportunity to engage with all her interests at once and be part of a team that would support her throughout her time at Harvard.

For her senior thesis project, she combined her love of softball and robotics to build a softball-collecting autonomous robot named "Softbot."

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We are celebrating the extraordinary members of the Class of #Harvard26 🎓

Springtime downtime 😎

Photo: @graceduval/Harvard University

Researchers often travel far to do their field work. For Anne-Michelle, who will graduate from Harvard Graduate School of Education this month, “far” meant hundreds of miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Anne-Michelle did much of her work in Ulukhaktok and Cambridge Bay/Ikaluktutiak, two communities that are part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It was her mom, an Arctic anthropologist who did her own field work in Ulukhaktok and across Nunavut, who first gave her the idea to focus her dissertation on these communities.

As a child, Anne-Michelle accompanied her mother on some of her trips "up north," so she was familiar with being part of a community while doing research. When her mother mentioned a lack of services for those with autism in these regions, Anne-Michelle—who had worked at the Center for Autism at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore before starting her doctorate—knew it would be an interesting topic for her dissertation. As she looked closer at how these communities have always understood children to develop and learn, her dissertation began to take focus.

“I thought, anything that I train them on is going to be very much based in the Western way of doing and seeing things," she said. "Maybe I need to first understand what their needs are and how they approach supporting children with differences."

A big part of her research included learning a philosophy called Inuglugijaittuq, which emphasizes that each child has personal strengths and skills that add, not subtract.

Comparing the two communities, she found that components of the Inuglugijaittuq philosophy around developmental disabilities were evident and embraced in both, particularly individuality and a strengths-based approach. She also learned that following the philosophy doesn’t mean that support isn’t given, or wanted, by families in both communities, but access and funding barriers exist.

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We are celebrating the extraordinary members of the Class of #Harvard26 🎓

Welcome to Hollis Hall! Built in 1763, Hollis is one of the oldest dormitories in Harvard Yard. An example of colonial-era Georgian architecture, it was home to approximately 640 Continental Army soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Five musket balls from the era (photo 2) were discovered beneath the floorboards of Hollis Hall in 1959.

In 1791, Harvard undergraduate Jonathan Fisher presented a "mathematical thesis"—detailed mathematical equations with drawings and diagrams for academic exhibitions—featuring Hollis Hall. This thesis-turned-artwork (photo 3) measures more than two feet wide and displays architectural working plans for Hollis Hall. The inscription reads, "To the Governors of Harvard College this Perspective View of Hollis Hall is humbly presented by their dutiful pupil Jonathan Fisher, September 27th, 1791."

Since the Revolutionary War, Hollis Hall has served as a student dormitory, with notable residents including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

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In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we're exploring Harvard as it was in 1776.

Welcome to Hollis Hall! Built in 1763, Hollis is one of the oldest dormitories in Harvard Yard. An example of colonial-era Georgian architecture, it was home to approximately 640 Continental Army soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Five musket balls from the era (photo 2) were discovered beneath the floorboards of Hollis Hall in 1959.

In 1791, Harvard undergraduate Jonathan Fisher presented a "mathematical thesis"—detailed mathematical equations with drawings and diagrams for academic exhibitions—featuring Hollis Hall. This thesis-turned-artwork (photo 3) measures more than two feet wide and displays architectural working plans for Hollis Hall. The inscription reads, "To the Governors of Harvard College this Perspective View of Hollis Hall is humbly presented by their dutiful pupil Jonathan Fisher, September 27th, 1791."

Since the Revolutionary War, Hollis Hall has served as a student dormitory, with notable residents including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

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In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we're exploring Harvard as it was in 1776.

Welcome to Hollis Hall! Built in 1763, Hollis is one of the oldest dormitories in Harvard Yard. An example of colonial-era Georgian architecture, it was home to approximately 640 Continental Army soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Five musket balls from the era (photo 2) were discovered beneath the floorboards of Hollis Hall in 1959.

In 1791, Harvard undergraduate Jonathan Fisher presented a "mathematical thesis"—detailed mathematical equations with drawings and diagrams for academic exhibitions—featuring Hollis Hall. This thesis-turned-artwork (photo 3) measures more than two feet wide and displays architectural working plans for Hollis Hall. The inscription reads, "To the Governors of Harvard College this Perspective View of Hollis Hall is humbly presented by their dutiful pupil Jonathan Fisher, September 27th, 1791."

Since the Revolutionary War, Hollis Hall has served as a student dormitory, with notable residents including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

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In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we're exploring Harvard as it was in 1776.

High school students from Boston Latin Academy tackled a hands-on simulated medical emergency in the HMS MEDscience program's simulation lab this week. The program offers high school students realistic, hands-on experiences in the medical field, letting students work alongside medical professionals to learn clinical skills and explore healthcare careers.

Massachusetts Health & Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah observed the simulation. A practicing physician in the field of addiction and primary care, Secretary Mahaniah spoke with students and offered advice for those considering careers in healthcare and medicine.

Photos: @niles_singer/Harvard University

High school students from Boston Latin Academy tackled a hands-on simulated medical emergency in the HMS MEDscience program's simulation lab this week. The program offers high school students realistic, hands-on experiences in the medical field, letting students work alongside medical professionals to learn clinical skills and explore healthcare careers.

Massachusetts Health & Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah observed the simulation. A practicing physician in the field of addiction and primary care, Secretary Mahaniah spoke with students and offered advice for those considering careers in healthcare and medicine.

Photos: @niles_singer/Harvard University

High school students from Boston Latin Academy tackled a hands-on simulated medical emergency in the HMS MEDscience program's simulation lab this week. The program offers high school students realistic, hands-on experiences in the medical field, letting students work alongside medical professionals to learn clinical skills and explore healthcare careers.

Massachusetts Health & Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah observed the simulation. A practicing physician in the field of addiction and primary care, Secretary Mahaniah spoke with students and offered advice for those considering careers in healthcare and medicine.

Photos: @niles_singer/Harvard University

High school students from Boston Latin Academy tackled a hands-on simulated medical emergency in the HMS MEDscience program's simulation lab this week. The program offers high school students realistic, hands-on experiences in the medical field, letting students work alongside medical professionals to learn clinical skills and explore healthcare careers.

Massachusetts Health & Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah observed the simulation. A practicing physician in the field of addiction and primary care, Secretary Mahaniah spoke with students and offered advice for those considering careers in healthcare and medicine.

Photos: @niles_singer/Harvard University

Make way for ducklings (or goslings) 🦆

Photos: @veaseyconway/Harvard University

Make way for ducklings (or goslings) 🦆

Photos: @veaseyconway/Harvard University

Make way for ducklings (or goslings) 🦆

Photos: @veaseyconway/Harvard University

Make way for ducklings (or goslings) 🦆

Photos: @veaseyconway/Harvard University

Make way for ducklings (or goslings) 🦆

Photos: @veaseyconway/Harvard University

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum! Thousands of visitors took tours with Arboretum experts, enjoyed children’s activities and chalk art, and best of all, explored the collection of more than 400 lilacs 💜

Photos by Jon Hetman

We're not kidding when we say goat yoga on the HMS Quad is our favorite 🐐

Video: @Niles_Singer/Harvard University

Olivia first became interested in dentistry when she was young, undergoing orthodontic treatment. She knew she wanted to work in healthcare, and as she began applying to dental schools, Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) rose to the top of her list.

Through her clinical experiences at Harvard she learned not only the technical demands of orthodontics but also the importance of building relationships with patients. The transition from observing patient care to actively participating in it became one of the most defining parts of her training.

“Seeing patients over time and being part of their journey—watching their confidence change along with their smile—that’s what really stayed with me,” said Olivia.

Olivia returned to HSDM for her orthodontic residency, shifting her focus toward research and specialized care. She examined insurance coverage eligibility for orthodontic patients on Medicaid in Massachusetts, with a focus on how approval processes impact access to care. The research experience further strengthened her commitment to patient advocacy, particularly for underserved populations.

After graduation, Olivia will remain at HSDM as a part-time faculty member and serve as director of the DMD Program in Orthodontics. In this role, she hopes to strengthen early exposure to orthodontics for dental students and continue the mentorship tradition that shaped her own journey.

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We are celebrating the extraordinary members of the Class of #Harvard26 🎓

Astrophysicists are using oxygen to learn more about galaxies far, far away.

Researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics developed a new method of "chemical archaeology" to reconstruct the formation of distant galaxies over billions of years. In the new technique, light from the galaxy is captured by a telescope and then is split into colors. The optical wavelengths provide indicators of gases at each location.

The team applied this method to NGC 1365, a massive spiral galaxy 56 million light years away, twice the size of the Milky Way. They were able to piece together 12 billion years of history, discovering that the galaxy grew "inside out," starting small and slowly expanding through collisions with smaller galaxies over time.

“It's an entirely new method of tracking the history of galaxies outside our Milky Way,” said Lisa Kewley, lead author of the study.

Photo by Carlos Sanchez/FAS Staff Photographer