The Loeb Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design is proud to welcome the Class of 2026 Loeb Fellows. These visionary practitioners and activists are revitalizing urban and rural places, democratizing policymaking, engaging arts and culture to improve our health and environment, and strengthening civic engagement. They are inspired and inspiring mid-career professionals who come from diverse backgrounds around the world and share passion and purpose—to strengthen their abilities to advance equity and resilience and to harness the power of collective action.
During their ten-month residency at Harvard GSD, Loeb Fellows immerse themselves in a rich academic environment, auditing courses at Harvard and MIT, exchanging insights, and expanding professional networks. They engage actively with GSD students and faculty, participate as speakers and panelists at public events, and convene workshops and other activities that encourage knowledge sharing and creation. Throughout, Loeb Fellows consider how they might refocus their careers and broaden the impact of their work.
The ten Class of 2026 Loeb Fellows are:
Daniela Chacón Arias, cofounder and executive director of TANDEM, Quito, Ecuador / Cecilia Cuff, founder of the Nascent Group, Chicago, USA / Jeremiah Ellison, Ward 5 city council member, Minneapolis, USA / Pedro Évora Amaral, founder of Évora ArPE and RUA Arquitetos and professor at PUC-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Jennifer Hughes, senior advisor for partnerships, expansion, and innovation at the National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC, USA / Natalia Rudiak, director of special projects at ReImagine Appalachia, Pittsburgh, USA / Jacek Smolicki, founder of Ekoton and cofounder of the Walking Festival of Sound, Stockholm, Sweden / Andy Summers, founder and codirector of Architecture Fringe, Glasgow, Scotland / Julia Thayne, founder of Twoº & Rising, Los Angeles, USA / Oliver Wainwright, architecture and design critic of the Guardian, London, Britain.
“In addition to being exceptional practitioners in their respective fields, Loeb Fellows are inspiring individuals. Each year, Fellows bring their unique experiences to the GSD community, sparking new conversations and challenging us all to consider how design can address global challenges,” says Sarah M. Whiting, Dean and Josep Lluís Sert Professor of Architecture at Harvard GSD. “It is my pleasure to welcome the class of 2026 to campus next fall, and I look forward to what they accomplish during their time at Harvard.”
“In his autobiography, John Loeb reflected that among his many philanthropic endeavors, the Loeb Fellowship stood out as the most personally rewarding,” says Loeb Fellowship curator John Peterson. “Until their passing in 1996, John and his wife, Frances, hosted a luncheon for each year’s class of fellows at their home. It was not the program alone, but the people—their talents, aspirations, and potential—that inspired their deep appreciation for this unique investment. In difficult times, when the future can feel bleak, it is the vision and actions of individuals with a shared purpose that rekindle hope and remind us that better futures are possible.” Peterson is an architect, activist, and a Loeb Fellow in the class of 2006.
The Loeb Fellowship and the ArtLab—a laboratory for research in the arts—are pleased to welcome Jacek Smolicki as the 2026 Loeb/ArtLab Fellow. Now in its fifth year, the collaborative fellowship previously featured the artists Jordan Weber (’22), Dario Calmese (’23), Joseph Zeal Henry (’24), and Shana M. griffin (’25).
Bree Edwards, director of the ArtLab notes, “Sound is a vital layer of built and natural environments, shaping how we experience space, memory, and connection. We’re excited to collaborate with sound artist Jacek Smolicki, whose work deepens our understanding of place and perception.”
After their year in residence at Harvard GSD, Loeb Fellows join a powerful worldwide network of over 450 Loeb Fellowship alumni, including recognized leaders like Pilar Viladas (’96), Rick Lowe (’02), John Zeisel (’71), Mpho Matsipa (’22), Mary Means (’82), Eleni Myrivili (’20), Alejandro Echeverri (’16), Henry Grabar (’24), Mathew Mazzotta (’18), and Alessandro Petti (’17).
The Loeb Fellowship traces its roots to the late 1960s, when John L. Loeb directed a Harvard GSD campaign based on the theme of “Crisis.” Loeb saw the American city in disarray and believed Harvard could help. He imagined bringing promising innovators of the built and natural environment to Harvard GSD for a year, challenging them to do more and do better, convinced they would return to their work with new ideas and energy. John Peterson says, “The Class of 2026 continues this legacy, inviting us to imagine brighter tomorrows.”