# Centerpiece The Center's newsletter about life at Weatherhead, Centerpiece, is produced twice a year and regularly features information on current and future Center events, scholarly developments of special note, and a column by the Center's executive director. The newsletter also includes updates on the Center's programmatic initiatives, articles, and profiles of Center affiliates and their research. Centerpiece aims to maintain an enduring network of both current members and Center alumni. ## Current Issue Volume 40 / Number 2 ### Spring 2026 The Centerpiece newsletter highlights the various activities throughout the semester at Weatherhead. Read the newest "[Message from the Executive Director](https://www.wcfia.harvard.edu/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/executive-director)" column to get an overview of the semester. In our first feature, we publish excerpts of the [Jodidi Lecture with Dr. Atul Gawande](https://www.wcfia.harvard.edu/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/feature_jodidi), former USAID administrator, on the fallout from drastic cuts to humanitarian aid. Our second feature article is the [student-professor interview](https://www.wcfia.harvard.edu/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/feature_interview) between Center Acting Director Erez Manela and one of his students, Undergraduate Associate Kendall Carll. . . . [ Read the Spring 2026 Centerpiece arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026) ![The sphinx at Giza. ](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-05/Cover-Square-50-50-card.png?itok=7g0hspMy) ## All Issues [### Spring 2026, Volume 40 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026) Download: Spring 2026, Volume 40 Number 2 [ PDF: 2.21 MB ] or view online The Centerpiece newsletter highlights the various activities throughout the semester at Weatherhead. Read the newest " Message from the Executive Director" column to get an overview... ![Half of graphic is a photo of the sphinx at Giza and the other half is a large duotone blue W with the words "Centerpiece" overlaid in white.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/Cover-Social-16x9.png?itok=yIQDs2tG) [### Fall 2025, Volume 40 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2025) Download: Fall 2025, Volume 40 Number 1 [ PDF: 1.8 MB ] or view online The Fall 2025 issue of Centerpiece highlights recent activities at the Weatherhead Center, including events, publications, awards, and more. Executive Director Erin Goodman shares fall... ![Fall 2025 Centerpiece thumbnail showing illustration of soldiers pointing guns at men holding roses, alongside a duotone graphic "W" with the words "Centerpiece" and the issue information.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Cover-16x9-social-and-thumbnail.png?itok=Lc8SNERC) [### Spring 2025, Volume 39 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025) Download: Spring 2025, Volume 39 Number 2 [ PDF: 1.9 MB ] or view online The Spring 2025 issue of Centerpiece highlights recent activities at the Weatherhead Center, including events, publications, awards, and more. Weatherhead's executive director, Erin... ![Graphic of a large dark green W overlaid onto a lighter green background with the words "Centerpiece" and issue number, alongside a close-up of a world clock.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Mailchimp-cover.png?itok=WcFNnBbK) [### Fall 2024, Volume 39 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2024) Download: Fall 2024, Volume 39 Number 1 [ PDF: 1.5 MB ] or view online The Fall 2024 issue of Centerpiece highlights recent activities at the Weatherhead Center, including events, publications, awards, and more. Weatherhead's executive director, Erin... ![Graphic of a large beige W and the words "Centerpiece" and issue information overlaid onto a darker beige background, next to a sepia-toned photo of a stucco building and doorframe with pigeons on the floor.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Cover.png?itok=g8Ikep3B) [### Spring 2024, Volume 38 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2024) The Spring 2024 issue of Centerpiece highlights recent activities at the Weatherhead Center. Executive Director Erin Goodman summarizes the semester and shares important updates in her Message from the Executive Director column. The conflict in Israel... ![Cover of Spring 2024 Centerpiece features black and white photo of "Pernicious Prejudice" event speakers seated at a table laughing together before the event.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/centerpiece-spring2024-cover-250px.jpg?h=ff0efb4b&itok=pscoM__4) [### Fall 2023, Volume 38 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2023) The fall 2023 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including program updates, feature articles, new books, and more. Weatherhead's new executive director, Erin Goodman, shares Center updates in the Message from the Executive... ![Centerpiece Fall 2023 cover.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/centerpiece-fall2023-cover-300px.jpg?h=d93aed9f&itok=cPKbHn_m) [### Spring 2023, Volume 37 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2023) The spring 2023 issue of Centerpiece highlights recent activities at the Weatherhead Center. Acting Center Director Erez Manela shares important Center updates in the Message from the Director column. This spring semester crackled with energy, and we at... ![Spring 2023 Centerpiece cover with image of people praying below a bunch of white umbrellas](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/ctrpiece_s23-cover-300px.jpg?h=418d1b84&itok=wOpttqkg) [### Fall 2022, Volume 37 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2022) The fall 2022 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including program updates, feature articles, new books, and more. The Center's acting director, Erez Manela, shares updates for the WCFIA in the Message from the Director column... ![Centerpiece fall 2022 cover.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cp-fall2022-cover-300px.jpg?h=1550728d&itok=fAhVe074) [### Spring 2022, Volume 36 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2022) The spring 2022 issue of Centerpiece highlights recent activities at the Weatherhead Center. Director Melani Cammett shares important Center news, along with personal news, in the Message from the Director. Graduate Student Associate (GSA) Andi Zhou... ![cpcover-spring2022-150px.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cpcover-spring2022-150px.jpg?h=efdb5476&itok=QQ5EPQUw) [### Fall 2021, Volume 36 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2021) The fall 2021 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including program updates, feature articles, new books, and more. The Center's new director, Melani Cammett, shares her vision for the WCFIA in the coming months in the Message... ![Thumbnail of Centerpiece Fall 2021 cover with image of field researcher walking among banana trees](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/fullcoverfall2021-150px.jpg?itok=-qMGKQLw) [### Spring 2021, Volume 35 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2021) Center life soldiers on during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we remained busy as ever—just from afar. In her last Message from the Director column, Michèle Lamont writes about the changes that have taken place over the past six years. Over this summer, she... ![Cover of the Spring 2021 Centerpiece with photo of Kabul citylife](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cp-cover-sp2021.jpg?itok=T-xeGEHU) [### Fall 2020, Volume 35 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2020) The fall 2020 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, which are still going strong—albeit remote—during the pandemic. In her Message from the Director column, Michèle Lamont details how our various programs and intellectual... ![Centerpiece fall 2020 cover.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cp-fall2020-cover-300px.jpg?itok=ZurIkoi9) [### Spring 2020, Volume 34 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2020) Life at the Weatherhead Center—like the rest of the world—changed drastically over the past few months. In our Message from the Director column, Interim Director Melani Cammett shares the struggles and resilience of Center affiliates during the COVID-19... ![Thumbnail image of Centerpiece cover spring 2020](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/ctrpiece_s20-coverimageexport-150px.jpg?itok=oraPe07y) [### Fall 2019, Volume 34 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2019) The fall 2019 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities. Learn more about Acting Center Director Melani Cammett in her Message from the Director column, where she discusses a new project at the WCFIA and stresses the importance of... ![Image of the Fall 2019 Centerpiece cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/ctrpiece_f19-cover-250px.jpg?itok=6nyJwMvp) [### Spring 2019, Volume 33 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2019) The spring 2019 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities. In the Message from the Director, Michèle Lamont highlights the recent sharp decrease in students enrolling in foreign-language programs—and how the Weatherhead Center plans... ![Image of Spring 2019 Centerpiece cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/ctrpiece_s19-draft2_cover_image_150px.jpg?itok=lONUfGjd) [### Fall 2018, Volume 33 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2018) This fall, the Weatherhead Center celebrates its sixtieth anniversary! Center Director Michèle Lamont summarizes just how far the WCFIA has come over the years—and where it's headed in the future—in her Message from the Director. The fall 2018 issue also... ![Image of Fall 2018 Centerpiece cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/ctrpiece_f18-final-lowres_cover150px.jpg?itok=G2XNWUUU) [### Spring 2018, Volume 32 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2018) The spring 2018 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including updates on student programs and the SCANCOR-Weatherhead Partnership. In the Message from the Director, Michèle Lamont outlines some of the semester's highlights... ![Image of Centerpiece Spring 2018 cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/ctrpiece_s18-fullcover-300px.gif?itok=mwARH_ss) [### Fall 2017, Volume 32 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2017) The fall 2017 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including program updates on the Weatherhead Scholars Program and The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. Also included in the issue are new books published by... ![Image of fall 2017 Centerpiece cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cpfall2017_cover_web.jpg?itok=Z9V4B2U-) [### Spring 2017, Volume 31 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2017) The spring 2017 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including updates on student programs and the Canada Program. In the Message from the Director, Michèle Lamont outlines the busy year after starting to implement external... ![Spring 2017 cover image](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cpspring2017_highres_page_01_small.jpg?itok=V-O_CMdy) [### Fall 2016, Volume 31 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2016) The fall 2016 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including student program and Canada Program updates and new books published by Weatherhead Center affiliates. Included in the student programs section is a brief research... ![Image of Centerpiece cover fall 2016](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/draft4_cover_sm.jpg?itok=HS4SD3Dn) [### Spring 2016, Volume 30 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2016) The spring 2016 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including updates on several of our programs, including student programs, the Fellows Program, the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations, and The Harvard Academy. The Message from... ![Image of Spring 2016 Cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cover_page_150.jpg?itok=NEBZikWU) [### Fall 2015, Volume 30 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2015) The fall 2015 issue of Centerpiece highlights the Center's recent activities, including a high-profile visit from His Highness the Aga Khan, who delivered the 2015 Samuel L. and Elizabeth Jodidi Lecture on the topic of " The Cosmopolitan Ethic in a... ![cpfall2015_cover_150w.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cpfall2015_cover_150w.jpg?itok=iL13CPv3) [### Spring 2015, Volume 29 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2015) The spring 2015 issue of Centerpiece focuses on the Center's recent activities, including updates from the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations and student programs. The Message from the Executive Director is a self-reflective look at the past twenty-two years... ![cpspring2015_cover.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cpspring2015_cover_0.jpg?itok=sTafvty3) [### Fall 2014, Volume 29 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2014) The fall 2014 issue of Centerpiece focuses on the Center's recent activities, including a profile on Fellow and cartoonist Shreyas Navare, tributes to three former Fellows who have recently passed away, and a student program update. The feature, “ The... ![cpfall2014_cover_200w2.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cpfall2014_cover_200w2.jpg?itok=78zsT-FF) [### Spring 2014, Volume 28 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2014) The spring 2014 issue of Centerpiece introduces newly appointed Center Director Michèle Lamont in the feature interview “ In Conversation with… .” The issue's second feature, “ Political Survival and the Modern African Prince ” by Brett L. Carter, focuses... ![coverscreenshot_spring2014_web.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/coverscreenshot_spring2014_web.jpg?itok=fTb4vMqr) [### Fall 2013, Volume 28 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2013) The fall 2013 issue of Centerpiece focuses on the Center's recent activities, including program events, the Warren and Anita Manshel Lecture in American Foreign Policy, and the Samuel L. and Elizabeth Jodidi Lecture Series. The feature, “ Forging a... ![cover_f13_os.gif](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cover_f13_os.gif?itok=5CSxGf0P) [### Spring 2013, Volume 27 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2013) The spring 2013 issue of Centerpiece focuses on the Center's recent activities, including the Undergraduate Thesis Conference and the Fellows reunion. The feature, “ Local Governance and the Recentralization of Political Power in African States” by Janet... ![cpspring2013_cover_lrg.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/wcfia/files/cpspring2013_cover_lrg.jpg?itok=h355cEHE) ## Centerpiece PDF Archive - [Fall 2018](/file_url/6831) (1.2MB) - [Spring 2018](/file_url/6836) (757KB) - [Fall 2017](/file_url/6841) (1MB) - [Spring 2017](/file_url/6846) (876KB) - [Fall 2016](/file_url/6851) (963KB) - [Spring 2016](/file_url/6856) (902KB) - [Fall 2015](/file_url/6861) (995KB) - [Spring 2015](/file_url/6866) (1.59MB) - [Fall 2014](/file_url/6871) (1MB) - [Spring 2014](/file_url/6876) (708KB) - [Fall 2013](/file_url/6881) (746KB) - [Spring 2013](/file_url/6886) (445KB) - [Fall 2012](/file_url/6891) (682KB) - [Spring 2012](/file_url/6896) (751KB) - [Fall 2011](/file_url/6901) (810KB) - [Spring 2011](/file_url/255) (774KB) - [Fall 2010](/file_url/231) (841KB) - [Spring 2010](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/wcfia/files/cpspring2010.pdf "cpspring2010.pdf") (890KB) - [Fall 2009](/file_url/233) (1.9MB) - [Spring 2009](/file_url/234) (1.9MB) - [Fall 2008](/file_url/235) (800KB) - [Spring 2008](/file_url/6906) (1.5MB) - [Fall 2007](/file_url/237) (1.5MB) - [Winter 2007](/file_url/256) (1.62MB) - [Fall 2006](/file_url/275) (606KB) - [Spring 2006](/file_url/274) (1.6MB) - [Winter 2006](/file_url/273) (1.54MB) - [Winter 2006: Thomas Schelling Feature](/file_url/2289) (929KB) - [Fall 2005](/file_url/272) (522KB) - [Winter/Spring 2005](/file_url/271) (928KB) - [Fall 2004](/file_url/270) (1.1MB) - [Spring 2004](/file_url/269) (1.8MB) - [Winter 2004](/file_url/268) (2.1MB) - [Fall 2003](/file_url/267) (2.1MB) - [Spring 2003](/file_url/266) (461KB) - [Winter 2003](/file_url/265) (462KB) - [Fall 2002](/file_url/264) (679KB) - [Spring 2002](/file_url/263) (214KB) - [Winter 2002](/file_url/262) (187KB) - [Fall 2001](/file_url/261) (201KB) - [Spring 2001](/file_url/260) (185KB) - [Winter 2001](/file_url/259) (201KB) - [Fall 2000](/file_url/258) (157KB) - [Spring 2000](/file_url/257) (250KB) ## Page List [### Fall 2025, Volume 40 Number 1 ](/publications/centerpiece/fall2025) Download: Fall 2025, Volume 40 Number 1 [ PDF: 1.8 MB ] or view online The Fall 2025 issue of Centerpiece highlights recent activities at the Weatherhead Center, including events, publications, awards, and more. Executive Director Erin Goodman shares fall... ![Fall 2025 Centerpiece thumbnail showing illustration of soldiers pointing guns at men holding roses, alongside a duotone graphic "W" with the words "Centerpiece" and the issue information.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Cover-16x9-social-and-thumbnail.png?itok=Lc8SNERC)