A degree delivered
As the Class of 2011 was taking a step toward the future, the University was pausing to remember its past with a special degree for a member of the Class of 1665, one of the first Native Americans to attend Harvard College. Joel Iacoomes, a member of the Wampanoag tribe, died shortly after completing four years of study at Harvard College but just before he was to participate in Commencement. In a twist of historic proportions, the special posthumous degree for Iacoomes is to be received by Tiffany Smalley, who the same day becomes the first Wampanoag to graduate from the College since Iacoomes’ classmate, Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, received his degree 346 years ago. “I feel honored and am humbled that I’ve been offered the opportunity to accept the degree on Joel’s behalf,” said Smalley, who is receiving the degree during Afternoon Exercises in Tercentenary Theatre, where dozens of members of the Wampanoag tribe...