A former Harvard University dean has been dismissed from his role, prompting his wife to launch an online fundraiser seeking thousands of pounds after the family was given just days to vacate their campus home.
Sudden Termination and Financial Strain
Gregory Davis's removal as the Resident Dean of Dunster House was confirmed in a message to House affiliates on January 5, according to reports from The Harvard Crimson. While the university did not publicly state a reason, Davis faced significant criticism in October 2025 after old social media posts expressing hostility towards Republicans, white people, and former President Donald Trump were rediscovered.
In response to his termination, Davis's wife, Nirisi Angulo, created a GoFundMe page. She explained that the family was given only ten days to leave their university-provided housing. "This sudden and unplanned upheaval has left us scrambling to find a safe home for our family amidst the harsh winter months," Angulo wrote.
The couple have a five-year-old daughter and a newborn son, named Dean in honour of his father's former position. Angulo stated that difficult pregnancies and miscarriages had depleted their savings, leaving them with no family support and in financial difficulty.
Controversial Social Media History
The controversy stems from years of posts on X (formerly Twitter) attributed to Davis. In one from August 2019, he allegedly wrote, "It's almost like whiteness is a self-destructive ideology that annihilates everyone around it. By design."
Other resurfaced posts included telling someone to ask "cop friends to quit since they're racist and evil" in September 2020, and defending rioting following the death of George Floyd as part of democracy. He also expressed a lack of empathy upon the death of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh in 2021 and compared the 2016 Republican National Convention to the "worst of Nixon and Hitler."
Davis's X account has since been deleted. In a statement, he said the old tweets "do not reflect my current thinking or beliefs" and expressed regret for any negative impact on the Dunster community.
Fundraiser and Harvard's Changing Climate
Angulo's GoFundMe appeal set a target of $22,000 (approximately £17,300) to help the family find a new home and cover moving costs. "Your generosity will allow us to find a new home, cover moving expenses, and take the necessary steps to rebuild," she wrote. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had raised just $300.
The incident occurs amidst a broader shift at Harvard. The university's interim president, Alan Garber, recently stated the institution had become "far too woke" and was working to restore objectivity. This follows the ousting of former president Claudine Gay in January 2024 over handling of anti-Semitism and plagiarism allegations.
Emilie Raymer, who served as interim dean during Davis's absence, will continue in the role permanently. Harvard has not officially confirmed that the dismissal was directly linked to the social media posts.
