Meet Noah Harris, Harvard University’s first Black male student body president

20-year-old Noah Harris has made history becoming Harvard University’s first Black male student body president.

Meet Noah Harris Harvard University’s first Black male student body president

The Hattiesburg, Miss. native made the announcement on Instagram stating he won the election on November 12.

Harris was elected by Harvard’s Undergraduate Council and co-chairs the Undergraduate Council’s Black caucus.

Two other Black students have previously headed Harvard’s Undergraduate Council, but Harris is the first Black man to be elected by the student body.

Harris, who is a junior majoring in government, said that he doesn’t take the honor lightly given the events that have transpired within the past year and the conversations on race relations within the United States.

“Especially with everything that went on this summer with the death of George Floyd and
Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. All the protests that went on in this moment of racial reckoning in this country,” said Harris in an interview with the Boston Globe.

“This is a major statement by the Harvard student body to entrust a Black man with such an unprecedented moment in its history.”

Noah Harris and Jenny Gan (Instagram)

Diversity and inclusion

Harris ran on a platform of diversity of inclusion with future Undergraduate Council Vice President Jenny Gan, a junior from Cleveland. The two said they want to focus on improving students’ mental and physical health.

“It’s hard for me to put into words how grateful I am to be elected Harvard Student Body President with my partner in crime Jenny Gan!!” Harris wrote in a caption on Instagram. “I will work tirelessly to make all of you proud over the next year.”