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Harvard College dean Rakesh Khurana to step down after 11-year tenure
Khurana’s announcement sparked mixed reactions among students and faculty within the college community.
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Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana said he would resign in June 2025. / Image – Harvard Crimson/ Frank S. Zhou.
Harvard College's dean Rakesh Khurana, announced that he will step down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, capping a 11-year tenure marked by significant administrative changes, contentious decisions, and a strong presence on campus.
India-born Khurana who served as the dean since 2014, had initially planned to leave office last year, but extended his term to help stabilize the university amid leadership transitions, including the resignation of former Harvard president Claudine Gay.
A prominent figure at Harvard, Khurana faced both praise and criticism throughout his time as dean. He was instrumental in launching initiatives like the Intellectual Vitality program and the Office of Student Services, which aimed to enhance student life and promote free expression.
However, his efforts to regulate final clubs and his role in disciplining pro-Palestine protesters attracted backlash. The latter issue, in particular, resulted in the temporary suspension of 13 seniors from receiving their degrees, a decision later reversed by the university.
Khurana, who will continue to serve in faculty roles at Harvard College’s Sociology department and the Harvard Business School, expressed optimism about the future of the University while acknowledging the challenges ahead.
“As one of our nation's oldest and most renowned institutions, Harvard is not immune from the forces that lead to institutional decline — complacency, risk avoidance, protecting our reputation at the expense of our values,” Khurana said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Harvard's legacy.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi E. Hoekstra lauded Khurana’s leadership, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and acknowledged his commitment to inclusion and student engagement. She said Khurana’s tenure was “characterized by approachability and a genuine commitment to listening to the voices across the entire Harvard community.”
Mixed Reactions from the Harvard Community
Khurana’s departure has elicited mixed reactions from the Harvard community. While some students and faculty praised his leadership and accessibility, others were critical of his handling of specific issues.
“He doesn’t hide behind emails, he’s out and about. I see him crossing campus all the time, and he knows my name,” said Ariel F. Kohn ’26. “In a super wonderful way, he’s kind of the mascot of Harvard College.”
Khurana’s social media presence, particularly his Instagram account also became a symbol of his tenure. “No one can take a better selfie,” remarked Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra, highlighting Khurana’s unique way of connecting with students.
Graham W. Lee ’28 said he saw Khurana’s Instagram page before he applied to Harvard and added that Khurana “seems to really care about and appreciate” the students that he posts. “I feel like the thing he will be missed for most is the Instagram posts,” Fernandes Garcia said. “He’s my favorite influencer.”
However, not all sentiments were positive. Clyve Lawrence ’25, a leader of the Dename Winthrop project and Crimson Editorial editor, expressed that Dean Rakesh Khurana treats student activists differently from other students.
“The reality sets in, especially once you get involved in organizing at Harvard — you realize he’s just another cog in the administrative machine, Lawrence said adding, “When it comes to meeting with students about their concerns being doxxed, he kind of disappears.”
Although the search for Khurana's successor hasn't started, students agree that his constant campus presence—and his activity on Instagram—will be hard to replace, as the community remains divided on how his legacy will be remembered.
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