In brief

‘Women at the Top’ to examine first female presidents of Ivy League

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study will host a May 2 discussion with the first female presidents of Ivy League universities on the topic of American higher education and women’s changing roles. The lecture, titled “Women at the Top: The Changing Face of the Ivies,” will be moderated by Drew G. Faust, dean of the Radcliffe Institute and president-elect of Harvard, and will be held at 4 p.m. in Agassiz Theatre. It is free and open to the public.

For a complete schedule of upcoming events at the institute, visit http://www.radcliffe.edu/events/calendar.php.

Third Eye Blind to headline Yardfest on April 28

Chart-topping pop quartet Third Eye Blind has been tapped to headline this year’s edition of Yardfest — Harvard’s spring celebration taking place April 28. The group’s performance from the steps of Memorial Church will cap the afternoon event, which is scheduled to run from 5 to 8 p.m.

Presented by the College Events Board and the Harvard Concert Commission, Yardfest allows undergraduates to “take back the Yard” with barbecue-style food, music, rides, and games. The event is open to all Harvard undergraduates with a valid College ID.

A.R.T.’s ‘Harvard Night’ features food, talk

“Harvard Night at the A.R.T.” takes place this evening (April 26) and features a specially priced performance of “Invincible Summer,” the New England premiere of master storyteller Mike Daisey, who tells the tale of the grueling and comical New York summer before everything changed. Daisey offers a vivid image of his Brooklyn neighborhood both before and after one terrible day, framing a story of personal upheaval with a narrative of national tragedy. The show takes place at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased through Outings & Innings at http://harvie.harvard.edu/perks. There will be a 25 percent discount on dinner before the show at Grafton Street Pub & Grill (diners must show tickets), and an opportunity to join Daisey for a drink and conversation at the pub after the show.

Upcoming Arts First set to light up Harvard Square

Harvard Square will transform into a veritable stage for music, dance, theater, and the visual arts from May 3 to May 6 in celebration of the 15th annual Arts First festival. The entire University community is welcome to sample from dozens of performances and installations featuring the creative work of Harvard students and faculty (most events are free of charge). The University’s Board of Overseers and the Office for the Arts sponsor the festival.

For more information, visit http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~arts/.

Arts First volunteers wanted

Arts First organizers are still seeking volunteers for Harvard’s upcoming music, theater, dance, and visual arts celebration (May 3-6). Site managers are wanted for Art Walk (May 3 from 5 to 9 p.m.) — the walking tour of student-produced visual art held in galleries and alternative art spaces across campus. Additionally, volunteer stage managers, backstage crewmembers, and audience greeters are also needed for the Performance Fair (May 5 from noon to 5:30 p.m.). The fair features dozens of music, dance, and theater performances at 11 different venues.

All volunteers will receive an Arts First T-shirt, an invitation to the presentation of the Harvard Arts Medal to composer John Adams ’69, A.M. ’72, and an invitation to a wrap-up party hosted by Office for the Arts Director Jack Megan. E-mail arts@fas.harvard.edu to volunteer, or call (617) 495-8699.

Take a quick tour of ancient Egypt, Israel during Arts First

In conjunction with the upcoming Arts First weekend, the Semitic Museum will sponsor half-hour tours of its “Ancient Egypt: Magic and the Afterlife” and “Houses of Ancient Israel: Domestic, Royal, Divine” exhibits on May 6. The tours begin at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Stressing stress: BHAC event to examine stress, coping skills

The Department of Behavioral Health and Academic Counseling (BHAC) and the University Student Health Coordinating Board invite University affiliates to attend “Caring for the Harvard Community 2007: Coping with Stress” on May 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Ropes Gray Room, Pound Hall. Facilitated by Families for Depression Awareness, the event will feature expert presentations on effectively managing stress, from everyday strains caused by work, school, and relationships, to life-changing events, such as a family member’s death or the loss of a job.

Presenters will include Massachusetts State Sen. Robert A. Antonioni; Associate Professor of Psychiatry Paul Barreira, director of BHAC; and Edward M. Hallowell, author of “Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap!” The panel will explore the signs and symptoms of stress, ways to reduce or alleviate it, and tips for coping with stress on a daily basis. They will also discuss when it is more than stress — identifying and coping with anxiety and depression. This event is free and open to the entire Harvard community, though seating is limited. To reserve a seat, register at http://www.familyaware.org.

Kansas Gov. Sebelius visits Harvard as IOP fellow

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has been serving as a visiting fellow this week (April 23-27) at Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP). “We are very excited to host Gov. Sebelius here at Harvard,” said Jeanne Shaheen, director of the IOP. “Her public policy experience spanning many levels of government is sure to generate great interest among students and throughout the Harvard community.”

Sebelius was sworn in as the 44th governor of Kansas in January 2003 and was named by Time magazine as one of the nation’s top five governors less than three years later. She was re-elected to a second term as governor last year. In 2006, Sebelius was elected chair of the Democratic Governors Association and named chair of the Education Commission of the States. She also serves on the National Governors Association’s Executive Committee.

Among her engagements while at Harvard, Sebelius delivered a public address at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum yesterday (April 25).

‘Hold Your Breath’ screening, Q&A at New Research Building

Massachusetts General Hospital’s Disparities Solutions Center, in partnership with the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Cross-Cultural Care Committee, HMS Academy Center for Teaching and Learning, Active Voice, WGBH, and other partner organizations, will present a screening of the documentary “Hold Your Breath” by award-winning filmmaker, physician, and Stanford University research scholar Maren Grainger-Monsen on May 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the amphitheater of the New Research Building, HMS. The film exposes the clash between ancient Islamic traditions and contemporary medical technology through intimate moments of anguish, frustration, and hope.

A panel discussion and Q&A with Grainger-Monsen, other physicians, and community representatives will immediately follow the screening from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

PDK event to explore return of music, play to Afghanistan

“Afghanistan: Reclaiming Rights Through Music and Play” is the title of a May 2 talk with Harvard Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) board member Louise Pascal and Harvard Divinity School student Zach Warren.

During the 6 p.m. program at Ticknor Lounge, Pascal will share her story about her journey to return music to Afghanistan through the publication of a songbook from her Peace Corps experience 35 years ago. At Ticknor, she’ll play her CD of children singing in four languages and show an excerpt from a new educational DVD. Pascal recently returned from Washington, D.C., where she was honored at the Afghanistan Embassy for bringing the music back to the children of Afghanistan and to the adults who haven’t heard the songs since childhood. Warren, meanwhile, will present his work on the children’s circus in Kabul.

Harvard PDK board member Sahar Ahmed organized this program, which was codeveloped with the Harvard Cultural Agents Initiative. A reception will follow.

Maine vacation rental open to faculty, University officers

Applications are now being accepted for weekend or weeklong stays at Howells Memorial House, the University’s vacation rental property in Kittery, Maine. Under the terms of the bequest to the University, only faculty members and University officers are eligible to rent the property.

To learn more about the house or to submit an online application, visit http://www.facultyrealestate.harvard.edu and click on Maine Vacation Rental. For additional information, call Irina at (617) 495-8840.