Dean Frederick's Welcome Letter

Welcome to Harvard Divinity School (HDS). It brings me great joy to introduce you to our vibrant, multireligious community.

Founded as the first nonsectarian theological institution in 1816, HDS is a top-tier divinity school—committed to academic excellence, leadership development, and the spirit of inquiry. Here, we believe in the power of education to expand minds, foster understanding, inspire innovation, and build bridges across differences. 

HDS scholars and practitioners research, grapple with, and address the world’s most pressing challenges and enduring questions regarding historical and contemporary religious practices. With world-class expertise in textual, historical, social scientific, philosophical, and theological methods of inquiry, we prepare students for a range of careers. Today, our mission and our work are more relevant and urgent than ever as increasingly people experience struggles in their lives, in their communities, and on the global stage. Together, we explore the ways religion can serve as a complex instigator of some of the world’s most intractable conflicts as well as a source for justice, compassion, and good in the world.

Representing more than 35 different faith traditions, our diverse community is committed to fostering intellectual rigor, compassionate dialogue, and ethical leadership on campus and beyond. Our alumni network includes more than 6,800 graduates across all 50 states and over 70 countries. These remarkable individuals lead religious communities, serve as chaplains and monastics, and advance understanding across a wide range of fields and disciplines—from academia to the arts, ministry to medicine, and the private sector to public service.

Whether your gift lies in scholarship, spiritual leadership, or service, this is a place where you can discover your life’s calling and help create a world of difference.

Sincerely,

Marla F. Frederick, PhD
Dean of Harvard Divinity School 
John Lord O’Brian Professor of Divinity
Professor of Religion and Culture 
Professor of African and African American Studies (FAS)