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In Memoriam: S. Allen Counter 1944-2017

July 19, 2017

The world has lost one of its greatest humanists, but the recent death of Dr. S. Allen Counter will most adversely affect African Americans. There is no one else to explore the globe so bravely, in search of the history of the African people.

As founder and director since 1981 of the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, Counter created an institution at Harvard University that obviated impending student ethnic balkanization in favor of respectful appreciation for ethnic and racial diversity. Fully aware that outstanding celebrities in music, theater,...

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Solange Knowles is the Harvard Foundation's Artist of the Year

February 21, 2018

The Harvard Foundation has named Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, and visual artist Solange Knowles as its artist of the year. She will be recognized at the annual award ceremony on March 3 at Sanders Theatre.

Knowles, who recently was named one of Glamour magazine’s women of 2017 and received the Billboard Impact Award, has used her public platform to advocate for justice and fair representation, promoting constructive and empowering political messages. From her acclaimed album “A Seat at the Table” to performing for then-...

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Sir Elton John in Sanders Theater

Sir Elton Extols Power of Human Spirit

November 16, 2017

By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Staff Writer

His musical genius has earned him millions of fans, five Grammy Awards, and an Oscar. His fashion sense has inspired countless runways and pop singer imitators. But on Monday it was Sir Elton John’s devotion to charitable work that earned him one of Harvard’s major honors.

The singer, songwriter, and philanthropist received the Harvard Foundation’s Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award during an afternoon ceremony at Sanders Theatre that included a performance by the...

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In Memoriam: Saying goodbye to the Harvard Foundation’s founding director

October 2, 2017

By Chris Reagle, Harvard Correspondent 

The pews in Memorial Church filled quickly last Wednesday as hundreds gathered to remember the late S. Allen Counter, a man many say shaped their futures and left an indelible footprint on the Harvard community — if not the world.

Nine speakers, including President Drew Faust, shared the podium for 90 minutes to tell a piece of the story of a gifted boy from the segregated South who became an erudite Harvard scientist and doctor, teacher, explorer, and statesman.

A noted neurophysiologist at Harvard Medical...

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S. Allen Counter: A Great Man, A Lasting Legacy

July 14, 2017

By NWORAH B. AYOGU

Most people know Dr. S. Allen Counter for the events he has overseen and the individuals he has brought to campus: world leaders, nobel laureates, and Grammy winning singers. He honored a yearly Humanitarian of the Year, put on a science conference for minority grade schools students, and started the portraiture project to commission portraits of diverse individuals to better reflect Harvard’s history...

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S. Allen Counter, who found descendants of U.S. explorers in Greenland, dies at 73

July 12, 2017

By Matt Schudel July 12 at 7:09 PM 

S. Allen Counter, a Harvard scientist best known for championing the achievements of African American explorer Matthew Henson and for traveling to Greenland, where he found descendants of Henson and fellow polar explorer Robert E. Peary, died July 12. He was 73.

Rakesh Khurana, dean of Harvard College, announced the death but provided no further details.

Dr. Counter, a neurobiologist, joined the...

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Photo by Brian Bowen Smith Viola Davis, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Rose Maxson in the film "Fences," has been named Artist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation. She will be honored March 4.

Actress Viola Davis named Harvard Artist of the Year

February 23, 2017

by The Harvard Gazette (Photo by Brian Bowen Smith; Viola Davis, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Rose Maxson in the film "Fences," has been named Artist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation. She will be honored March 4.)

 

Viola Davis, the popular actress, producer, director, activist, businesswoman, and philanthropist, has been named the 2017 Artist of the Year. She will be awarded the...

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Rihanna named Harvard Humanitarian of the Year (credit Roc Nation)

Rihanna named Humanitarian of Year

February 22, 2017

by The Harvard Gazette

The popular singer Rihanna has been named the 2017 Harvard University Humanitarian of the Year, and will come to campus to accept the Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award at a ceremony next Tuesday (Feb. 28).

“Rihanna has charitably built a state-of- the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados,” said S. Allen Counter, the Harvard Foundation’s director.

“In 2012, she founded the nonprofit the Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship...

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