We are delighted and honored to be Faculty Deans of Cabot House. Cabot’s motto, Semper Cor, or “always heart”, has never felt more urgent than it does in today’s world, and it is the thing that drew us to the House. Cabot is one of the smaller Harvard Houses, and that’s part of why we love it. It’s a place where we can get to know each other, working together to realize shared ideals. The world needs more Semper Cor—more radical kindness—and so does Harvard. We’re proud to be a part of this community with you, students, tutors, and staff. Cabot is a special place.

Our family likes to travel and to do simple things together: cooking, baking, hanging out and watching really terrible television. Crate is a fan of English historical dramas; Ian loves sci-fi and fantasy; and Liam is a fan of comedy and gaming. We are passionate about our pets. Our multi-species household includes an adorable, rambunctious labradoodle named Sadie, and two cats, Hoot and Cleo. Hoot loves to sit on Liam’s shoulders wherever he goes, looking down at the world (Liam is 6’4”) while hanging out with his favorite person. Cleo is polydactyl (she has something like 28 toes!), which means she can climb absolutely anything. She does not hear—she’s deaf. Sadie loves students and just about everybody. She looks more like an Ewok than a dog sometimes.

Crate and Ian met at Earlham College, a small Quaker liberal arts college in the Midwest, where Crate studied Music and Philosophy and Ian studied History and Japan Studies. Proud recipient of a Pell Grant and Work-Study during college, Ian was born in Iowa and grew up in Minnesota. Crate was born in Lexington, Kentucky, where her mother studied Law and her father was a Professor of English, and grew up in a small town in Central Texas. Liam was born in New York City, where Crate was pursued a 10-year career as a classical singer and Ian completed a Ph.D. at Columbia University. Liam plays basketball on his high school team; we’re all big Celtics (and Crimson!) fans.

In addition to his work at Cabot, Ian is Director of Undergraduate Studies in Harvard’s Department of History. His scholarship is focused on Japan and East Asia, with particular concern for histories of climate change, environment, science and technology. He’s excited to teach courses on the history of Cabot and the Quad, too. After more than a decade in Alumni Affairs & Development at Harvard, including leading Advancement for the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Crate became Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Relations at Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2020. She works closely with the Institute’s President to realize Wentworth’s mission of “inclusive excellence” through philanthropy and engagement with stakeholders throughout Boston, and around the world. She loves to talk about the impact of philanthropy and non-profit work with students.

Ian will almost never turn down a cup of coffee in the morning—come hang out with me in the Cabot Café. Crate is a dancer at heart—she loves to boogie down to everything from Britney Spears (Free Britney!) to fellow Texan Willie Nelson (who she met once, a story worth hearing!) We ask that you do us one favor: say “hello” when you see us, and let us know how you are doing. 

Semper Cor