Alumni Pathways

Graduates of Arts & Humanities concentrations have gone on to work in diverse professional fields. Are you wondering what you can do with your study in the Arts & Humanities? Here are some examples of careers our graduates have found within...

Five Years

Ten Years

And Beyond

A&H Alumni Testimonials

Read about the experiences of former A&H concentrators as they carve pathways into the professional world.

Olivia Ball '14
English
Drama Teacher and Head of Class IX, The Brearley School (NYC)

As an English and Drama teacher, my undergraduate work in the English Department has provided me with excellent material, but even more than that, my study of the humanities has influenced the way I approach teaching. I hope to help my middle and high school students see how language and stories can give us power and how the act of studying literature and drama is not just a means of garnering information, but a valuable endeavor in and of itself; exploring a good piece of writing, whether in the English classroom or on the stage, affords us an opportunity for empathy, to better understand ourselves and others, to see the world as it is and as it could be.
 

Karen Chee '17
History & Literature
Comedian, Writer/Performer for Late Night with Seth Meyers

Concentrating in History & Literature completely transformed the way I read and think about the world, specifically in noticing whose perspectives are amplified and whose are lacking. My courses largely centered on learning to empathize with characters both fictional and real, and they made me a kinder and more intentional reader and storyteller. As a comedy writer, this skill has been immensely helpful because I always want to generate laughter from inclusivity rather than bullying, and to punch up instead of down.
 

Wynne Muscatine Graham '17
Philosophy
JD candidate at Yale Law School (Class of 2022)

As a philosophy student at Harvard, I learned to challenge my own assumptions and to be open to new and radical ways of thinking. My experience prepared me both personally and professionally for my life post-graduation. Confronting ideas critically but openly has enabled me to engage with new perspectives and connect with people whose views differ drastically from my own. I am immensely grateful to Harvard and the humanities for the training and perspective they provided me.
 

Vanessa (Dube) Le '10
History & Literature
Counsel, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Studying the humanities at Harvard gave me an essential foundation in creative analysis that infuses my work every day. As counsel on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I'm part of a staff responsible for oversight of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Whether I'm interviewing witnesses, reviewing documents, or participating in staff briefings, I am constantly using the close reading and critical thinking skills honed by my interdisciplinary humanities education.
 

Jennifer Okwerekwu '10
Visual & Environmental Studies (now AFVS)
Resident Physician in Adult Psychiatry at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School, Columnists for STAT

My undergraduate concentration in VES Film Studies exposed me to the art of living and the universal experiences that connect us all as people. My course work strengthened my capacity to be moved by human experiences radically different than my own. As a doctor and a columnist, this education provided me with the foundation I needed to appreciate the art of medicine. I will forever be thankful to Harvard for empowering me to pursue my passions in medicine and media, and find success beyond the beaten path.
 

Tim Reckart '09
History & Literature
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker

As a professional filmmaker, I don’t often refer to the content I studied as a History & Literature concentrator. But the practice of research and writing taught me how to form and articulate ideas, and those skills serve me every day, whether I’m writing a script, putting together a pitch, or explaining a concept to someone on my crew. For me, a humanities concentration is an opportunity to engage intensely with human culture, and that experience has enriched my life well beyond my professional work.
 

Akili Tommasino '09
History of Art & Architecture and Romance Languages & Literature
Associate Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The knowledge of history I amassed, and the critical thinking, research, and language skills I honed at Harvard have enabled me to pursue an international career in art institutions I consider indispensable centers of culture and education. I benefited immeasurably from unparalleled resources including the Harvard Art Museums, Fine Arts Library, Carpenter Center, and network of superb faculty, supportive staff, and brilliant peers. My experiences at Harvard have inspired and empowered me to foster future generations of diverse leaders in the arts by imparting the values of cultural agency, ethical entrepreneurship, and empathy that have guided my career.