Just weeks ago, Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) underwent a substantial reorganization, leading to the layoff of approximately 35 staff members. This accounts for about 15 percent of SEAS’s entire workforce, a fact revealed in a document obtained by The Harvard Crimson. What’s particularly alarming is that almost a third of these cuts directly impact roles crucial for student support, sparking widespread apprehension among both faculty and students.
SEAS officials explained these layoffs as a strategic move to address the school’s “current and future needs,” emphasizing a review of “job criticality” and employee tenure. The specific list of positions targeted was disclosed to staff, adhering to a Massachusetts regulation designed to prevent age discrimination during such workforce reductions.
The Direct Hit to Student Advising
Among those whose positions were eliminated are notable figures like Christopher Lombardo, a lecturer and dedicated advisor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, and Bryan Yoon, who held a similar lecturer role in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering. Both played pivotal roles as primary academic advisors, offering essential guidance on course selection, graduation pathways, and overall academic development within their respective departments. Beyond advising, they were also active instructors and spearheaded various student-focused programs.
For example, Christopher Lombardo was the driving force behind the ‘Engineering Without Borders’ program, even creating a linked course. This initiative provided students with invaluable hands-on experience, involving them in the construction of clean water infrastructure for communities in Kenya and the Dominican Republic that desperately needed it. According to The Harvard Crimson, Lombardo voiced serious concerns that this unique course, which he described as crucial for students to gain and apply practical skills, would likely cease to exist after his exit.
Bryan Yoon, in a message seen by The Harvard Crimson, conveyed his deep connection with his students. He indicated that the news of his layoff “came as a shock to many” and underscored his profound satisfaction in serving as “your instructor, advisor, and mentor.” He further mentioned that his extensive responsibilities would now be dispersed among the remaining faculty and SEAS staff.
Outcry from Students and Faculty
Students have openly shared their alarm regarding this sudden decrease in vital support. Kimmy G.A. Thompson ’26, an Environmental Science and Engineering major, characterized the dismissal of these advisors as “a massive setback” for SEAS students. She stressed that these positions offered crucial guidance that simply isn’t available through other channels within Harvard College. Emily Xing ’27, who took Lombardo’s course last autumn, pointed out the significant danger of losing an applied, impactful class that is fundamental to the SEAS educational framework.
Lombardo himself did not hold back, telling The Harvard Crimson that these layoffs, directly affecting student interaction, fundamentally contradict the core missions of both SEAS and Harvard College.
The Broader Picture: Budgetary Strain and University Trends
In his official announcement, SEAS Dean David C. Parkes attributed the layoffs to a “budgetary shortfall.” This gap, he explained, is a result of several factors: an increase in the university’s endowment tax, a reduction in the federal government’s reimbursement rate for indirect research costs, and shifts in overall research funding distribution. Notably, unlike previous reductions at Harvard’s School of Public Health and the Kennedy School—which primarily targeted administrative and research staff—these recent cuts are the first to directly affect positions that serve undergraduates.
This decision starkly illustrates a deepening conflict between financial pressures and the university’s commitment to personalized academic support. Both students and faculty maintain that roles such as those filled by Lombardo and Yoon are indispensable to a rich learning experience, offering a blend of mentorship and hands-on engagement that cannot be replicated by traditional classroom instruction alone.
What Lies Ahead for Harvard SEAS?
The SEAS layoffs serve as a stark reminder of the complex balancing act universities must perform: managing budgetary demands while upholding a high standard of student engagement. For departments such as Electrical Engineering and Environmental Science and Engineering, the void left by these dedicated advisors prompts serious questions about academic continuity, the future of mentorship, and the viability of programs that have historically delivered tangible community benefits.
As Harvard endeavors to navigate the fallout from these reductions, students, faculty, and administrators are left to contend with profound implications for the quality of education, the depth of mentorship available, and the fundamental role of student-facing staff in shaping the university’s academic journey.