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Harvard dean Khurana defends diversity amid Trump’s DEI crackdown
Khurana addressed the administration’s recent policies on immigration
Rakesh Khurana / Image- Jina H. Choe/ Harvard
Harvard College dean Rakesh Khurana reaffirmed the university's commitment to diversity pushing back against President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education.
"Our diverse backgrounds and experiences and talents drive academic excellence," Khurana said in an interview with the university press underscoring Harvard’s longstanding commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment.
Although he did not mention Trump by name during the hour-long discussion, Khurana framed the administration’s actions—targeting DEI initiatives, limiting research funding, and restricting financial aid policies—as contrary to Harvard’s values.
“We have, for 400 years, recognized the power of a variety of different backgrounds and experiences,” Khurana said. “Diverse thinking actually creates fertile ground for new ideas.”
Trump’s administration recently directed federal agencies to terminate equity-related grants and crack down on DEI initiatives at federally funded institutions, a move that was temporarily blocked by a federal judge. The Department of Education has also issued guidance stating that the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against race-conscious admissions prohibits universities from considering race in scholarships, housing, and other academic decisions.
Addressing Trump’s push to limit research funding, Khurana defended the role of federal support in advancing innovation. “When we want to do something, or we want to do it in a sustainable way, we need to allocate material resources to it,” he said. He added that Harvard’s nonprofit status and federal funding enable the university to “create value that is meaningful to society.”
“I do worry, because I do think that institutions like ours produce a lot of good for the world. Research is complex. It’s multi-year. The benefits of it are not immediate. We need to make sure that people understand how important this investment is,” Khurana said.
“It pays off in global competitiveness, and it pays off in the beneficiaries of having a healthy citizenry for our democracy,” he added.
Khurana also addressed the administration’s recent policies on immigration, including an order directing federal agencies to revoke visas of students who participated in pro-Palestine protests and were found in violation of the law. He described the situation for international students as “fluid” and urged affected students to consult the Harvard International Office.
“It’s really important at a time when rules are changing—or how they’re being interpreted is changing—to have the most recent information and understanding,” he said.
With Trump’s new policies taking effect, Harvard has advised international students to return to the U.S. before potential restrictions intensify. However, Khurana emphasized that Harvard would continue to support students on an individual basis, as “different countries and different communities face different rules.”
In the face of political uncertainty, Khurana reiterated that Harvard must uphold its core principles. “We should not be an institution that operates out of fear, but operates out of a sense of conviction that the truth is important,” he said.
“One of the things I feel so lucky about being at Harvard—and especially at the College—is that it’s always served as a candle in the darkness,” he added.
Khurana, who has served as Harvard College dean since 2014, is set to step down at the end of the academic year. His decade-long tenure has been marked by efforts to promote inclusion, defend academic freedom, and navigate challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action.
Born in India, Khurana immigrated to the United States as a child. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and later completed a doctorate through a joint program between Harvard Business School and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
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