Is Claudine Gay Married? Meet the First Black President of Harvard and Her Husband

Claudine Gay, a political scientist and a democracy scholar, has been elected as the 30th president of Harvard University, making history as the first black person to lead the prestigious institution. She will take office on July 1, 2023, succeeding Lawrence Bacow, who announced his decision to step down after five years

But who is Claudine Gay, and what do we know about her personal life? Is she married, and if so, who is her husband? In this article, we will explore some facts about Claudine Gay’s background, career, and family.

Claudine Gay’s Early Life and Education

Claudine Gay was born in Bronx, New York, in 1970, to Haitian immigrants who met as students in the city. Her mother studied nursing and her father studied engineering Claudine spent part of her childhood in Saudi Arabia, where her father worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while her mother was a registered nurse

Claudine attended Phillips Exeter Academy, a private boarding school in New Hampshire, and then graduated from Stanford University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She received the Anna Laura Myers Prize for the best senior thesis in the department

She then pursued her doctoral studies at Harvard University, where she earned her Ph.D. in political science in 1998. She won the Toppan Prize for the best dissertation in the field

Claudine Gay’s Academic Career and Achievements

Claudine Gay began her academic career as an assistant professor and then a tenured associate professor of political science at Stanford University from 2000 to 2006. She was also a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and the Public Policy Institute of California

In 2006, she joined Harvard University as a professor of government and of African and African American studies. She was named the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government in 2015

Claudine Gay is a leading scholar of American political behavior, focusing on issues of race and politics, voter turnout, minority representation, intergroup relations, and social inequality. She has published several articles and books on these topics, such as The Logic of Minority Incorporation: The Case of Blacks and Latinos in Chicago (2006) and The Effect of Black Congressional Representation on Political Participation (2001)

She is also the founding chair of the Inequality in America Initiative, a multidisciplinary effort launched in 2017 to address the causes and consequences of social and economic disparities in the U.S. and beyond

Claudine Gay has held several leadership positions at Harvard, including dean of social science from 2015 to 2018 and dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) from 2018 to 2023. As FAS dean, she oversaw the academic programs and policies of Harvard’s largest and most diverse faculty, which includes both undergraduate and graduate students. She also launched and led a strategic planning process to enhance the FAS’s academic excellence, diversity, innovation, and collaboration

Claudine Gay is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has received numerous awards and honors for her scholarship and service, such as the Everett Mendelsohn Excellence in Mentoring Award, the Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize, and the Roslyn Abramson Award for Excellence and Sensitivity in Undergraduate Teaching

Claudine Gay’s Husband and Family

Claudine Gay is married to Christopher C. Afendulis, who is also a Harvard alumnus and a political scientist. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. from Harvard in 2000. He has worked as a lecturer, research associate, and information systems analyst at various institutions, including Stanford University, Harvard Medical School, and the Department of Health Research and Policy at Stanford. His research interests include health care policy, health economics, and health services research

Claudine Gay and Christopher Afendulis have one child, a son named Alexander They live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and enjoy traveling, hiking, and skiing together.

Claudine Gay is also a cousin of Roxane Gay, a renowned writer and cultural critic, who has expressed her admiration and support for Claudine on social media

Claudine Gay’s Vision for Harvard

Claudine Gay has expressed her gratitude and excitement for being elected as the 30th president of Harvard University, a position that she described as “the honor of a lifetime”

She has also outlined some of her priorities and goals for leading Harvard into the future, such as:

Increasing the diversity and inclusion of the Harvard community, especially among the faculty, staff, and students.
Enhancing the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of Harvard’s academic endeavors, both within and across the different schools and units.
Fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in teaching and research, as well as in public service and social impact.
Engaging more actively and constructively with the broader society and the world, addressing the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time.

Claudine Gay has also emphasized the importance of maintaining Harvard’s core values and mission, as well as its academic freedom and integrity. She has stated that she will seek to uphold Harvard’s reputation as a “beacon of light and hope” and a “force for good” in the world

According to Harvard Crimson, Claudine Gay has received widespread praise and support from various members and stakeholders of the Harvard community, including the governing boards, the faculty, the alumni, the students, and the staff. They have commended her for her academic excellence, her leadership skills, her communication abilities, and her vision for Harvard.

Claudine Gay will be the second woman to serve as Harvard’s president, after Drew Gilpin Faust, who was the 28th president from 2007 to 2018. She will also be the first person of color to hold this position, breaking a 368-year-old tradition of white male presidents

Claudine Gay has said that she is “humbled by the confidence” that the Harvard community has placed in her and that she is looking forward to working with them to advance Harvard’s mission and aspirations

Conclusion

Claudine Gay is a remarkable scholar, leader, and person, who has made significant contributions to the fields of political science, African American studies, and social inequality. She has also demonstrated her commitment and excellence in teaching, mentoring, and administration at Harvard University.

She is married to Christopher Afendulis, a fellow political scientist and researcher, and they have a son named Alexander. She is also related to Roxane Gay, a famous writer and critic.

Claudine Gay has been elected as the 30th president of Harvard University, making history as the first black person to lead the prestigious institution. She has a clear and ambitious vision for Harvard’s future, as well as the support and respect of the Harvard community.

Claudine Gay is undoubtedly a role model and an inspiration for many people, especially for women and people of color, who aspire to achieve academic and professional excellence and leadership. She is also a testament to the power and potential of education, diversity, and democracy.