A Harvard Law School student (referred to as “JDX”) has alleged that the Eli Goldston Professor of Law, Matthew Stephenson, J.D. ‘03, provided negative responses to a potential employer’s inquiry while serving as a professional reference.
According to JDX, Stephenson stated that although JDX was an exemplary student who carried themselves well in their class, there was a “concern” about JDX related to their involvement in campus activism around Palestine. Given the tension on campus surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, Stephenson recommended that the employer independently investigate JDX to make their own conclusions about their behavior.
Stephenson is alleged to have also referred to “rumors” from JDX’s classmates about misconduct by Palestinian activists during their conversation with the employer, which JDX claims created an impression that they were involved in specific harassment of individual students without evidence.
JDX became aware of the issue in September 2024, when a prospective employer notified them that Stephenson specifically raised concerns about them when asked a standardized set of reference questions. It is unclear if Stephenson has done this for other potential employers, since JDX has applied to several positions listing the professor as a primary reference. Nonetheless, it was not until a potential employer notified JDX this last fall that they became aware that Stephenson had any misgivings about them.
The student had performed strongly in their first year course with Professor Stephenson, resulting in the formation of a friendly relationship. JDX stated that Professor Stephenson “had sent me a really sweet email after the [1L fall] semester ended about my community building in class” and thus “it felt especially hurtful that he then made a comment about my character like that.”
In September, JDX confronted Stephenson about his alleged comments in a virtual meeting soon after the potential employer notified her. According to JDX, Stephenson confirmed that he had expressed concerns to the potential employer about JDX related to the on-campus tensions and involvement in pro-Palestine activism on campus. Stephenson allegedly cited concerns raised by other students about the pro-Palestine activism on campus and his reading of JDX’s activism in local Cambridge news. In the meeting, Stephenson confirmed, however, that none of the students who raised concerns about the activism to him had mentioned JDX.
When reached for comment, Professor Stephenson disputed that he made the potentially negative comment, stating that he only agrees to serve as a reference to students when they are “on-balance positive,” but noted that he “always truthfully answers direct questions from employers.” Pursuant to these standards, “to the best of [his] recollection”, he has “never mentioned any student’s political views or campus political activism activities in the context of giving an employment reference.”
The employee of the employer who contacted JDX described the professor’s comments as having called attention to potentially concerning rumors about JDX that they should investigate, but noted that Stephenson was not specific as to what the rumors related to.
Earlier this year, JDX filed a formal complaint under Harvard’s non-discrimination policy, claiming that Professor Stephenson had evinced a prejudice towards pro-Palestinian beliefs by way of his comments and his alleged confirmation that they stemmed from JDX’s activism. The investigation concluded after a standard period of time under Harvard’s policy; given the confidentiality of the substance of the investigation, its determination will not be provided in this piece.
Two other students, Irene Ameena, HLS ‘25, and another who preferred to remain anonymous, both spoke with JDX in the fall following the confrontation. Ameena overheard parts of the virtual conversation from another room, and states that JDX’s description of Professor Stephenson’s comments are correct. The unnamed student was not present for the confrontation, but spoke about the interaction with JDX shortly after and confirmed that her current retelling of the interaction matches her initial description.
It is not uncommon for professors to provide negative comments while serving as a professional reference, which is why the Office of Career Services (OCS) recommends students to ask for a positive reference or recommendation when approaching faculty. However, even if faculty provides middling or negative evaluations of character or academic performance, they usually do not comment on the political beliefs or activism of students in their references.
“It really was a violation of trust,” said JDX. “To know that a professor I had looked up to, whose class I had enjoyed and whose mentorship I admired, would make a statement like that to a prospective employer, not based on any personal knowledge but rather the political opinions of students who disagreed with me, felt unfair and biased.”
Despite the setback, JDX has secured employment following law school in a field they are passionate about.