Ian Miller & Crate Herbert
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. This focus on inclusion resonates with our history as a Radcliffe House. We take our Radcliffe roots seriously, celebrating our predecessors who demonstrated the power of women at Harvard and in the world. Likewise, we celebrate the Quad’s rich history as a site of what one of our tutors once called “deep inclusiveness.” Everyone belongs at Cabot.
Our family likes to travel and 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 Penelope (aka Penny, aka “PENNNNY!”) and one cat, Cleo. You will often see us walking Penny around the neighborhood. She loves students…but she is a puppy who has no manners or sense of personal space, so please do us a favor: when you meet her, play it cool. Just stand calmly. She will slowly chill out and soon be lying at your feet, wagging her tail. Cleo is polydactyl (she has something like 28 toes!), which means she can climb absolutely anything. She does not hear—she’s deaf. She loves Penny.
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. She grew up in a small town in Central Texas. Liam was born in New York City, where Crate pursued a 10-year career as a classical singer and Ian completed a Ph.D. at Columbia University. Liam plays basketball for fun; we’re all big Celtics (and Crimson!) fans.
Ian is the Reischauer Institute Professor of Environmental History in the 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 is Vice President for University Advancement at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She loves to talk about the impact of philanthropy and non-profit work with students. Ian is always eager to talk about history, Asia, and issues of sustainability.
Our goal is to make Cabot into a home for this brilliant, diverse, generous, ambitious community of students, tutors, and staff. Please do us a favor: stop us in the hallways or sit down next to us in the dining hall. We chose to join the House because we believe that kindness and community across lines of difference and within a richly diverse context make Harvard (and all of us) stronger and better.
Crate is a dancer at heart—she loves to boogie down to everything from Dua Lipa (did you know she once visited the Cabot Dining Hall…April 1, 2023!) to fellow Texan Willie Nelson (who she met once, a story worth hearing!). Ian will almost never turn down a cup of coffee or a chance to talk shop—he is a proud, card-carrying nerd.
Semper Cor