AM student Hillary Downs chosen as commencement marshal

CMES AM student Hillary Downs ('10) has been chosen as a commencement marshal for this year's commencement ceremony, which will take place on Thursday May 27. Commencement marshals, who lead the procession of graduating GSAS students during the ceremony, are chosen by a committee of peers on the basis of their accomplishments at Harvard. The committee looks specifically at nominees' service on behalf of the graduate school and graduate school community. Hillary's contributions to the GSAS community include serving as president of the Harvard Middle East Cultural Association (HMECA), which holds weekly breakfasts at CMES to provide a forum and networking opportunity for students studying the Middle East. Hilary also served as a researcher and grant writer for the Islam in the West program and Islamopedia project. CMES congratulates Hillary and thanks her for her contributions to Middle East studies at Harvard!