October 21, 2016 — On September 26, 2016, Julio Frenk, former dean of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, returned to Boston for the unveiling of his portrait in the Kresge Building. Frenk, who now serves as President of the University of Miami, led Harvard Chan School for six years, before being succeeded by Michelle A. Williams. In remarks to the large crowd gathered inside the Roseneau Atrium, Williams praised Frenk for his leadership and the legacy he left behind.
As Dean of Harvard Chan School, Frenk pushed for the portraits of past deans to be displayed publically, as a reminder of the School’s successes and values.
“In the Iliad, Homer, talks about generations as the leaves of a tree; each generation is the successive foliage of a tree. And I feel that’s exactly what we have here. We are each part of a generation, and we contribute to the strength of those trees that are our institutions,” Frenk said. “The tree of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a tree with deep roots and generous foliage. And I could not be more proud to have added my own leaf to that foliage.”
Watch a video of the portrait unveiling.
Photo: Sarah Sholes