# Dean Frederick's Speeches, Writings, and News ## expand\_more [### Strategic Planning Update ](/news/2025/10/22/strategic-planning-update) October 22, 2025 "Harvard Divinity School 2030: Many Paths, Shared Hopes" outlines strategic priorities that build on the School's strong foundation and brings the future of the study of religion—and the many intersections of this work—into even greater focus. ![Harvard Shield](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/10032025-HDS.Campus-036%20wide.jpg?itok=iNs2pwKa) [### Harvard Divinity School Leaders Reflect on Vatican Summit ](/news/2025/10/14/harvard-divinity-school-leaders-reflect-vatican-summit) October 14, 2025 Amid music, prayer, and dialogue at the Vatican, HDS Dean Marla Frederick and Professor Raúl Zegarra share reflections on solidarity, justice, and faith. ![monument in Vatican City at night](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/10102025-Zegarra-Vatican-2%20banner%20crop.jpg?itok=74gCJwzh) [### Letter from Dean Marla F. Frederick ](/news/2025/11/17/letter-dean-2024-25) October 01, 2025 In her letter to the community looking back on the 2024-25 academic year, HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick emphasized the deep conviction and steadfast hope she has for all that HDS has to offer the world. ![Dean Frederick ](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/20250924_HDS_DeanFrederick_0675.jpg?itok=8YHofV0O) [### Dean Frederick’s Message on Commencement ](/news/2025/05/27/dean-frederick-message-commencement) May 27, 2025 Commencement is a time of celebration to honor all that we have achieved collectively and individually, with friends and family present. I share my gratitude to every member of our community working incredibly hard to make this a memorable day. ![Swartz Hall window ](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/SpringCampus-Baner.jpg?itok=mueKPiec) [### Our Work Continues ](/news/2025/05/22/our-work-continues) May 22, 2025 Dear Alumni & Friends, The HDS campus is in bloom, and plans for Commencement are underway. As I reflect on my first full year as Dean, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to you, our dedicated alumni and friends of the School, to say thank you for all... ![Sunshine reflecting off of the HDS Library](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-06/04232018-SpringCampus-7491%20%281%29.JPG?itok=ta6T5_V7) [### Dean Frederick on Release of University Task Force Reports ](/news/2025/04/29/dean-frederick-release-university-task-force-reports) April 29, 2025 Today, task forces working at the request of President Alan Garber released their findings on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias and anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian bias across the University, including at HDS. ![HDS campus in spring](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-04/Spring-Campus-Banner-V1.jpg?itok=h3wOlyEV) [### Lessons from the Past, Hope for the Future ](/news/2024/10/01/lessons-past-hope-future) October 04, 2024 In her first Convocation address as HDS Dean, Marla F. Frederick examines shared grief and hope, while setting the stage for the following day's "Symposium on Religion and American Democracy." On September 26, 2024, hundreds of Harvard Divinity School... ![Rev. Raphael G. Warnock and Dean Marla F. Frederick](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/frederick-warnock-900.jpg?itok=Q1rF1TGt) [### Harvard Divinity School 2024 Convocation ](/news/2024/09/30/harvard-divinity-school-2024-convocation) September 30, 2024 At Harvard Divinity School's 209th Convocation ceremony, HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick delivered the address "And, Yet...We Hope" to the HDS and Harvard community, friends, alumni, and distinguished guests. ![Dean Marla Frederick](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/convo-frederick-news-600.jpg?itok=y2r5pEif) [### Family, Faith, and Future: A Conversation with Dean Marla F. Frederick ](/news/2024/09/23/family-faith-future-conversation-dean-marla-frederick) September 23, 2024 In a Q&A and a series of short videos, Dean Frederick discusses the influence of her parents on her life, how an anthropology course in college changed the trajectory of her career, and her hopes for students and the broader HDS community. ![Dean Marla Frederick](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-04/Dean-Frederick-Interview-Thumb-900.jpg?itok=6QEYG3hn) [### Dean Marla Frederick Delivers Morning Prayers at Memorial Church ](/news/2024/09/09/dean-marla-frederick-delivers-morning-prayers-memorial-church) September 09, 2024 The Morning Prayers service at Harvard's Memorial Church is conducted each weekday morning in Appleton Chapel during the academic term. A daily service of Morning Prayers has been kept at Harvard since its founding in 1636. On September 5, 2024, Harvard... ![Marla F. Frederick](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/frederick-morning-prayers-news-900.jpg?itok=ytWI7R4j) [### Dean Marla Frederick: 'Magnify Each Other's Light' ](/news/2024/05/23/marla-frederick-multireligious-commencement-service-magnify-each-others-light) May 23, 2024 HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick was the faculty speaker during the Multireligious Commencement Service on May 22, 2023. ![Dean Marla F. Frederick](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/frederick-multireligious-commencement-900.jpg?itok=vft6kd7M) [### Harvard Divinity School Community Welcomes, Celebrates New Dean Marla Frederick ](/news/2024/01/23/harvard-divinity-school-community-welcomes-celebrates-new-dean-marla-frederick) January 23, 2024 Hundreds gather on campus to mark a new chapter in the School's history as Marla F. Frederick begins her tenure as HDS’s eighteenth Dean. The Harvard Divinity School community was in a celebratory mood on January 22. The day marked the official start of... ![William Graham, David Holland, Marla Frederick, Preston Williams, and David Hempton](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/hds-deans-news-900x600.jpg?itok=kz9eLMY2)