On Tuesday, April 8th, members of the Harvard Department of Government gathered at the 2025 Harvard Horizons Symposium to support and celebrate one of our own, Ph.D. candidate Andrew O’Donohue. Organized by Harvard Griffin GSAS, this prestigious annual event highlights the remarkable research of the selected 2025 Harvard Horizons Scholars, chosen by the Harvard Horizons Faculty Fellows.
This year’s cohort of eight extraordinary scholars forms the twelfth class of the Society of Horizons Scholars. This fellowship not only brings recognition but also offers a nurturing environment for community building, mentorship, and both professional and academic growth. The scholars receive in-depth mentoring on the art of effective presentation, equipping them to showcase their research across the broader Harvard community.
Held in the historic Sanders Theatre, Andrew O’Donohue had the honor of being the first to present. His presentation, titled ‘Law versus Democracy: Why Courts Defend or Undermine Democracy in Israel, Turkey, and Beyond’, explored the varying roles that courts play in either protecting or eroding democratic systems, drawing insights from compelling case studies in Turkey and Israel.
Andrew’s interest in democracy was ignited by witnessing firsthand a military coup attempt in Turkey while working in Istanbul for the US State Department. This harrowing experience highlighted for him not only the preciousness but also the fragility of democratic freedoms, fostering a deep commitment to understanding and protecting these rights. His family’s history as Armenian Americans, who escaped persecution, further deepens his appreciation of the interplay between law and democracy.
His presentation was met with enthusiastic applause and commendations from attendees. Andrew’s research exemplifies the kind of innovative and impactful work that the Department of Government strives to cultivate and support.
Andrew’s fellow scholars included:
- Sergio Alarcón Robledo, Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations – ‘Living Tombs: Toward a Fluid Understanding of Architectural Space’
- Alex Braslavsky, Slavic Languages & Literatures – ‘Embracing Twilight: Older Women Poets of the Slavic World and the Unfurling of Their Voices’
- Brandon Campbell, Chemistry and Chemical – ‘Biology Silver’s Superpower: Exotic Photocatalysis Enabled by Electronic Instability’
- Mackinley FitzPatrick, Anthropology – ‘Empire of String: Unraveling the Enigma of Inka Khipus’
- Katherine Horgan, English – ‘Sappho Lost and Found: Reading Sappho in the Renaissance’
- Raphaël Raux, Economics – ‘Pitfalls of Anthropomorphism: Misunderstanding AI’s Potential’
- Katherine Venturo-Conerly, Psychology – ‘Tackling the Global Youth Mental Health Challenge: Lessons from Psychotherapy Research in Kenya’
Each scholar’s work underscores the diversity and depth of research that defines Harvard’s Ph.D. community. As we reflect on this event, we are proud of all that Andrew and his fellow scholars have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing their continued contributions to academic excellence and innovation.
For more information on the 2025 Harvard Horizons Scholars, including their departments and presentation topics, visit the Harvard Griffin GSAS website here.
To see a snapshot of the event, head to our YouTube channel to watch our latest video.