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Alfred University President Mark Zupan will return to The Harley School, where he was a parent and served as Board President for several years, for the next Commons Speaker Series event scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Commons Building, 1981 Clover St.

Zupan will discuss his book, “Inside Job: How Government Insiders Subvert the Public Interest,” (Cambridge University Press) released earlier this year. The book examines how government is vulnerable to demand-side capture by special interests but also to supply-side take-over by insider operating for their own benefit at the expanse of the public good.

“We’re happy to welcome Mark back to Harley for this unique and informative speaker series featuring former students, graduates and other school contributors,” said Ward Ghory, Head of School at Harley. “This series will highlight the best of Harley with topics tying into some of our educational themes during this school year.”

Zupan became president of Alfred University during the summer of 2016 after serving as dean of the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School. The Common Series features notable leaders in mindfulness and empathy; environmental sustainability and science; civic engagement and the democratic process; and inquiry-driven exploration. All topics are part of The Commons program for Harley students and families.

Students may create independent studies with supervising teachers throughout their Upper School experience or, during Grade 12, they can design Capstone projects—intensive collaborations with Harley faculty and off-campus mentors—involving rigorous academic study and culminating in public presentations. They are empowered to create their own curriculum, set goals, and work on time management skills in order to accomplish their objectives.

Independent Studies run the gamut from The Psychology of Sports to Furniture Design to The Neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s Disease. Capstones, meanwhile, are as diverse as the students who pursue them: Fictional Rochester, Autobiographical Art, Biomimicry Education, Organic Fuel, and Rochester Refugees. 

Indicative of Upper School curiosity and creativity, pursuits such as these distinguish our graduates in college. Through deep dives of this sort, Harley students master more than speaking, writing, and computing: they learn to communicate, advocate, collaborate, organize, listen, and empathize. 

About

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Key Programming

Enrollment

Letter from the Head of School

Letter from the Editor

Features

Central Work that Matters: DEI

Harley Black Alumni Network

Climate Crisis Curriculum

Citizen Scientists

Joy Moss: Storytelling Roots

In Every Issue

Class Notes

Diane Donniger Award

By the Numbers

From the Archives

What’s (Who’s) New at Harley

Divisional Highlights

Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

Alumni Profiles: Keller

HAC Athletics

2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

Reunion 2022

In Memoriam

Retirements and Fond Farewells

Letter from the Head of School

Letter from the Editor

Features

Central Work that Matters

Affinity Group Forms

Climate Crisis Curriculum

Citizen Scientists

Joy Moss: Storytelling Roots

In Every Issue

Class Notes

Diane Donniger Award

By the Numbers

From the Archives

What’s (Who’s) New at Harley

Divisional Highlights

Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

Alumni Profiles: Keller

HAC Athletics

2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

Reunion 2022

In Memoriam

Retirements and Fond Farewells