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#  Dean Frederick on Release of University Task Force Reports 

 





April 29, 2025

 

 

Dear members of the HDS community,

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. I respect the work of these task forces and encourage you all to read these reports. I offer my gratitude to the task force members and to each of you for your willingness to hold space for these difficult conversations.

I also want to acknowledge that these reports detail painful and sobering lived experiences of some of our community members here at our School and at our University. Combatting all forms of bias and hate is integral to realizing our shared vision at HDS. This academic year, our community has engaged in this vital work in several ways, including:

- Increasing awareness and empathy around the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict with the book discussion series, “People of Faith in Times of Crisis.”
- Seeking to hire additional faculty with scholarly expertise in the areas of Judaism; Islam; and Religion, Violence, and Peace.
- Engaging in ongoing conversations with various student groups, including Jewish and Muslim students, to envision a more welcoming and inclusive learning environment.
- Evaluating Religion and Public Life’s programming and offerings with the support of a review committee of esteemed colleagues from peer higher education institutions.

These and other initiatives are part of our larger efforts dedicated to building a beloved community here at HDS and beyond. Additionally, the findings and recommendations from the recent reports will help to shape how we approach this work in the future. As Dean of HDS, I take the commitment to reaching our fullest potential to heart—and I will continue to learn with and from our community.

As we move forward together, it will take all of us to ensure that HDS continues to serve our multireligious community where people can study and work together across religious and cultural understandings and perspectives.

Sincerely,

 ![signature](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/2025-04/Frederick-Signature-w312_0.jpg)

 

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)



 

 

 

##  More on Harvard University Task Forces: 

 



 [### President Alan Garber's Letter to the Harvard Community

 ](https://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2025/update-on-presidential-task-forces-3/) 

 

 [### Presidential Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab, and Anti-Palestinian Bias

 ](https://www.harvard.edu/task-force-on-anti-muslim-and-anti-arab-bias/) 

 

 [### Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias

 ](https://www.harvard.edu/task-force-on-antisemitism/)