Aiden Pearl is a sophomore concentrating in Economics and a proud resident of Quincy House. Aiden is a member of the Harvard Men’s Rugby Football Club, an Army ROTC Cadet at MIT, and is active in several finance-related organizations on campus.
Coming to Harvard, Aiden was looking forward to being surrounded by many interesting and talented people and was excited for the opportunity to learn more deeply about their varying viewpoints, to test those of his own, and to ultimately refine them. Before even crossing the threshold of Johnson Gate and entering the Yard, Aiden realized that, in light of ongoing tensions, finding places for the explorative conversations he hoped for at the College might present difficulties. Aiden was introduced to Intellectual Vitality during his pre-orientation program and immediately connected with its mission. He sees Intellectual Vitality as a necessary ingredient for a successful Harvard experience and as a keystone for improving the College’s culture as a whole.
Aiden was honored to serve on the first Intellectual Vitality Student Advisory Board during the 2024–25 academic year, helping shape the initiative’s vision and focus. As part of the pedagogy working group, he addressed issues related to teaching, classroom environments, and orientation. He looks forward to continuing the SAB’s important work in the coming year and to collaborating with students and partners beyond the board.