A portrait of change
Perched high on the wall in the Braun Room at Harvard Divinity School’s (HDS) Andover Hall is the newest member of an esteemed club that is diversifying Harvard with each passing year. Just above the portrait of the Rev. Francis Parkman, the prominent 19th century theologian for whom the Parkman Professor of Divinity is named, hangs a new painting of Preston N. Williams, Houghton Research Professor of Theology and Contemporary Change Emeritus. “The Braun room [pronounced Brown] up until today was very white,” said Harvey Cox, Hollis Research Professor of Divinity Emeritus, who lauded Williams for his four decades of service to Harvard during an unveiling ceremony on Tuesday. The artist is Steve E. Coit ’71, who has painted numerous Harvard figures. The work is the product of the Harvard Foundation’s Portraiture Project, whose goal is to reflect the diversity of individuals who have served Harvard for at least a quarter century, including...