Karen Thornber Appointed as Bok Center Faculty Director

Dean Hopi Hoekstra has announced the appointment of Professor Karen Thornber as the next Richard L. Menschel Faculty Director of the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, as of July 1, 2024. Professor Thornber is the Harry Tuchman Levin Professor in Literature, as well as President of Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Iota of Massachusetts. 

Dean Hoekstra shared with the FAS community, “Professor Thornber is a passionate and innovative teacher, adviser, and mentor.” She has taught a range of courses at Harvard, including first-year seminars, general education courses, and graduate seminars. Additionally, Professor Thornber has held a variety of leadership positions at Harvard, including the Victor and William Fung Director of the Harvard University Asia Center, Chair of the Department of Comparative Literature, and Co-Chair of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Faculty Study Group, tasked in 2020-2021 with providing guidance on how to position the FAS for broad-based excellence, innovation, and sustainability. 

We are excited to welcome Professor Thornber to the Bok Center!

Read more in the Gazette article announcing Professor Thornber’s appointment.