Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman headed today to United States to give several lectures at Harvard University. 

As the first institution of higher learning established in the U.S., Harvard University, founded in 1636, is a magnet for high-achieving undergrads, including over 40% students of color.

Notable individuals that attended Harvard span Presidents Barack Obama, Theodore Roosevelt and John Adams; plus Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and actress Natalie Portman. 

Within 12 degree-granting schools, over one-third of students major in the social sciences followed by biological and biomedical sciences and history. 

The university is experimenting with new educational models in experiential learning and online platforms, such as edX, cofounded in 2012 with nearby MIT. 

The largest academic library is housed at Harvard with over 20.4 million volumes. Harvard has the largest university endowment at $36 million. 

In June 2015, Harvard received the largest gift in its history, $400 million to endow a School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The Crimson compete in NCAA Division I athletics.