Office of the University Marshal Year-End Report 2011-2012

OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY MARSHAL WADSWORTH HOUSE

HARVARD UNIVERSITY Telephone: 617.495.5727 CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138 FAX: 617.495.5382 email: [email protected] www.marshal.harvard.edu

Office of the University Marshal 2011-2012 Report

Introduction

The Office of the University Marshal reports to the President of Harvard and is responsible for organizing large scale, University-wide events including presidential inaugurations, anniversary celebrations, and special convocations, as well as overseeing the Morning Exercises of Commencement.

In addition, the ongoing work of the Marshal’s Office supports the University’s goal of sustaining and enhancing the University’s international ties by: - Providing coordination and support for members of the University community who wish to invite heads of state, high-level officials, or dignitaries to Harvard; - Arranging appointments with faculty and/or administrators for internationals to learn about academic programs and/or administrative operations; - Identifying members of the University community, typically faculty or alumni, to serve as delegates representing Harvard at other institutions’ ceremonial functions; and - Advising on matters of protocol and serving as a resource for information about Harvard history, tradition, and ceremony.

Distinguished Visitors

In the 2011-2012 academic year, an array of distinguished visitors and delegations visited Harvard University, including presidents and foreign ministers from Brazil, , , , Estonia, , Iraq, and Lithuania. A complete list of recent visitors appears in Appendix B.

Harvard regularly hosts distinguished visitors of many different nationalities, backgrounds, and beliefs and, in doing so, encourages intellectual and educational enrichment while also honoring the principles of free speech and open inquiry. The Marshal’s Office is the point of contact for such visits and can offer assistance on matters of protocol for issuing invitations to heads of state and other high-level dignitaries and officials.

With the help of faculty advisors from various departments and centers, we have developed a set of guidelines on how best to initiate, plan, and manage high-level visits. These guidelines can be found in Appendix A. The Marshal’s Office is available to help faculty, students, and staff interpret the guidelines and to assist in making visits meaningful for all parties.

The International Visitors Program

Harvard University is an open campus that welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world every year. The Office of the University Marshal in particular hosts international individuals and delegations seeking substantive dialogue with members of the Harvard community on shared areas of interest. These individuals include, but are not limited to, government officials, university leaders, and professionals in various fields who participate in fellowships or special programs sponsored by official entities, such as local consulates or the U.S. State Department.

In the 2011-2012 academic year, the Marshal’s Office hosted or arranged for 133 total visits from 57 countries. Six delegations were comprised of visitors from multiple countries. Although a large percentage of visitors traditionally have been from Asia and Europe, the percentage of visitors from the Middle East has recently increased. Educators, researchers, journalists, businessmen, medical professionals, and government officials are among those whom we have hosted this year. Popular discussion topics included technology development and innovation, diplomacy and international relations, and education reform. Visitors from foreign universities seek to learn from Harvard's administration and leadership on a number of best practices, and to explo