Stephanie Mitchell and Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographers

Campus & Community

The Yard awakens as freshmen arrive

4 min read

Members of Class of 2020 find their way to new homes at Harvard

After nearly 13 weeks of summer quiet, Harvard Yard awoke again as the Class of 2020 officially arrived on campus this morning.

Harvard President Drew Faust, Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael D. Smith, Danoff Dean of Harvard College Rakesh Khurana, and Dean of Freshmen Thomas Dingman conducted their traditional walk around the Yard to greet the newcomers, along with their parents and the occasional sibling, as students carried cartons, pulled suitcases, and lugged small appliances into dorm rooms. Teams of peer advisers and College staff were quick to provide assistance.

There are more than 1,600 members in the class, 48 percent of them female. Geographical origins are much the same as last year, and U.S. citizens and permanent residents make up more than 88 percent of the class. Asian-Americans are a record high 22.6 percent of the class, African-Americans a record 11.4 percent, Hispanics and Latinos 11 percent, Native Americans 1.9 percent, and Native Hawaiians 0.4 percent.

With the careful planning and work of staff and administrators, freshmen move-in again went smoothly.

This collection of images captures freshman move-in day. Please join in the conversation via #HarvardMoveIn and #Harvard2020 on Twitter and Instagram.

Freshman move-in day at Harvard University. Cars and trucks parade into Harvard Yard filled with freshmen, their belongings, and their anticipations. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Unpacking his parents’ car in Harvard Yard, Will Quan of Somerville, Mass., said, “It hasn’t set in yet — I’m excited to see what’s next. I’ve been in the area a long time, but this is a different feeling.” Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Hailing from Los Angeles, Joel Serugo ’20 (left) speaks with Dean of Freshmen Thomas Dingman and Harvard President Drew Faust. Serugo will play soccer for Harvard. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Sam Vora (left) and his daughter Aaki Vora ’20 move boxes. Vora moved from Mumbai, India, to her new residence in Harvard Yard. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Kelly Hyles ’20 (left) and roommate Simileoluwa Falako ’20 meet for the first time during freshman move-in day after getting to know each other over Facebook. Hyles said, “I’m really excited. This is the first time I’m totally away from my mom and the rest of my family.” Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Alex Paladino ’20 lifts a refrigerator off the back of his truck in front of Massachusetts Hall. He joins his brother Mike Paladino ’17 on campus for his senior year. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Dean of Harvard College Rakesh Khurana (left) and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael D. Smith greet Ike Jin Park of Korea and Robyn Beese of Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, who went to high school in Hong Kong together. Beese and Park are the first two from their high school to attend Harvard. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Karen Andres ’20 (left) of Illinois is a first-generation Mexican-American. Her mom, Susana Aguirre, and her father, Jose, brought her to Harvard on freshman move-in day. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
A crimson “H” marks a moving box. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Childhood friends from Newton, Mass., Grace Fuller (left) and Emily Koch ’20 hang photos from high school in Fuller’s room in Canaday. Fuller is heading to London, but the two say that they will be roommates someday — just not yet. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Laurie (left), Erin ’20, and Tom McCarthy of Manhattan Beach, Calif., connect with Dean of Harvard College Rakesh Khurana. Erin’s roommate, Sofia Mascia ’20, laughs along. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Kyle Bierdumpfel ’20 hangs a Harvard flag alongside a German flag. Bierdumpfel, a wrestler from North Jersey, will be studying German at Harvard. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Freshmen move-in day takes place at Harvard University. Karl Bierdumpfel, father of Kyle Bierdumpfel, rests for a moment by the window of Stoughton Hall while moving his son into his room. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer