HARVARD + KENNEDY THE DECISION SCIENTIST A RIVER IN THE DESERT SCHOOL HELP YOURSELF magazine spring 2019
FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT
ELEVATING CIVIL DISCOURSE GOES TO THE HEART OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP THE SIXTH COURSE
WHEN 63 NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS of the U.S. Congress came to Harvard Kennedy School in December to attend the now- traditional orientation program hosted by the Institute of Politics, HARVARD PRESIDENT LARRY BACOW encouraged them to see the country’s colleges and universities as resources on which to draw. “We are a source of expertise, and I hope you will use us and exploit all of us mercilessly, because every college and university in America exists to serve the nation in one form or another. That is what we do; it’s why we’re here,” he said. But he also reminded them, as they were about to dive into the cauldron of national politics (and a government shutdown), that they had a “special responsibility” to model respectful behavior and proper civil discourse. “We need to demonstrate to the rest of the world that we believe in the fundamental decency of this country by how we treat each other,” Bacow said. —
PHOTO BY MARTHA STEWART
springspring 2019 2019 | harvard| harvard kennedy kennedy school school 1 1
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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS during the past few years I have spoken about how economic, social, Associate ean or and political changes have eroded people’s trust in governments and in leaders. Of course, I have ommunications and u lic A airs also refl ected on what we at Harvard Kennedy School can do to respond to these challenges. As Thoko Moyo Harvard’s new president, Larry Bacow, said at his installation ceremony this past fall, “We have a irector o trate ic ommunications responsibility to use the immense resources entrusted to us—our assets, ideas, and people—to Gail Chalef address diffi cult problems and painful divisions.” Editor Some of the problems we see in the world have exacerbated divisions between people and Robert O’Neill fostered a breakdown in productive dialogue. Therefore it has been one of our aims this year at irector o Alumni elations the Kennedy School to bolster civil discourse in our community. In this issue of the magazine, you Karen Bonadio can read about some of the ways that we are teaching and modeling civil discourse on campus. esi ners Often when people with different backgrounds and views come together, the results of these Janet Friskey connections are powerful—and the Kennedy School aims to foster those sorts of connections. Rachel Harris Raychel Casey Some of the wonderful connections occur between alumni: For example, you can read in this issue about two alumni with very different backgrounds who met as Kennedy School students and ontri utin Writers Tania Del Rio mpp 2016 is executive Michael Blanding have since established a university in Niger. director of the Boston Mayor’s Office Nora Delaney
MARK OSTOW of Women’s Advancement. Other important connections are formed Susannah Ketchum Glass between our faculty members and government Mari Megias leaders and policymakers. For instance, one Ralph Ranalli of our professors is working with the Chief rinter FEATURE STORIES of U.S. Naval Operations to help teach the Lane Press science of decision making to members of the Harvard Kennedy School 14 For the Sake of Argument Civil discourse isn’t just about polite conversation. Navy in order to improve outcomes in high- Magazine is published two times It’s a vital ingredient of better public policy and public leadership. stakes scenarios. And faculty affi liated with a year by the John F. Kennedy School of Government Offi ce of our Center for International Development are 20 The Decision Scientist As the Navy’s first chief decision officer, Professor working with government offi cials in dozens Communications and Public Affairs 79 John F. Kennedy Street Jennifer Lerner is teaching the military how to harness the science of decision making. of countries to conduct research and develop Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 policy approaches for solving thorny problems Phone: 617-495-1442 26 What Happens in the Arctic Like lines of longitude, issues converge in the world’s in economic development. E-mail: [email protected] northernmost region. Many important connections take place Copyright © 2019 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. between our faculty and our students and 28 Like a River in the Desert Kad Kaneye and Meredith Segal, both mc/mpa 2017, alumni, and you can read about some of these connections in the following pages. For example, All rights reserved. have built a new type of university in Niger. one alumna worked with Kennedy School professors to develop a signifi cant new program on a a ine Advisory Board Joe Bergantino c pa 1985 the Arctic. An alumnus drew on faculty guidance to launch a bipartisan organization for veterans 32 Help Yourself Development economists look to better governance to improve the lives seeking offi ce. Yet another alumna was so inspired by her study of gender inequity while at the Phil Cronin pp 1996 Tiziana Dearing pp 2000 of the world’s poorest people. Kennedy School that she changed careers to focus on this issue for the City of Boston. Melodie Jackson c pa 2001 These are just a few of the stories in this magazine. There are many more that demonstrate David King, faculty 36 In Memoriam Devah Pager’s fierce commitment and lasting legacy. how the Kennedy School community is advancing the public interest in powerful ways. Chris Olver pp 2012 Among all of our efforts to improve lives around the world, we also stop to mourn the Craig Sandler c pa 2000 loss of Devah Pager, who was the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy. She was Janice Saragoni c pa 1989 DEPARTMENTS Jeffrey Seglin, faculty a pioneering scholar who illuminated the effects of discrimination in the labor market and 4 Ideas Global Reach 38 Bully pulpit Malala Yousafzai 42 Alumni voices Classnotes | exemplifi ed the commitment to the common good that distinguishes the Kennedy School. Ken Shulman c pa 2004 Steven Singer c pa 1986 | Beth Myers | Julius Maada Bio | Matthew Aronson mpp 2010 | Ruby Ajanee Devah remains an inspiring model for our community, and we miss her very much. 8 Alumni Tania Del Rio mpp 2016 Scott Talan c pa 2002 Juan Manuel Santos mc/mpa 1981 | mc/mpa 2009 | Robert Reynolds mpp 2015 | | Palak Shah mpp 2009 | Rye Donald Tighe c pa 1999 and more Kimberly Dowdell mc/mpa 2015 Dean Doug Elmendorf Barcott mpa 2009 Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy 40 In print The Hell of Good 62 Ways and means Faculty Richard Zeckhauser | March 11 Intentions | Click Here to Kill Thirty years of support by Malcolm Wiener Mathias Risse Everybody | Not for the Faint of | The Bacon Environmental Leadership Heart | Kissinger the Negotiator | This magazine is printed on 100 percent Fellowship postconsumer waste paper (text) and The Formula 30 percent postconsumer waste paper 64 Exit poll
TOM FITZSIMMONS TOM (cover) and is sc certifi ed. Cover Illustration Christian Northeast www.hks.harvard.edu spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school 3
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7 I ELAND 9 FINLAND
10 ANADA
FRAN E 8 Our work in the United States was featured in the Summer 2018 issue. Learn more at 12 HINA
11 UNITED ARA EMIRATES
3 HONDURAS 2 IETNAM
SIERRA LEONE 4 5
HANA 6 INDONESIA
1 RA IL
O A R A 2018 To see more, go to our interactive Find the corresponding map at stories on page 6–7
spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school
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Making Improving Expanding Enhancing Strengthening Expanding Democracy Public Economic Global Security Public the Reach of Count Services Opportunity and Human Rights Leadership Our Training
1 RA IL (Democracy in Hard Places): The 3 HONDURAS (Building State Capability): The 5 HANA (Social Innovation + Change Initiative 7 I ELAND 11 UNITED ARA EMIRATES Ash Center’s Initiative on Democracy in government of Honduras faces key delivery and Center for Public Leadership): E A Hard Places aims to foster social science and implementation gaps, especially in I mpa 2019 cofounded OZÉ, research on democratic experiments— areas that involve many agents and require a business insights engine that enables both successful and failed—throughout new and undeveloped capabilities. Building investment readiness for small to medium the developing world, including Brazil, State Capability ( sc), a program of the enterprises in West Africa. McCormick eli to learn how democracy can be built and Center for International Development led by started OZÉ to address out-of-date business enrp maintained in a variety of terrains. And A A EW Edward S. Mason Senior practices, such as the use of paper ledgers, s pp Lecturer in International Development (center, but soon realized that the app had wider below), is helping the government employ the commercial viability. Today, OZÉ, for which Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (pdia) McCormick won the Harvard President’s eli method as its active working approach and Innovation Challenge, is the most active to facilitate visible progress in key challenge accelerator in French-speaking Africa. areas. (See story on page 32.) McCormick credits her Cheng Fellowship—a rigorous program that supports selected ae students in taking action to advance progress against a pressing social problem through innovation—with keeping her grounded and through engagement with policymakers, connected to the project’s original vision. practitioners, and activists, it aims to translate that research into action. 6 INDONESIA (Evidence for Policy Design): The program is co-directed by E A A A, Jeffrey Cheah Professor of 9 FINLAND ANADA AI WA I , Jorge Paulo Lemann South-East Asia Studies, and colleagues Professor of Brazil Studies, and A E studied the effectiveness of Indonesia’s 10 A , Sultan of Oman Professor of cash transfer program, PKH, using data 4 SIERRA LEONE (Transparency for International Relations. from about 14,000 households. They found E Development): A diverse array of voices that the program, which was designed to E EE within the international development fi eld 2 IETNAM (Ash Vietnam Program): reduce poverty, helped increase the use of 12 HINA have promoted the potential benefi ts Established in 1988, the Vietnam trained health professionals for childbirth A A A I mc/mpa of community-led transparency and Program, a part of the Ash Center’s and reduced the number of children not enrp accountability, but the evidence that Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia, is a enrolled in school. Over time, researchers such approaches have an impact is mixed recognized leader in the study of Vietnam’s also observed large reductions in stunting See story on page 26. and incomplete. Without this evidence, political and economic development. and some evidence of increased high civil society organizations and their Through a combination of teaching in school completion rates. The results 8 FRAN E A EE E I mpp supporters will not have the information Vietnam, research, and policy advising, suggest that cash transfer programs enrp they need to target their work in improving the program is an infl uential participant in can have substantial effects on the the responsiveness of governments and the country’s policy dialogue, informing accumulation of human capital. service providers. Working with local civil Vietnam’s ongoing reform process. The I E society partners across fi ve countries, the program is led by A I A I E, Ash Center Transparency for Development ( d) project senior economist, and A A E , looks to fi ll this knowledge gap by generating the center’s senior adviser for mainland rigorous and actionable evidence about Southeast Asia. whether, why, and in what contexts local transparency and accountability interventions improve development outcomes. A F , Winthrop Lafl in McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government, and A E , senior lecturer in public policy, are the project’s principal investigators. www.hks.harvard.edu spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school
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Del Rio is the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Women’s that reflects the city’s workforce broken down by ethnicity, Advancement for Boston, and the faces of the people touched by gender, and earnings, and notes this is something most her work are all around her. organizations are too scared to do. “But our information has Highlighting issues of inequality and working to effect to be public,” she says, “and when you share your information change for women in all levels of the workforce is Del Rio’s freely and solicit feedback on how to improve, antagonists overarching focus. Her remit from Mayor Martin J. Walsh become collaborators!” includes continuing the efforts of a pay equity program that This perspective will serve Del Rio well as she shifts her focus has garnered national acclaim, developing workforce support to the issue of affordable child care (Massachusetts is the most programs and addressing affordability issues within the expensive state in the country for child care) and supporting the childcare sector, and expanding efforts to combat sex trafficking child care workforce—90 percent female, 61 percent women of through a corporate alliance initiative. color, 44 percent immigrant women—of whom more than For the past four years, the Office of Women’s Advancement 30 percent are living under the poverty line. As the executive director of (where Del Rio was preceded by Megan Costello mc/mpa 2019) She knows she has her work cut out for her, but she’s the Boston Mayor’s Office has had a laser focus on tackling pay equity issues, and the focused and committed. “You have to have an open mind to of Women’s Advancement, results have been impressive. The model involves a three- different ways of attacking problems, and sometimes we really Tania Del Rio mpp 2016 works pronged approach—helping individual women navigate need to look beyond,” she says. “I work for change every day on gender equity issues more successfully through an already biased system while from where I sit.” that range from equal pay to simultaneously working with employers and legislators to — affordable child care. change unfair aspects of that system. Susannah Ketchum Glass is a Boston-based freelance writer. “We’ve trained more than 8,000 women in our salary negotiation workshops, and nearly 90 percent of those participants take some sort of action, whether that be researching if they’re being paid fairly or actually making the ALUMNI ask and hopefully getting a raise or a better job,” says Del Rio. “Women have to use different strategies than men, and it’s Equity Investor important that they learn how to mitigate social backlash.” At the same time, Boston has brought together almost 250 FOR TANIA DEL RIO MPP 2016, the passion she brings to her current companies that convene regularly to discuss ways to advance women in leadership and close the pay gap, but that have also BY SUSANNAH KETCHUM GLASS work began, in a sense, with a Policy Analysis Exercise (pae). Del Rio signed the mayor’s 100% Talent Compact, agreeing to supply enrolled at Harvard Kennedy School after serving in Mexico’s Foreign wage data so that the city can produce an aggregate picture of PHOTOS BY MARK OSTOW Service. Once on campus, she delved into research being conducted current pay gap statistics. “We are the only city doing this,” says by Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government IRIS BOHNET— Del Rio, noting that the group includes Putnam Investments and co-director of the Women and Public Policy Program and now academic State Street, among others. “We get calls from cities, states, dean—on how to combat implicit gender biases in the workforce by even some foreign governments, asking us how they can follow You have suit. We caution them that you can’t do it without engaging improving decision making within organizations. individuals and employers, and doing that alongside advocating “to have an Then her old employer, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, came for equal pay legislation at the state level.” knocking. Both Mexico’s senate and the un had recommended that Del Rio—who grew up in Mexico and the United States— open mind to the ministry investigate why the number of female ambassadors it started her work with the city with the Diversity Team, helping different ways appointed had plateaued at 27 percent, and Del Rio was enlisted to implement the mayor’s goal that the city’s 20,000-strong workforce reflect its population. Boston is 23 percent black and of attacking to analyze possible reasons. The resulting pae project earned 19 percent Latino, and the city actually employs about 27 percent problems. I work accolades—the Outstanding Policy Analysis Exercise Award black but only 12 percent Latino workers. “Those are gaps we and the Jane Mansbridge Award for research on gender would like to close, from entry-level jobs up through senior for change every issues—and was deeply rewarding for Del Rio. leadership,” admits Del Rio. “We’re getting closer to our goal, but day from “The work was academically fascinating,” she says, we’re not there yet.” Indeed, revealing the need for change in the process of “and it was done for an organization whose people I knew, where I sit. working on a problem is not something Del Rio shies away from. Iris Bohnet so the recommendations I made had a human face.” Today,
MARTHA STEWART MARTHA She is proud of the launch of a user-friendly public dashboard
8 www.hks.harvard.edu spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school 9
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PROFILE
FACULTY FACULTY In No Uncertain Terms Artificial intelligence, algorithms, and “WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE to speak at your 50th big data: Mathias Risse anniversary celebration, you get the people who like you the most,” RICHARD ZECKHAUSER, the Frank P. on the brave new future Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, told a crowd of 150 friends and family (including lots of luminaries) of human rights at an event last October marking his five decades of teaching at Harvard. His joke was a measure of Zeckhauser’s humility. It was also an insight into a mind that has been as playful as it has been incisive, probing the everyday for lasting insights. Zeckhauser, who graduated from Harvard College and received a phd in economics from the University, initially joined the Harvard faculty in 1968 as an WHAT HAPPENS TO HUMAN RIGHTS in a world in assistant professor in the economics department. which humans are enhanced, supplemented, or even However, he was soon recruited to the Kennedy supplanted by artificial intelligence and machines? Palak Shah mpp 2009 School, which was being rebooted by a group of Even now, algorithms and artificial intelligence ALUMNI is pioneering the use of social scientists that included Richard Neustadt and are transforming our society, and Carr Center for technology for equity. Tom Schelling. At the Kennedy School, Zeckhauser’s Human Rights Policy Director MATHIAS RISSE, the The Invisible Hands imaginative application of economics was given Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Philosophy and Public freedom to roam. From taxation to health to the Administration, says we need to discuss these issues environment, his contributions have been as deep as while there is still time. PALAK SHAH MPP 2009 has their homes, their elderly and efficiency, convenience, and Why have you come back they have been broad and have included concepts such as status quo bias, betrayal aversion, and quality- worked on implementing the disabled loved ones. Organizing profit. Through ndwa Labs, to hks as the Beck Visiting With all the alarming headlines today about technology’s role in society, domestic workers has always Social Innovator at sici? adjusted life years. His scholarly output includes Affordable Care Act in hospital we are pioneering the use of what are some concerns about its impact on human rights? systems in states that voted been considered an impossible technology for equity, making 13 books and more than 300 articles. And he has Social enterprise has for too task, because it’s a labor market the world we live in better as mentored hundreds of students. We are already turning over a lot of decision making to machines. We’re using against it and on improving long been focused on optimizing that is disaggregated, informal, well as easier. In December, we Zeckhauser’s influence on the Kennedy School automated decision making in the judicial system, where decisions about parole transit in Los Angeles, a city outcomes within suboptimal and atomized. Strategies that launched Alia, an easy way to is similarly immeasurable. “The Kennedy School are made by—or at least based on the advice of—algorithms. We are developing famous for its car culture and conditions, rather than work for other workers simply provide benefits—such as paid would exist, perhaps, without Richard, but it certainly technologies for artificially intelligent weapons systems. The way we exercise freedom traffic jams. Drawn to complex, transforming those underlying don’t work in this part of the time off and life, disability, wouldn’t exist in its current form,” said Jack Donahue, of speech and freedom of expression is being massively affected by the availability of entrenched problems that conditions. The assumption that economy, so our movement has critical illness, and accident the Raymond Vernon Senior Lecturer in Public deep fakes and bots in online discussions. And that’s just the beginning. require innovative solutions, a market-based intervention or always needed to be innovative insurance—to gig workers like Policy. “It wouldn’t exist as a citadel for the practical she has now turned her focus to social enterprise solution can and experimental. the person who cleans your application of social science concepts to make the What will society look like when more and more tasks are not merely organizing and helping improve solve problems that at their home. world a better place.” supplemented by algorithms and robots but actually taken over the lives of the 2.5 million Domestic workers were explicitly core are entrenched in power Throughout his long tenure, Zeckhauser has been by machines? nannies, housekeepers, and excluded from the New Deal The existing benefits system imbalances has simply proved not recognized for his far-ranging intellect, collaborative caregivers for the elderly in the This might all end for the better: throughout history, laws passed in the 1930s. They that relies on full-time to be a sufficient approach. spirit, and excellence in teaching. Teaching fellow Alice United States. As the founder of are vulnerable not only because employment with one employer technological innovation has almost always created more sici fundamentally understands Heath mpp 2016 said, “More than any other professor I ndwa Labs, the innovation arm they lack worker rights and is of no use to housecleaners— and higher-quality jobs than it has eliminated. It is also power and innovation beyond had, he would link the concepts we were learning to real- of the National Domestic Workers protections but also as women they typically work for many possible that large parts of the population will be increasingly enterprise. It’s exciting to life situations in a way that felt really, really tangible.” Alliance, and as the Beck Visiting working in private spaces clients or employers, providing excluded from the workplace because they simply lack the have a center at Harvard that and subject to harassment different amounts of service necessary education and training. And as they are excluded Social Innovator at the Kennedy recognizes the nuance between without witness. They are often to each. Through Alia, we have from the workplace, they will also be increasingly irrelevant as School’s Social Innovation + market-based solutions and immigrants who are threatened created an online portable participants in our political processes. Change Initiative (sici), Shah is social innovation more broadly, regarding their documentation benefits platform that is already using tech for social justice. while combining a deep and status, and they are low-wage making a real difference in the If we’re heading toward extending the definition of what it is to be fundamental desire to disrupt What’s unique about workers with little recourse lives of housecleaners, many of human, will the definition of human rights change as well? how power operates in all the challenges domestic against wage theft. It’s hard whom have never been able to sectors. As a social movement The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is there to make sure that everyone benefits workers face? to think of a more unique or take a paid day off from work. leader, this is exactly my from power and is protected from its excesses. We might be looking at a future that strategic population to organize. The potential for Alia to expand Domestic workers are the invisible approach. It’s been absolutely is populated by intelligent players that are dramatically different from us and that will to other sectors will provide a scaffolding holding up our refreshing and inspiring to come demand a share in power and the ability to enjoy the same protections and enduring How are you using social real opportunity to make work economy. When one workforce home to hks and collaborate existence that humans have. It’s very much on my mind and on the Carr Center’s radar, innovation and technology better for millions of workers. leaves their homes to go to work, with sici to develop the theory because these aren’t questions you want to ask for the first time when such entities are to improve their lives? another workforce enters those and practice of this new way of actually upon us. homes to do all the work left Too often technology has thinking and tackling the largest behind: caring for their children, been used to solve only for social dilemmas of our day. MARTHA STEWART MARTHA STEWART MARTHA STEWART MARTHA 10 www.hks.harvard.edu spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school 11
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Nineteen U.S. Representatives—nine Republicans and 10 Democrats—received support from With Honor in the 2018 midterm HONORABLE CHARGE elections. arcott hopes that his organization will corroborate his theory that the decades-long decline in the number of members A 2009 U AN LI I AL UL U IN N of Congress with military experience has contributed to the rise in partisanship and that veterans are uniquely placed to bring a new L IN L AN I N A L I A I AN I AN I ILI spirit to the divided and derided political body. A LI I N ANI A I N AN AN LI I “There’s this larger problem of tribalism, of political polarization,” arcott says. “What can be done about it that’s actually different? When you see a problem, do you run away from it or you run toward it?” Y RO ERT O’NEILL Politics was far from his mind after he graduated with degrees from the Kennedy School and Harvard usiness School. After working for a large energy company, arcott struck out on his own, founding energy
ARRIVING AT HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL, Rye arcott ye arcott mp 2009 lef an e ers of a 2009 embarked on an independent project to RYE ARCOTT MP 200 the ith onor tea . study the tribalism that he had seen while serving as a U.S. Marine on tours in Africa and the Middle East. investment fi rm Double Time Capital with Dan McCready, a fellow h s The vetting process for candidates included research, reference Nearly a decade later, arcott left a successful career in alumnus and veteran, which focused on sustainable energy projects. checks, and interviews. It also required candidates to sign the McCready’s decision to run for Congress—part of a wave of hundreds With Honor Pledge, committing them to bipartisanship and a the private sector to address tribalism once again. This of veteran candidates in this past election cycle—helped bring code of ethical and civil behavior, both in their campaigns and time the tribes were political, and the battlefi elds were arcott’s attention to the diffi culties that veterans face in running for in offi ce. Eventually, With Honor settled on 39 House candidates the American legislative chambers. offi ce. They typically have neither the personal wealth nor the access running in the primaries—20 Republicans and 19 Democrats. The As a new Congress attempts to conduct the nation’s to affl uent networks needed for multimillion-dollar campaigns. organization spent where it thought it could make a difference. It As he began contemplating founding With Honor, arcott looked was signifi cantly involved in 1 general election races, backing the business amid fractious exchanges and an ever more for advice from Harvard Kennedy School faculty members David winning campaign in nine of them. partisan political atmosphere, arcott hopes that With Gergen, professor of public service, and David King, senior lecturer ut even though a number of new veterans were elected to Honor, the organization he created to help elect a new in public policy, and immersed himself in study. The number of the House, the high number of departing ones means that total generation of veterans, will play a role in changing the veterans in Congress declined from more than 65 percent in the late veteran representation has held steady at just below 20 percent. 19 0s to just under 20 percent now. That decline correlated with arcott likes to say his organization helped stem the decline. country’s splintered political culture. Describing itself increasing polarization. More than that, an analysis by the Lugar With Honor is now ramping up for the 2020 campaign, and as “cross-partisan” (the organization will also consider Center, a nonpartisan Washington think tank, showed that veterans focusing on creating a space for the sort of bipartisan leadership third-party and independent candidates for support), crossed the aisle more frequently than nonveterans to sponsor for which it fought so hard. It will help support a caucus and With Honor requires candidates to sign a pledge to put legislation. So, in the summer of 201 , just over a year before the provide the resources for it to grow. The organization’s goal is to 2018 midterms, arcott launched his organization. grow the caucus to 30 members by 2020. civility and principles ahead of partisan politics and esides Gergen and King, there are other Harvard connections. “In the short term, we want to see some real tangible aims to infl uence not just who gets elected, but how Dana orn, lecturer in public policy at hks, and Nathaniel Fick accomplishments from this coalition of 19 members,” arcott says. legislators behave and interact once they are in offi ce. 2008 serve on With Honor’s advisory board Kahlil yrd c a “That may be more naturally in the national security and veterans 2003 is a senior strategist and Ellen Zeng, a Harvard Law School affairs space. With time, we really believe that this is a group that graduate, is the senior vice president. Harvard alumni were also could broaden out and solve some of our tougher problems, but among the candidates With Honor supported, including freshmen they need cohesion. Republican congressmen Steve Watkins c a 201 of Kansas and “These are truly unique times in our country. We are completely Dan Crenshaw c a 201 of Texas. ripped apart. Veterans are one of the few groups that actually do Politics did not come naturally to arcott, and neither did the have some trust that transcends those party lines. I don’t preach fundraising. ut the organization raised 20 million, including veteran exceptionalism. There are plenty of veterans who are not 10 million from Jeff and MacKenzie ezos, helping to make it the part of the solution, but that’s why we have the pledge and the largest bipartisan super ac in the country focused on House races screening process. Could this organization eventually broaden out for the 2018 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive into other forms of service? Maybe. It’s possible.” Politics. “It was blood, toil, tears, and sweat,” he says. “It was both harder and longer than I anticipated.”
1 1 www.hks.harvard.edu s in s in | |ha a d ha a d k nn d k nn d sch sch 1 1
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They are key Civility to the Kennedy and civil School’s mission discourse to improve are not just public policy about polite and public conversation. leadership.
BY NORA DELANEY ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRISTIAN NORTHEAST
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 14 4/2/19 11:41 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 15 4/2/19 11:41 AM We need to let members of our community speak up about their views and be heard, even—in fact, especially—if they disagree with one another. “Be civil.” With a number of different meanings, "civility" can be a tricky DOUG ELMENDORF, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL DEAN AND DON K. PRICE PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY “Show some civility.” word to pin down. And calls for civility in politics have been met by fears that these appeals give harmful views a free pass. April Holm, These appeals are familiar to many an associate professor of history at the University of Mississippi, of us. From Twitter to the The New York wrote in the Washington Post recently, “Calls for moderation and A November 2018 Pew Research Center report showed that “over opportunities to discuss approaches to civil discourse, and civility, combined with denouncing both sides as too extreme, are the past two years, Americans have become more likely to say it we will continue to expect civil discourse and civility between Times, the word “civility” has made a common in moments of moral and political crisis. But they are not is ‘stressful and frustrating’ to have political conversations with members of our community. conspicuous appearance in recent years, apolitical. They take the focus away from injustice and put it instead those they disagree with,” and an October 2018 pbs NewsHour/npr/ on the behavior of those protesting it. This allows critics to adopt Marist poll revealed that 74 percent of respondents thought civility CAN CIVIL DISCOURSE becoming something of a lightning rod. A a moral high ground as the civil, reasonable ones without ever in Washington, D.C., has declined since the 2016 election. This New York Times Magazine piece, “When publicly taking sides in the debate.” problem is not unique to the United States. In a number of countries BE TAUGHT? However, detached civility-as-politeness is not the same thing around the globe, populist parties and movements have gained is ‘civility’ a duty, and when is it a trap?” as the civility that drives principled debate and civil discourse. “It’s ground and are increasingly at odds with establishment parties and One way the Kennedy School builds an environment for constructive ran in the fall, a month after an opinion important to distinguish between two senses of civility," ARCHON traditional institutions, leading to more-heated rhetoric. dialogue is through its curriculum. The skills required for civil FUNG, the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship This heat has come to university campuses as well—including discourse are an important part of the courses and workshops of piece in the Washington Post titled, and Self-Government, has written. "The first is a superficial kind of Harvard’s. Some public figures invited to speak at the Kennedy the hks Communications Program, for instance. JEFFREY SEGLIN, “The left and the right cry out for civility, civility—being nice, refraining from insults or ad-hominem kinds School over the past few years have drawn controversy and director of the program and a senior lecturer in public policy, of argument. The second is a deeper, more important (and older, criticism. For example, when the U.S. secretary of education, Betsy teaches a course on opinion and column writing and says that one but maybe that’s asking for too much.” for what that’s worth) sense of civility that is about behaving in DeVos, spoke about education policy at a 2017 John F. Kennedy Jr. of the pedagogical challenges is to get students to “express a strong Outside the United States as well, from ways that are necessary for cooperative projects such as schools Forum, she was met by crowds of protesters. Nevertheless, DeVos opinion while being civil.” Seglin mentions one student he worked and democratic societies to work well. This deeper sense of civility was given her time to speak and to respond to questions—she was with who, although he had liberal views, chose to write a monthly Brazil to Britain, public discourse has comes from the Latin civilitas—relating to citizens. Civility in this not shut down. Fung, then the academic dean of HKS, moderated column for a conservative newspaper. The student “found the become more rancorous. sense is behavior that is important for good citizenship.” the Forum and acknowledged the tense atmosphere, saying, experience more meaningful because it was harder and he might And good citizenship is perhaps especially important at this time “Conversations like we’ve just had are very, very difficult.” have more of an impact,” Seglin says. The hks Communications But what is “civil discourse” anyway? of widening ideological divides and growing political polarization. Program also has a slate of workshops on topics that include having difficult conversations and engaging with hostile audiences. To WHY SHOULD THE KENNEDY SCHOOL Seglin, what distinguishes civil discourse is that it is not an easy CARE ABOUT CIVIL DISCOURSE? way out of hard problems: “To be civil is not to be complacent. It’s an active word, not a passive one.” Civil discourse and debate are no strangers to university campuses, Civil discourse is a core element of the Kennedy School’s because good teaching often involves presenting, understanding, teaching in the areas of ethics, negotiation, and leadership as well, and weighing differing viewpoints. At a school that brings a both in the School’s degree-program courses and in its executive range of public figures holding many views to its classrooms and education programs. One effective way to model this discourse convening spaces, this is especially important. is through case studies and simulations—forms of experiential Dean DOUG ELMENDORF made an explicit case for teaching and learning that give students an opportunity to engage in real-life modeling civil discourse at the Kennedy School in a letter to the problems by studying or acting out scenarios. campus community at the start of the 2018–2019 academic year: JANE MANSBRIDGE, Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values, has worked with other faculty members To make the Kennedy School the best possible learning at the Kennedy School—including BRIAN MANDELL, Mohamed environment and the most welcoming personal environment, Kamal Senior Lecturer in Negotiation and Public Policy; KESSELY we need to let members of our community speak up about HONG, lecturer in public policy; and JULIA MINSON, assistant their views and be heard, even—in fact, especially—if they professor of public policy—to create cases and simulations for disagree with one another. Rather than dismiss or ignore teaching negotiation tactics at the state legislative and national those with whom we disagree, we should listen to them, try to congressional levels as part of the Legislative Negotiation Project. understand their perspectives, vigorously advocate our own The goal is to help legislators work together more effectively in this views—and then look for ways to work across differences that era of increased polarization and political impasses. do not require us to abandon our principles but do allow us to And last year, MANDELL and CHRIS ROBICHAUD, senior lecturer move forward. Both our lives at the School and our ability to in ethics and public policy, piloted a new simulation on civility with address public challenges outside the School are improved support from the Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. by an ability to have respectful and thoughtful interactions Robichaud and Mandell wanted to explore what civil disagreement with people with different perspectives. Accordingly, we looks like in practice, why civil discourse is important for leadership will continue to invite as guests of the Kennedy School and democracy, and how it can be taught. people with a wide range of views, we will arrange some One hundred and twenty Kennedy School students took part
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 16 4/2/19 11:42 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 17 4/2/19 11:42 AM Given the range of views fellows represent, these conversations Dhar (who went by Fetherston while at the Kennedy School) often serve as models of civil discourse. Past iop Fellows Forums credits her hks training as one influence in creating her viral have had titles such as “iop Fellows Unpack Politics: Congress, video. “At hks, there is a tradition of rigorous inquiry, robust the Candidates, and Catalyzing Civil Discourse.” Other Forum debate, and self-criticism and self-examination,” she has said. “I events have focused on dialogue and discourse. CORNEL WEST, was inspired to create a toolkit that mirrored the hks tradition in professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard, and real-life practices.” Dhar cites three principles that have helped Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton her find common ground with others: “First, identify the things University, took part in a conversation this spring titled “Free you and your discussion partner can agree on, no matter how Speech, Open Minds, and the Pursuit of Truth”; they explained that small. Use that source of agreement as the jumping-off point. they disagree on many issues but admire and enjoy learning from Second, separate ideas and identity. One of my lessons from hks each other. They were followed a few days later by U.S. Senator Jeff was that great ideas come from everywhere, and when we jump Flake—who has frequently called for bipartisanship and civility in to label them as liberal or conservative, foreign or domestic, we politics—speaking in the Forum. Because Forum participants, like deprive ourselves of examining the ideas themselves. Third, open all external speakers at the Kennedy School, must take unfiltered yourself up to being wrong.” Dhar believes that we can all benefit questions from the audience, these events offer even greater from what she calls the “humility of uncertainty” and that “we opportunity for public dialogue. should start asking ourselves and each other, ‘What have you Another flagship program of the iop is the Bipartisan Program changed your mind about, and why?’” for Newly Elected Members of Congress, which the iop has run for more than 45 years. In this time, nearly 700 members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have come through the program. This GENEROUS LISTENING past December, the agenda included a conversation on civility and AND BRAVE SPEAKING democracy with DAVID GERGEN, public service professor of public leadership, who recently stepped down after almost two decades Civil discourse alone will not bring an end to political in the pilot simulation, which was conducted in groups of six. session delved into moral and practical questions that public of directing the Center for Public Leadership; ARTHUR BROOKS, who polarization, but—if undertaken with a genuine desire for Participants were given roles to play and differing information leaders and policymakers face when they disagree with the is president of the conservative think tank the American Enterprise dialogue and engagement—it is one tool that policymakers and according to whether their assigned characters were liberal or decisions or values of their governments. All three conversations Institute and will join the Kennedy School as a professor of the public leaders can use to improve their communities. True civil conservative. They then reviewed a fictionalized incident in which were moderated by the former editor in chief of TIME NANCY practice of public leadership this summer; and DANIELLE ALLEN, discourse involves both speaking our views clearly and listening an unarmed black man was shot by the police. Each participant GIBBS, who is now at the School as the visiting Edward R. Murrow James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard and director of closely to the views of others. “Listening,” Nancy Gibbs wrote in a group was given the news through a different fictional media Professor of Practice of Press, Politics, and Public Policy. For Gibbs, Harvard’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics. in a recent piece on Medium, “is hard when the sounds around outlet with a particular political slant and wrote a social media post such conversations are important. “As a journalist, I believe in us grow mean and ugly.” Calling out “listen” as her word of in response to the article. Then, the six-person group was brought discourse,” she says. “More debate is better. Put your argument on the year for 2018, Gibbs cited Elmendorf, who has emphasized together to discuss the responses. Adam Murray mc/mpa 2018, who the table, and may the best argument win.” ALUMNI LEADING the importance of listening while not abandoning one’s own participated in the pilot, says, “The simulation itself was a useful THE CONVERSATION principles. Drawing on language from a Harvard-wide report on exercise, and I remember thinking at the time that it felt ripped diversity and inclusion, Elmendorf has said, “Generous listening right from the headlines. I found it a bit challenging to really take A PLATFORM FOR With the emphasis on civil discourse as a cornerstone of principled can take as much courage as brave speaking, because listening on some of the incivility in the role play, but it was still valuable in DIALOGUE AND DEBATE and effective public leadership, it is no surprise that a number of to people with whom you strongly disagree or with whom you seeing how people with different backgrounds and perspectives Kennedy School alumni are trying to get more people to engage think you have nothing in common is hard. But understanding can all view the same situation quite differently. We were all playing In addition to the Dean’s Discussions and other programming civilly, even if—or especially if—they disagree. In advance of others’ perspectives and acting on that understanding is crucial characters living in their own information bubbles, and we didn’t designed especially for the campus community, several public the 2018 U.S. midterms, for example, Rye Barcott mpa 2009 for making a better world.” He cautions, too, that listening even know it.” Murray, who is a Foreign Service officer, adds, “being events have touched on issues related to civility and civil launched an organization to help more veterans get elected, with a does not necessarily mean agreeing. In his Commencement able to understand where others are coming from—even if we totally discourse in the past year. The Kennedy School’s Institute of requirement that candidates pledge to uphold standards of civility address last year, Elmendorf said, “To be clear, listening and disagree—is a vital skill in my profession.” Politics (iop) has historically been very active in this area. Its and bipartisanship. (Learn more about Barcott’s group on page 12.) understanding do not always mean agreeing and compromising. Robichaud and Mandell had an opportunity to talk about the director, MARK GEARAN, has said, “At the Institute of Politics, we Another Kennedy School graduate, Julia Dhar mpp 2014, went When we look back on past public policies and leaders, we experience of running this new simulation at one of the Dean’s seek to provide students with an environment to engage in civil viral last year with a speech on this subject. Her October ted talk, should not look equally fondly on the different sides of every Discussions, a set of themed campus conversations introduced discourse, ask the tough questions, listen to a variety of voices, “How to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground,” has issue or wish we had always just split the difference between by Dean Elmendorf that feature Kennedy School faculty members and conclude the semester inspired to public service and active been viewed more than 2 million times. Dhar argued, “We are one side and another. On the contrary, we need to make moral examining important topics outside the classroom. Last fall the citizenship.” Each term, a cohort of professionals in politics and so scared of getting into an argument that we are willing not to judgments.” But it is through the process of civil discourse— three discussions were about civil discourse and its place at hks. public service—with a range of views and backgrounds—are engage at all. … Contempt has replaced conversation.” With her through listening, speaking our views, and making judgments— One of them, “Tensions in Cyberspace,” modeled civil discourse invited to spend the term at Harvard as iop Fellows. While on background as a formal debate champion, Dhar argues that the that we can aspire to become even better citizens and more in practice, with three faculty members weighing the conflicting campus, they interact with students and faculty, lead study skills of engagement that are learned through debate can help principled and effective public leaders. And that is the heart of values of security, rights, and privacy that are often in play in groups, and take part in conversations about important public conversationalists separate people from their ideas in order to the Kennedy School’s mission. conversations about cyberspace and new technology. The final issues in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum and other venues. have real, objective dialogues.
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 18 4/2/19 11:42 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_R2.indd 19 4/4/19 11:35 AM FACULTY
THE DECISION SCIENTIST
As the Navy’s first chief decision scientist, Kennedy School Professor Jennifer Lerner is teaching the military how to harness
the science of judgment MAGINE TWO HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS. In the first scenario, military acquisitions officers and decision making. have spent millions of dollars creating a weapons system, only to find that it doesn’t work. IIn the second scenario, everything is the same except that the acquisitions officers have not yet spent any money; they merely contemplated doing so before it became clear that the system wouldn’t work. Rationally, consideration of the system’s future should depend only on the likelihood it will work, which is identical in both scenarios. The prior investment is a sunk cost that should not BY MICHAEL BLANDING affect a forward-looking decision—and yet it does. Whereas the overwhelming majority of decision PHOTO BY RAYCHEL CASEY makers presented with the second scenario decide not to invest any funds in the system, the majority of decision makers presented with the first scenario decide to continue investing, spending millions more dollars, potentially throwing good money after bad.
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 20 4/2/19 11:42 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 21 4/2/19 11:43 AM Decision Officer for the U.S. Navy. The part-time position aims to overhaul how the military branch makes choices in matters of war and peace, integrating decision science (otherwise known as behavioral economics) into its calculus. Lerner’s own specialty lies in examining the role that emotions play in decision-making. As much as the military may present itself as surgical in its precision—generals in war rooms making decisions with a stiff upper lip—the reality is that the stress of combat is incredibly emotional. “Decisions like, ‘Do you go into the compound at Abottabad to try and get Osama bin Laden?’ are fairly emotion-laden decisions,” Lerner says. Working with the Navy’s chief naval officer, Admiral John Richardson, Lerner is leading a team of academics to help the Navy craft better “decision environments” in order to better assess risks, overhaul leadership training, and come up with procedures to help eliminate discrimination and sexual assault.
A petite woman, wearing a bright red jacket and pearls as she sits in her office in Littauer on a recent afternoon, Lerner isn’t exactly central casting for the military. “I tend to stick
“If we academics can improve the accuracy of risk perception by even 10 percent, for example, we can save lives.”
Lerner with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, the service’s top military officer, during As part of her study of decision environments, Lerner toured the Arley Burke-class one of her visits to the Pentagon. “Decision science is a potential game changer,” Richardson says. destroyer USS Spruance, in port in San Diego, with Commander Josh Menzel.
We human beings routinely make these kinds of errors in by modifying the way choices are structured and incorporating had a life-changing effect and enabled him to go back to Harvard decision making. Most models at the time assumed that negative judgment, says JENNIFER LERNER, Thornton F. Bradshaw Professor decision science into leadership training. At the same time, she for graduate school with new confidence. “So he raised me with emotions, such as anger, would trigger pessimistic perceptions of Public Policy, Decision Science, and Management at the Kennedy is working with the Navy’s leadership to bring a more science- the knowledge that the military, while not perfect, is a meritocracy of risk. Lerner thought emotions were a lot more complicated School and a leading researcher in the field of decision science. In based approach to such longstanding behavioral challenges and can serve as a conduit for societal progress.” than this, and drilled down to examine the effect of specific some situations the same error, known as “sunk-cost bias,” could as eliminating discrimination in hiring and reducing sexual When she was 16, Lerner was diagnosed with systemic lupus emotions, such as happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. Each of have dire consequences. “The same mental intuitions can apply on harassment and assault. erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body these emotions altered decision processes differently, she found, the battlefield,” says Lerner. “People may say, ‘We’ve come this far, By integrating decision science into the service, Lerner hopes to literally attacks its own organs. For long stretches, she was confined in three ways: the content of thought, the depth of thought, and we can’t go back now.’ It’s the same sunk-cost bias, only lives are at transform the culture of how the military operates in both combat to a hospital or a bed at home. Of necessity, Lerner says, that the implicit goals activated. She found that anger, for instance, is stake instead of just dollars.” and non-combat situations. “Decision science is a potential game- experience gave her “an enormous life of the mind.” In particular, defined by a cognitive sense that events are certain, predictable, Sunk-cost bias is only one way in which even smart people tend changer in enabling us to protect America from attack, promote it forced her to think much more intentionally than most teenagers and controllable. “When you are angry, you feel you know what to make poor decisions. “We’ve conducted several experiments American prosperity, and preserve America’s strategic influence,” about the decisions she made, carefully choosing what she had is going on. You don’t think, ‘Well, I’m not sure if I’ve understood aimed at mitigating sunk-cost mistakes and we are also working on Richardson says. the time and physical ability to do. She was drawn to psychological this carefully enough.’ Instead, you act without deep thought.” many other worrisome tendencies,” Lerner says. “There are probably science as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, where Through a series of experiments and associated statistical 30 different errors and biases that even the smartest people fall she became fascinated by understanding how people made choices. models, Lerner has documented that the perceptions of control victim to systematically. In the domain of national security, stakes BOUNDEDLY RATIONAL She began to study the work of such researchers as economist Herb and certainty triggered by anger give rise to an inflated sense are especially high and commanders know it. They want to set Simon, who taught that humans are only “boundedly rational” and of power and an underestimation of risks. Far from pessimism, the highest possible standards. If we academics can improve the Lerner isn’t exactly central casting for the Pentagon. “Walking won the Nobel Prize in 1978, “No matter how smart we are, there are anger triggers relative optimism when it comes to how the self accuracy of risk perception by even 10 percent, for example, we can the halls to my Pentagon office, I tend to stick out,” she jovially certain ways our brains are wired that promote systematic biases,” will prevail through challenges. Thus, “in situations where you save lives. And in fact, we can improve the accuracy of estimates by acknowledges. Often times, she finds herself the only woman in Lerner says. “I became utterly fascinated.” need to have a nuanced understanding of risks, anger undermines significantly more than 10 percent.” a room full of uniformed men. But Lerner, who grew up in a liberal As a doctoral student at the University of California, Berkeley, sound decision making. On the other hand, in situations where a Since September, Lerner has moved to put that belief from activist family, was always imbued with respect for the military. in the 1990s, Lerner was doing work on cognitive decision making. risky choice turns be the best choice, an angry individual is better theory into practice as the first-ever chief decision scientist for the Her father, who was part of an Orthodox Jewish low-income She also began to examine the role of emotions, a relatively equipped to take necessary actions.” U.S. Navy. The role aims to refine how the Navy makes choices, Yiddish-speaking immigrant family, struggled to fit in at Harvard understudied topic at the time. “Emotion signals travel more In order to overturn the conventional wisdom that anger is integrating decision science (otherwise known as behavioral as an undergraduate in the early 1950s. Harvard was a less rapidly in the brain than cognition,” Lerner says. “When something necessarily bad for decision making, Lerner and her students economics) into its calculus. Using her understanding of the welcoming climate in those days for poor people in general and happens, we respond emotionally first. There is a direct route designed a financial choice study in which risk-seeking choices cognitive, social, structural, and emotional factors that shape for Jews in particular, according to Lerner. When her dad enlisted from the sensory thalamus to the amygdala and motor neurons, would be rewarded. Results revealed that decision makers primed decision making, Lerner is working with the Navy’s top military in the Army in 1954, however, he finally felt accepted as an equal. bypassing the cortex, where thinking occurs.” with anger earned more money in the financial choice task than officer, Chief of Naval Operations cno( ) Admiral John Richardson. “For the first time in his life, he was fully valued for what he could But even those researchers examining emotion were mostly did decision makers primed with neutral emotion. According to
Together, they are seeking to improve “decision environments” do, regardless of who he was,” she says. His few years in the Army DIAZ III RAYMOND only examining the effect of positive or negative mood on Lerner, cool heads do not always prevail. “Whether an emotion has
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_R2.indd 22 4/4/19 11:35 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 23 4/2/19 11:43 AM “We say look, if you are in an angry state or if you are in a fearful state and making a decision, keep in mind that your decision may be biased.”
Lerner (top center), sharing insights with active-duty military students. Clockwise from top: Kimberly Lahnala Lerner, pictured here with Admiral John Richardson during a recent visit to the Pentagon, is mc/mpa; Thomas Shannon mc/mpa; Chris Umphres phd; Joshua Stinson mc/mpa; and Brad DeWees phd. working to help educate Navy leadership about the breadth and applicability of decision science.
a beneficial or detrimental effect on decision making depends on the a potentially adversarial ship at sea, to a top official making Lerner is enlisting other scholars from around the country nature of the decision task at hand,” she says. WIDER ROLE a management decision in his or her Pentagon office. In and especially from within Harvard to work on initiatives Dozens of scientific papers later (on a variety of topics in decision addition, Lerner has a mandate to help the Navy take a more and to help educate Navy leadership about the breadth making), Lerner’s pioneering work resulted in her receiving the One of Lerner’s most popular courses at Harvard Kennedy School evidence-based, scientifically guided approach to solving such and applicability of the discipline. For example, Lerner is highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government to early-career is “Leadership Decision Making.” The executive education version longstanding challenges as improving diversity and inclusion, collaborating with two Kennedy School colleagues, MICHELA scientists and engineers, the Presidential Early Career Award for of the course has especially attracted people in professions where eliminating sexual harassment and assault, and designing CARLANA and DARA KAY COHEN, on empirical studies that Scientists and Engineers. Receiving that award from the president of stakes are high and margins for error are small. Practitioners reporting relationships in ways that reduce the abuse of power. will help the Navy. And Kennedy School graduate students, the United States and the director of the National Science Foundation in medicine, finance, and the military are especially drawn by Lerner is also working across the board on helping the Navy including active-duty military members, are involved in research helped cement in Lerner’s mind the belief that science should be the content. One such student, a U.S. Navy admiral taking the integrate the scientific method for testing ideas and learning applicable to Lerner’s work. pursued not only for its intrinsic value but also for its value to the executive education class, was impressed by an exercise on from carefully controlled experiments. When considering a new Furthermore, Lerner is working with Richardson to make nation itself, which needs to build upon the information discovered. implicit bias in hiring, showing quantitatively how prejudice procurement procedure to lessen time in port, for example, the it easier for the Department of Defense to draw on academic The award also carries with it a commitment to go above and beyond influences who gets hired. “He said, ‘The Navy needs to improve Navy could randomly assign two different procedures across its scientists’ expertise more regularly. The present system, which the usual strategies for disseminating science, urging recipients to our promotion and selection procedures, because we may various ports, comparing results to determine which procedure requires months of paperwork to be processed even in the best work directly with public leaders and agencies to make the world a inadvertently be favoring people who fit our mental image of a is really better. To address an issue such as sunk-cost bias, for of circumstances, needs to be revised and augmented. better place. Having been funded by the National Science Foundation leader,’” Lerner recalls. That officer raised the issue with Chief of example, decision science could promote such tools such as Nowadays when Lerner meets with Navy leadership, she hears nearly continuously since her doctoral program, Lerner takes Naval Operations Richardson, who asked Lerner to help examine cost-benefit analysis, expected-value calculations, reframing many of the terms she has been teaching. “Admirals have started seriously her commitment to share scientific results in ways that the Navy’s hiring. the choices so that sunk costs are no longer salient. Similar to talk in terms of biases, expected value, and probabilistic advance our nation’s interests. “I was super-impressed with Jenn’s command of the field, her tools could be applied to other biases. Research has shown, reasoning,” Lerner says. And decision science has now been Since coming to Harvard more than a decade ago, Lerner has comfort and familiarity with the military culture, and her toughness for example, that people tend to make much riskier choices written into the Navy’s official strategic plan, an important guiding continued her work at the Harvard Decision Science Laboratory, and tenacity,” Richardson says. (Lerner has maintained her role as when a decision is framed in relation to the losses than they do document that has a years-long influence on the Navy’s course. which she co-founded. Now dubbed “one of the most prominent a Harvard professor, albeit with a slightly reduced load, through if it is framed in relation to gains. By reframing a question and Incorporating Lerner’s help, the latest plan, released in December American scientists” by the National Science Foundation’s research, teaching, and mentoring doctoral students.) considering both sides of a choice, a leader can better weigh of 2018, included decision science for the first time. “Sensational 60” award, her publications have been cited over Together, Richardson and Lerner identified the two main areas in the risk. “The Navy has a long history of drawing on scientific expertise 20,000 times in scholarly publications alone. But research is not her which the Navy will integrate decision science: helping leaders better And Lerner is also helping officers better understand in physical sciences and engineering,” Lerner says. “But we’re not only passion. An award-winning instructor and curriculum innovator, assess and manage risk; and building the decision science curriculum the effects of their own emotions on their choices. “We say going to preserve freedom across the seas just by having the best she also teaches undergraduate, graduate, and executive education for leadership development. The Risk Assessment Research Effort look, if you are in an angry state or if you are in a fearful state equipment. We are going to do so by smarter use of information.” courses. Continuing her commitment to share science with public (rare), a Navy initiative Lerner proposed and now heads, will study and making a decision, keep in mind that your decision may — leaders, among her current students are two U.S. Air Force officers how decisions are made in risky or uncertain conditions across be biased—anger reducing the perception of risk and fear Michael Blanding is a freelance writer living in Brookline, Massachusetts.
studying for phds in decision science. the entire spectrum of the institution, from an officer confronting CASEY RAYCHEL DIAZ III RAYMOND increasing it,” says Lerner.
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_R2.indd 24 4/4/19 12:11 PM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_R2.indd 25 4/4/19 12:11 PM WHAT HAPPENS THERE’S MORE TO THE ARCTIC than the you can do,’ says ogad ttir, who gained lonely polar bear on the shrinking ice fl oe. a deep appreciation for the environment It is a region of convergence, where every early in her life while working on her IN THE line of longitude meets at the cap of our grandparents’ farm. It was important to globe, and where the impacts of climate me to get people involved in dialogues change touch on any number of issues, about the changing rctic, but also to get from shipping to security to the protection them to think about solutions. of environments and indigenous cultures. The rctic is a more complex region than ARCTIC Harvard Kennedy School’s Arctic many people may reali e, comprising A H K Initiative was created to help more people parts of the nited tates, inland, It was important to me to get people understand and confront the complex reenland, Iceland, anada, orway, involved in dialogues about the challenges. At the core of that effort is Russia, and weden. nd because rising “ a program that both educates Harvard temperatures and melting ice in the changing rctic, but also to get students and enlists their imaginations in region have global repercussions, it is them to think about solutions. formulating creative solutions. a bellwether for climate change around R TTIR M M A 201 Halla Hrund Logadóttir c pa the globe. What happens in the rctic, 2017, a native of Iceland, is the co- ogad ttir says, does not stay in director of the initiative, which is housed the rctic. at the Belfer Center for Science and This past fall, the rctic Innovators International Affairs. Concern about gave arvard students a unique chance come from discoveries in nature, arlock atrick ynch c pa , who BY NORA DELANEY the lack of young and diverse voices in not only to conceptuali e a solution says. or example, aspirin comes from spent eight years studying waterways PHOTOS BY BENN CRAIG discussions of climate change in the to a problem in the rctic but also to the bark of a willow tree. or a majority of in atagonia, was interested in the Arctic, along with the fact that these travel to Reykjavik to pitch their ideas medications, that’s how these discoveries human aspect of climate change in the conversations often diagnose problems at the rctic ircle ssembly, an annual are made. I was concerned with how rctic. There are million people who but only rarely suggest ways to address gathering where scientists, policymakers, climate change is affecting biodiversity live in the rctic, says ynch, a acon them, motivated Logadóttir to conceive of students, activists, and representatives in the rctic and our ability to discover nvironmental eadership ellow. We the initiative while a student and a Bacon of organi ations from all over the world medicines there. y idea was to create a need more people to care about the Environmental Leadership Fellow at the discuss the future of the region. The data bank a giant library of information rctic. ynch’s idea is to create fi lms Kennedy School. (Learn more about the students in the course—who were paired that can be used for decades to come, about rctic rivers to get people to learn Bacon Fellowships on page 62.) One of with expert mentors—also pitched their even if plants and animals are no longer and care about issues in the region. e the initiative’s principal components is ideas on campus and wrote op-eds. there or if they have changed. thinks it is especially important to know the Arctic Innovators program. Now in What makes the rctic Innovators With a background in environmental how to communicate these ideas to its second year, the program includes a program special is the way in which it issues, atie egal pp , a acon policymakers. If you have an idea that course, “Policy and Social Innovations harnesses the skills and creativity of nvironmental eadership ellow, was can improve the world, how dare you for the Changing Arctic,” that Logadóttir highly motivated graduate students to drawn to the course in part because of keep it to yourself, ynch says. teaches with OHN HOLDREN, Teresa and address rctic challenges in imaginative its regional focus. er idea was to use These ideas were just a few of those John Heinz Professor of Environmental new ways, oldren says. The ideas the biogas from sewage in the rctic to create proposed by the arvard students Policy and a former science advisor to students developed were wildly diverse, renewable energy. egal’s favorite part in rctic Innovators. ogad ttir is President Barack Obama. (Holdren and ranging from saving indigenous languages of the course was pitching her idea at the enthusiastic about how the program will HENRY LEE, senior lecturer in public to studying waterways to generating rctic ircle ssembly, where she had a continue to develop in the next few years, policy and the Jassim M. Jaidah Family renewable energy to safeguarding security. chance to get feedback from engineers along with the rctic Initiative’s newly Director of the Environment and olleen arlock pp was and have conversations about both the established research programs that focus If you have an idea that can improve the Natural Resources Program at the interested in how to preserve medical technical and the policy aspects of her on creating solutions for the changing world, how dare you keep it to yourself. Belfer Center, serve as faculty directors knowledge as climate change affects idea. aving this shared experience with rctic. Together, ogad ttir says, we “ of the Arctic Initiative.) biodiversity in the region. istorically, classmates in Reykjavik made the course can all move the needle a little bit. A RI YN M M A 201 “At the Kennedy School, we ‘ask what most of the medications that we use today special, egal says.
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LIKE A RIVER IN THE DESERT Kad Kaneye and Meredith Segal, both mc/mpa 2017, have built a new type of university in Niger.
BY MARI MEGIAS
ON THE BANKS OF THE NIGER RIVER lies Niamey, the capital city of discovered African Development University (A.D.U.). She attended an specialized master’s degrees, an mba program, professional Niger, a Francophone nation in the Sahel region of West Africa. open house, liked what she saw, applied, and was accepted. Natitia English courses, and executive programs. Niamey’s many unpaved streets and roaming farm animals give is now studying for a bachelor’s in business administration with a That A.D.U. even exists—and that it has grown so quickly— the city a rural, village-like feel despite the fact that it is home to focus on project management. “A.D.U. is innovative and ethical, and is testament to the power of the Harvard Kennedy School nearly 2 million people. it gives us the opportunity to learn English and technology,” Natitia community. Nowhere is that community more evident than in the Twenty-seven-year-old Nana Natitia grew up there. In a says. “It gives me the confidence to study again. What is different deep and productive partnership between two Mid-Career alumni country where only 8 percent of girls even attend secondary about A.D.U. is the whole liberal arts approach. I guess after years of from the class of 2017, Kad Kaneye and Meredith Segal. school, let alone complete it, Natitia is a proud high school rote memorizing, I was starting to lag behind in traditional universities. graduate. Her ambitions pushed her to apply to Niger’s national At A.D.U., the thinking by ourselves and hands-on practical approach, public university, but she failed out. She tried again, this time in coupled with the high-caliber faculty, were just what I needed to neighboring Burkina Faso, but again, she failed. “I abandoned succeed.” Different backgrounds, my studies, disappointed and discouraged,” she says. Today, if you ask Nigeriens to name the best university in the similar goals Then, while scrolling through her social media feed, she country, many cite A.D.U. This new nonprofit university—it opened its doors to students in October 2017—focuses on educating Kaneye’s and Segal’s backgrounds couldn’t be more different. Vinay Nagaruju mc/mpa 2017 (middle) with classmates Kad the most promising young people in the Sahel region to become Kaneye grew up in Niger—his early years were spent in a mud Kaneye and Meredith Segal. Nagaruju serves on A.D.U.’s leaders with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to shape their house without clean water—in a family that valued education and academic advisory board and has also taught at the university. countries’ future. A.D.U. currently offers undergraduate programs, helped him to attend university in Paris. Unlike many Nigeriens
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_R2.indd 28 4/4/19 11:36 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_R2.indd 29 4/4/19 11:36 AM I hope and I believe A.D.U. point, it became clear we were going to go ahead with this project. “will be the key to We decided in August to open in October.” the development The U.S. ambassador was among the guests at the October of Niger because 2017 ribbon-cutting ceremony. In addition to the support of Harvard great leaders and faculty, A.D.U. benefited from the donations of Kaneye and Segal’s entrepreneurs will classmates. “The idea was there, the thinking was there, the plan come out of it. was there, but Harvard made it come to reality,” says Kaneye. Most of the students at A.D.U.—70 percent in the founding NANA NATITIA class—are women. “We didn’t predict this would happen,” Kaneye says. “Students took a competitive entrance exam, and the best were the girls.” This is remarkable, because female Nigeriens Seventy percent of the founding class of 175 students are women. This is typically experience severe inequality. The gender gap begins in important in a country where the educational gender gap is significant. primary school, where only 44 percent of girls reach sixth grade. The The Kennedy School community has played a key role in the creation and high rate of child marriage in Niger—76 percent of women age 20 to success of A.D.U. Kennedy School Adjunct Professor of Public Policy Deborah 24 are married before the age of 18—also limits women’s and girls’ Hughes Hallett (above, center) was part of that support. participation in education. Natitia, the student who failed out of two universities and is who study abroad, he wanted to return to his country and give master’s and mba programs, 100 in certificate programs in bring stakeholders together to meet a common purpose, along with now the president of her class at A.D.U. (a class calling itself the other young Nigeriens the same chance at success that he had. English, and 15 in executive programs. The goal is to grow to 1,000 knowledge about educational innovation, skills she honed working Obama cohort) was married at age 22 and has three children. She “Many people say, ‘If you come back to Niger, you waste the students by 2025. on charter schools in the United States and U.S. politics. says, “A.D.U. has given me the opportunity to apply to the Clinton opportunity you’ve been given,’” Kaneye says. After graduating in May of 2017, Kaneye hoped to admit the Global Initiative University,” an annual program in which young Segal was raised by a family of activists in Maine. Before coming “I have one month university’s first class within three to five years. He was on his way people, experts, and celebrity activists come together to develop to the Kennedy School, she worked in domestic politics and on to a new job in Rwanda, where he would continue planning for the solutions to pressing problems. Natitia traveled in October of 2018 educational issues in the United States, and she hadn’t traveled in my life for you.” school. He and Segal had discussed spending some time in Niger to Chicago, where she worked on a plan to raise awareness of the much internationally, “certainly never to Africa,” she says. to work on the university, but he wasn’t expecting her to take him challenges disabled people face in Niger. “Attending the Clinton The two met in a design-thinking course they cross-registered “I had been thinking about this project for 10 years,” says Kaneye. up on it. “I was looking for projects to work on after graduating Global Initiative University was my first experience out of Africa— for at Harvard Business School. “It was all about how to create “But the magic started when Meredith joined me in Niger.” from hks, and I thought, ‘If there’s ever a moment in my life to first time in a plane—and I would say had the most impact on my life products, organizations, and tools that authentically meet a need KESSELY HONG, lecturer in public policy at the Kennedy School do something disconnected from what I did before, this was the so far,” she says. “Entrepreneurs from all over the world, public and and have a market,” says Segal. and an early supporter of A.D.U., met Segal in the fall semester, when moment,’” Segal remembers. civic leaders, the fellows … it was the best place one can dream to Kaneye’s stories of his homeland intrigued Segal. “Right away, I Segal took a negotiation class with her. “Meredith was appreciated Says Kaneye, “I remember that Meredith called me and said, ‘I be on earth. I am grateful to A.D.U. for preparing me to apply via the was impressed with the passion with which Kad spoke about Niger. He by her classmates for her eloquence, ingenuity, support for people have one month in my life for you.’ I thought, 'This university was consistent support and mentorship of our on-campus Innovation was so excited to represent Niger and to tell us all about his country.” in low-power positions, and ability to build coalitions,” says Hong. “I supposed to start in three years; it will probably take five years.' But Lab and the recommendation from board member Agnes Igoye. Kaneye had always understood the need for a new university to learned about Kad’s wonderful dedication to bringing quality higher Meredith said, ‘Let me come for one month, and we’ll see.’” “I’m a mother with three children who is struggling to have a help develop his country. About 20 percent of Niger’s population education to Niger through conversations with Meredith.” Now Hong Segal’s choice wasn’t fearless—she was concerned by State good education for a better life," Natitia says. "Being part of the cannot meet their food needs, and adult literacy is only 19 percent. serves on A.D.U.’s academic advisory board along with DEBORAH Department warnings about security issues in Niger—but she A.D.U. adventure is the most enriching and exciting experience These facts and others combine with one of the globe’s highest HUGHES HALLETT, adjunct professor of public policy at the Kennedy recalled something her friend Agnes Agoye mc/mpa 2017 had once ever for me and all young Nigeriens. I hope and I believe A.D.U. will rates of population growth to leave an alarming number of School, and a host of faculty from top schools around the globe. said: “If you’re ever going to do something in the developing world, be the key to the development of Niger because great leaders and Nigeriens struggling to subsist. Hong says that Kaneye’s and Segal’s different strengths united you can’t go by what the State Department says.” Within weeks, entrepreneurs will come out of it.” Existing institutions did not provide a pipeline of qualified to create a juggernaut. “By combining Kad’s deep connection to Segal was on a plane. Says Kaneye, “Niger doesn’t have wars, doesn’t have natural graduates for Nigerien employers. On one hand, Niger’s private Niger and his understanding of the country’s educational needs “Pretty quickly, the poverty and lack of infrastructure faded disasters, doesn’t have huge malaria endemics, Ebola, aids—all universities offer credentials to pretty much anyone who with Meredith’s expertise in designing innovative schools, they into the background because of the people I got to know,” she these things are pretty much controlled. My conviction is that can afford the tuition. On the other hand, public universities have been able to build a brand-new university from scratch that is says. From there, it was a whirlwind. She and Kaneye met with the critical problem of countries in the Sahel is the lack of human experience frequent faculty and student strikes that disrupt and specifically designed to train young adults from Niger to succeed in tribal and religious leaders, ceos of companies that couldn’t fill capital. If we educate a generation of ethical and entrepreneurial delay students’ education. highly skilled jobs,” she says. “They provide an inspiring example to their labor needs, the minister of education, and even Niger’s leaders in sufficient critical mass, they will be able to design and Many Nigerien employers feel the pinch. Seydou Souley our current students of the ability to create something that extends president, who held an hourlong personal meeting with them. drive change in the region. And we dream of the day when people Mahamadou is the ceo of Impact Media, a company in Niger that beyond any single person’s knowledge base by joining forces and The Harvard reputation carried weight. “We had a type of access will come from all over the continent—even the world—because the produces broadcast television shows. “The problem is that the leveraging their differences.” I was very surprised by and grateful for," Segal says. "People best education can be found at A.D.U.” national education system has lost its value,” he says. “So most Still, the speed with which the effort took off came as a surprise were curious about these two individuals who’d graduated from Today, Kaneye—who named one of his children Meredith—and laureates of Nigerien universities don’t have sufficient capabilities to all involved. “We kept saying to each other that we have to work Harvard and wanted to open a new, nonprofit university.” Segal are busy raising funds for A.D.U. and working on international and the 'ethics' we need in our work. Companies are obliged to on the plan for this university,” says Segal. “Kad talked about this Segal’s involvement in A.D.U. quickly changed from offering accreditation for the university, a process that takes approximately look for Nigeriens who had the chance to study abroad, or to hire idea, but always as an undone, to-do list item. And he wanted advice to a more formal role. “At every meeting, Kad was profoundly three years. Says Segal, “Kad and I work really well together. We’re expatriates. For us, A.D.U. is like a river that appeared in a desert.” to do something about this dream of his. I was uncertain that I generous,” she says. “At first, he introduced me as a friend from both very non-risk-averse; we both see far more opportunity than This river started with 175 students. The bilingual programs had anything to bring to the table, since I had no international Harvard. Later, he introduced me as a person working on the project. potential problems.” Thanks to their optimism, young Nigeriens had 35 students in A.D.U.’s undergraduate program, 25 in experience at all.” What she did have was an extraordinary ability to Before long, he started introducing me as A.D.U.’s cofounder. At this have a new path forward.
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“The uncle said, They re actually going to deliver “So the government said, an you help us ’” says ATT something that I asked for ’” Khwaja says. Khwaja and a ANDRE S, dward S. ason Senior Lecturer in International team from vidence for Policy Design epod , mi , and the Development and faculty director of the sc program. London School of conomics want to see if they can build Bashkim Sykja, director of the ompetitiveness Policy up the credibility of a classically low-credibility group local Department for the Albanian inistry of conomy, Trade, and tax collectors. n paper, Khwaja says, 0 percent of taxes nergy, says before sc’s involvement, civil servants weren’t in Punjab are supposed to go to local projects and services. talking to one other, support services weren’t getting from “But no one really believes that.” government ministries to garment manufacturers, and critical “We said, What if we have the same guy, while dropping data wasn’t being shared. off your tax bill, also collect your preferences for how “We needed to follow a very bureaucratic process, trying your money is spent ” he says. “That’s a very different to address a very formal letter to the relevant minister,” Sykja conversation.” The team is also placing labels that say, says. “And then from this minister the letter must go to the “Paid for by your taxes” on projects as small as individual right department in that ministry. Then we could get the streetlights, so that people will make the connection. information. r not.” Khwaja says it is the fi rst randomi ed controlled study nter sc and its Problem of the relationship between public service delivery and Driven Iterative Adaptation hen only one tax collection. Research shows that as few as 1 percent of pdia methodology. Andrews, er on han e people pay income tax in developing and newly developed who worked in government you an t han e countries. While enhanced revenue collection might seem a in South Africa and at the World counterintuitive way to alleviate poverty, it’s indicative of an Bank before coming to the your mon trou evolution in how development economists are approaching Kennedy School, says he had or ani ation. the issue. always been frustrated with what Su taina le In a major shift in world poverty, the largest numbers of he saw as a disconnect between han e re uire the poorest people aren’t in the poorest countries anymore training and actual government HELPING GOVERNMENTS instead they make up the socioeconomic underclasses in practice at the street level. olle tive an nations that have recently achieved middle-income status. “Training was this book- yn hronou That means the most effective way to help those people, learning stuff,” Andrews says. learnin . HELP THEMSELVES according to enter for International Development cid “It left a huge gap between what researchers at epod and the Building State apability government employees were sc program, is engaging with national, state, and local being asked to do and how they could realistically operate.” AND THEIR POOREST CITIZENS offi cials. uch groundbreaking work continues to be done pdia, by contrast, is an intensive process of bringing teams in understanding how to help jump-start and grow fl edgling of offi cials and stakeholders to identify complex problems economies. But helping build a capability to deliver basic and then break those problems down into smaller and smaller BY RA H RANA I services—education, public health, transportation— component problems, Andrews says, often using Ishikawa, or and helping train different kinds of public leaders are “fi shbone,” diagrams. Instead of coming up with one grand increasingly being viewed as among the most sustainable plan, the group takes intermittent breaks to tackle those and cost-effective ways to help lift people out of poverty. smaller problems and then comes back to refl ect, learn, share S L S A N’ N from AS JA K AJA’s olicy e eriment in results, and iterate new solutions. Pakistan’s Punja rovince, ut the signs are encouraging. he idea is “Local offi cials often feel powerless to address the big to enhance local ta collections y seeing whether ta ayers will e problem, but they can address the small components, and do more willing to ay if they have more say in how the money is s ent. AN H LP S address them,” Andrews says. pdia, he says, “puts confi dence into the whole system. veryone starts to say, We can do this.’” e were talking with a senior ureaucrat of the Punja government In 201 , government offi cials in the small Balkan country of sc has worked in numerous sectors in Albania, but in who has een su ortive of the roject he acknowledged his uncle was Albania were struggling with a lack of foreign exchange and the case of the fashion industry it put together a team of one of the reasons, says Khwaja, the Sumitomo AS Professor of a national unemployment rate hovering around 18 percent. government offi cials, interviewed 00 companies about why nternational inance and evelo ment at arvard Kennedy School. A major economic problem was an underperforming textile the sector was underperforming, came up with a list of 2 and footwear manufacturing sector. The industry Albanians distinct problems, and worked through them in seven months. t turns out that the offi cial’s uncle lived in the e eriment area and call “fason” is a huge contributor to the country’s developing overnment offi cials and industry people are now
had gone to his ne hew to say how leasantly sur rised he was. SH I TT I A S economy and a major employer, especially for women. communicating more informally and routinely. obs and exports
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3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 32 4/2/19 11:57 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 33 4/2/19 11:57 AM in textiles and footwear, meanwhile, have blossomed. Sykja eligible recipients were getting only about one-third of their says that from 201 to 201 , the value of exports from the allotment of subsidi ed rice. And although percent of low- fashion sector rose from million to 8 million. ver the income households were getting some rice, they were paying same period, fashion goods grew from 28 percent of Albania’s 0 percent more than they were supposed to on average. total exports to percent. verall, Albania’s unemployment So epod co-director A ANNA, effrey heah Professor rate has dropped by a third, down to 12 percent in 2018. of South- ast Asia Studies, worked with the Indonesian “We did it, and we succeeded,” Sykja says. government and researchers at mi to test a simple plan giving recipient families a card describing exactly what benefi ts they were entitled to under the program, including the correct amount and price of rice. BI B R A RATI The plan was so simple that Hanna didn’t expect it to work. veryone knew about the subsidi ed rice program, and its R ANI ATI N rules “hadn’t changed in 20 years,” she says. Then Hanna saw that some villagers’ cards had ended up back in akarta, while sc Director Salimah Samji says the program worked others were stuck in the offi ces of local offi cials. directly with 1 government offi cials in 12 countries in But the study showed something remarkable. ost of the addition to Albania, and has also trained 1,112 development cards did get through. And in the villages where people got practitioners in 8 countries using BS s practical pdia them, there was a 2 percent increase in the amount of rice online course. It’s always a team of people, working subsidy that reached eligible people. The evidence showed together intensively over a period of months. “We look that empowering people with information they could trust to change systems,” Samji says. “When only one person made them more effective self-advocates. changes, you can’t change your “It’s being able to give people the tools so they can Economic Growth in the Albanian Fashion Sector Local offi cials big bureaucratic organi ation. empower themselves,” Hanna says. “I guess I was too Sustainable change requires cynical before.” A R A S often feel collective and synchronous epod also works to train policymakers in the use of owerless to learning.” evidence. In India, Thulasi addineni says she would like T address the ig Another key part of the work, to use her epod training to address the problem of teacher ro lem, ut they she says, is breaking the narrative absenteeism and education in rural villages, where that government workers aren’t percent of the country’s population lives. can address the successful because they’re la y, “If teachers come, then the learning happens ... but S S or corrupt, or just unmotivated to sometimes the teachers don’t show up,” says addineni, small com onents T A do their jobs. Although corruption a former deputy director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National everyone starts to say e can is certainly a reality, offi cials just Academy of Administration who is currently earning a as often fall into what researchers master’s degree in the nited States and will become the call “capability traps.” head of a government department in her home state of do this.’ “We meet people who care Karnataka when she returns.
about their government but who are basically stuck,” Samji The problem is a complex one, she says. A lack of public S W says. “They can’t use xcel, for example, yet people are transportation makes it hard for teachers to reach their dumping management information systems on them.” posts, and parents in local villages lack the political clout to epod faculty and staff, meanwhile, are focusing on demand better schooling. Teaching jobs are often doled out capacity-building and encouraging local offi cials to—as to supporters by infl uential local politicians, and when it’s habit, that may lead to large-scale change. That is why, “I think about what a different world this would be if we epod s name states—embrace the use of evidence and data time for a teacher to do political work on behalf of a patron, says epod's Senior Training Manager Charlote Tuminelli, had a culture of evidence, the idea that worldwide evidence in their decision making in order to craft more-effective the schoolhouse is empty, she says. epod is working to build up a team of local trainers. epod is routinely available; that we can have better systems, and policies. addineni would like to apply her training to perhaps has now directly trained some 1,100 civil servants in a better availability and use of data,” Tuminelli says. “That is In Indonesia, government offi cials wanted to improve the testing an incentive scheme whereby teacher salaries and number of countries, and some of those offi cials have my fondest hope, when I think about our impact and what effi ciency of the country’s largest anti-poverty scheme a advancement are linked to student performance. vidence- also become instructors, training another 2,800 people. we can do so governments are better able to serve people. food program in which every month low-income families are based policy design, she says, “has to become a habit” for In its training work, epod uses adaptive e-learning “That’s the real goal—improving people's lives through entitled to 1 kilograms of rice at a subsidi ed rate equal to government offi cials like her to succeed. programs that can meet local offi cials at their current good governance.” about one-fi fth the retail price. In 2012, statistics showed that If a critical mass of policymakers develop the evidence levels of knowledge and sophistication.
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criminal records, Pager was struck by how difficult it was for also by kindness and generosity—qualities that were evident them to find work. Undaunted by her advisors’ warning of the in all her interactions, her friends and colleagues say. difficulties of fieldwork, she launched an experiment. She “You always felt better when you left a conversation with sent professional-looking, qualified young men out to apply her than when you started,” says David Deming, professor for jobs. The young men were both black and white and would of public policy at the Kennedy School and of economics take turns listing a criminal record in their applications. and education at the Graduate School of Education, who The results were startling: only 5 percent of the black codirected the Inequality Program with Pager. “She was applicants with a criminal record were called back for an just an optimistic person and a person who always sought interview, compared with 17 percent of white applicants; to empower others. She was so giving of her time and her perhaps more startling still, white applicants with a criminal intellectual energy.” record fared better than black applicants without one (17 Pager came to Harvard in 2013 after teaching at The eminent sociologist percent to 14 percent). Northwestern and Princeton universities. She was also the The study (replicated later in New York City) was Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Radcliffe and Harvard Kennedy School recognized by the American Sociological Association and led Institute from 2013 to 2018, and a fellow at Radcliffe for two to Pager’s 2007 book, Marked: Race, Crime, and Finding Work of those years. At Harvard, she professor Devah Pager in an Era of Mass Incarceration. More important, it helped helped to create a community documented the barriers spark an international campaign to get employers to remove of scholars and students, many She was just an the check box asking applicants about their criminal record associated with the Inequality optimistic person to dignity (a movement known as Ban the Box). Program. That community “Her work provided some of the most rigorous research remembers her as immediately and a person who on the continuing significance of racial discrimination in accessible and always curious. — the United States, during a period when some scholars and “In the too-short time always sought to policymakers began to doubt the role discrimination plays that she lived, she embodied empower others. in contemporary economic inequality,” says William Julius our highest aspirations,” Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor. says Radcliffe Dean Tomiko She was so giving A FIERCE COMMITMENT Pager built on her initial work to become a leading expert Brown-Nagin, Daniel F.S. Paul of her time and her on the effects of race on labor markets and the criminal Professor of Constitutional justice system. But she also made important contributions in Law at Harvard Law School intellectual energy. the area of theoretical concepts and in the understanding of AND INESTIMABLE WARMTH and professor of history at the DAVID DEMING data gathering and reporting, Wilson says. Faculty of Arts and Sciences. — “She was a force of nature who accomplished a “A brilliant, warm, and beloved superhuman quantity and quality of work in a tragically member of our community, she will be deeply missed.” DEVAH PAGER, Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of place,” says Doug Elmendorf, dean of Harvard Kennedy short amount of time, and her impact on scholarship and “She was legendary in the field, but from the first time Sociology and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, a School and Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy. “She was policy is hard to overstate,” says Jason Beckfield, chair of you met her, she always made you feel so comfortable—she groundbreaking scholar whose research shined a light on the also known widely as one of the kindest and most generous Harvard University’s sociology department. “She did work made you feel heard,” says Kelley Fong, a doctoral candidate consequences of discrimination and who was hailed as one people one could meet. She brought warmth, optimism, of global scope and tremendous depth that is unusual in its in the sociology and social policy program whom Pager of the most important sociologists of her generation, passed curiosity, and inspiration to her interactions with all of her combination of rigor and creativity and relevance.” advised. “There was no one I could count on to have more away in November after a long illness. She was 46. many friends and students and colleagues.” “She was a scholar’s scholar who used her remarkable faith in me or challenge me more.” Pager, who held appointments both at hks and in the Born in Hawaii to a South African professor of computer talent to shine a spotlight in places and on people our Her commitment to her students wasn’t simply from a sociology department at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, science and an Australian pediatrician, Pager attended ucla nations and, too often, each of us prefer to leave hidden,” sense of obligation, Fong says. “It came from a deeper sense was also the director of the Multidisciplinary Program in and then received master’s degrees from Stanford University says David T. Ellwood, Isabelle and Scott Black Professor of of caring—caring about her students as people and caring Inequality and Social Policy at the Malcolm Wiener Center for and the University of Cape Town before going on to the Political Economy and director of the Malcolm Wiener Center about fostering justice through research and teaching.” Social Policy. University of Wisconsin for her doctoral studies in sociology. for Social Policy. “She crafted a call for justice built on a Pager's commitment and energy never deserted her. She “Her work was brilliant, and it showed her fierce It was there that she embarked on the research that would foundation of exceptionally careful and creative work that was teaching until just weeks before her death. commitment to using her impressive gifts and the tools of help establish her reputation as a pioneer in the field. simply could not be denied.” She is survived by her husband, Mike, and a young son. social science to help make the world a fairer and better Working as a volunteer with homeless men, many with Pager’s work was animated by rigor and intelligence, but
ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH WONG 36 www.hks.harvard.edu spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school 37
3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 36 4/2/19 11:58 AM 3 HKSmag_su19_features_12-37_F r1.indd 37 4/2/19 11:58 AM BULLY PULPIT
EVENT The Most Hopeful People
“WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME that it is these people’s fault that they’re refugees—it’s never their fault,” Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, said at a Forum in December. Yousafzai, who has become an advocate for girls’
education, was at the Kennedy School to receive the Gleitsman STEWART MARTHA Activist Award. But with immigration elbowing its way to the top of the political agenda, Yousafzai added her perspective, both as
NATALIE MONTANER NATALIE someone who had to flee her own country after an attempt on her life and as someone who now regularly visits refugee camps as part of her activism. “We should try to understand how we would want other THE BUZZ people to welcome us when it happens to us ... I think we need to look at it from the human eye and be more welcoming and consider them as our brothers and sisters,” she said. “Let’s be human and let’s understand that we are all living on this one planet Earth.” “When we hear about refugees in the news, we hear about them in numbers, we do not really hear the human stories: why they leave their homes, why they are forced to leave their “I have a cause, a “We have to figure countries,” Yousafzai said. “Sometimes you see so much “Each of us is most “Pushing for human disappointment and despair and hopelessness in the media and powerful when we are “This is the new rights is not an purpose, some- out a way to tell among people who have so much. And then you go to a refugee camp and you feel like they should be the most depressed our authentic selves. Sierra Leone we obstacle to be thing to fight for, every woman— something to try to white, brown, black, people in the world because they have nothing—they do not have If we try to be other are building. Our avoided or a “Do you want to be shelter, they have no electricity, they have no quality education. than who we are, we mission is to develop distraction from our achieve, and that for a chaplain to the young, old—that they Then you talk to them and they are the most hopeful people. All the girls I have met in the refugee camps, they are so positive are less powerful.” a Sierra Leone whose core interests.” me was extremely regime or a prophet have a place in the important.” to the resistance?” Republican Party.” about their future; they believe that one day they will be able to Professor of the Practice of Public reputation is hard to Samantha Power, Anna Lindh go back to their country. They have—all of them—have dreams.” Leadership Wendy Sherman, the Professor of the Practice of Global Nobel Peace Prize winner and Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Beth Myers, former campaign — new director of the Center for destroy.” Leadership and Public Policy, former Colombian President Juan Religious Action Center of Reform manager for Mitt Romney, Public Leadership, at a Forum Sierra Leone President Julius at a Forum on human rights in Manuel Santos mc/mpa 1981 on Judaism, at a Forum in January on at a Forum in November on the
in September. Maada Bio at a Forum in March. December. his decision to go into politics. STEWART MARTHA faith and activism. midterm elections.
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he ell of Good ntentions notes in the fi rst part of the book, which provides an overview of the personal, others professional, from those while also “zooming in” by using interpersonal skills to persuade America s Foreign Policy lite and the Decline of .S. Primacy current state of computer security, computers are no longer distinct closest to her. Among them, her one-time counterparts. Other lessons they outline include continually Stephen Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of devices but have become central to everyday objects like cars and boss, former Secretary of State Madeleine reevaluating assumptions about the deal you seek to achieve and International Affairs appliances and can even be connected to our bodies through medical Albright: “Madeleine told me the trick is not taking the long view; they quote Kissinger as seeking to “create equipment such as pacemakers and insulin pumps. The complexity to simply wield your personal power, but to incentives or pressures in one part of the world to infl uence events of these systems makes them more vulnerable to attack, he says, as own the power of your offi ce. ‘You are the in another.” And sometimes, they add, simply dogged persistence THE PAST FOUR U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS, from Clinton to does the fact that the systems are interacting with one another. In United States of America at the negotiating can lead to success, such as with the 26 trips Kissinger took between Trump, seemingly have little in common. Yet Stephen Walt points to addition, he argues, insecurity enables governments in conducting law table, not Wendy’. This isn’t just true for Tel Aviv and Damascus to forge an Israeli-Syrian disengagement one characteristic they all share: a failure of foreign policy. In his book, enforcement and espionage and corporations in facilitating profi t. The ambassadors and cabinet secretaries. We agreement. Although the world has changed drastically from the Cold he outlines why over the past 25 years disparate administrations have risks of this current state include attacks against industrial power all draw power from the roles we fi ll in life.” War era in which Kissinger served in government, these lessons still made similar mistakes overseas and how to shift course to make other sources, supply chains, transportation, and fi nancial trading Sherman unpacks how we bank power, apply, the authors contend, and would also be useful for those in countries and the United States more secure. systems. get comfortable with it, and decide when to use it. She pays particular business or law. He dubs the recent foreign policy strategy Although Schneier says that security attention to the relationship women have with power, persistence, “liberal hegemony,” which he defi nes as risks are getting worse, he offers and ultimately, embracing success. Chronicling the complexities the belief that America is uniquely qualifi ed remedies to help mitigate them. He of reaching the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between the he Formula to spread principles of individual freedom, presents a list of design principles P5+1, the e , and Iran on July 14, 2015—for which Sherman led the nloc ing the Secrets to aising ighly Successful Children democratic governance, and a market-based with which vendors can improve the U.S. negotiating team—she writes, “The day impressed on me the Ronald Ferguson, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy and economy. That may sound like something security of devices, ranging from importance of acknowledging our successes. I am ambivalent about Director, The Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University; to aspire to, but Walt contends that its providing greater transparency on success because it is so often incomplete, but we have to embrace and Tatsha Robertson execution has led to poor relations with how their security works to allowing and own them. There’s a humility in even claiming them.” Russia, quagmires in Afghanistan and Iraq, researchers to study their products and resistance across the world. Liberal for vulnerabilities. His main focus, THROUGHOUT HIS 35 YEARS AT HARVARD, Ronald Ferguson often hegemony has failed, he writes, because of a however, is on government intervention. issinger the Negotiator wondered what parents might have contributed, beyond genes, to “distorted understanding of international politics,” with both foes and Contending that liability is currently lacking for insecure products, Lessons from Dealma ing at the ighest Le el how his students grew so smart. Tatsha Robertson, his coauthor, allies alarmed by America’s dominance. At the same time, America’s he calls for fi nes against companies after a security breach or as R. Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Professor of the wondered the same thing about the many outstanding people she military power could not exert control over other, weaker countries. a penalty for insecure practices. He also proposes a new federal Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations; James K. encountered as a journalist for top-tier publications. After starting The strategy persevered despite the “dismal record,” according agency that could manage government-wide cybersecurity issues, Sebenius; and Robert H. Mnookin their detective work independently, they teamed up in 2014. Their new to Walt, because of an entrenched foreign policy establishment with and he offers several provisions for government to prioritize offense book reveals the intriguing pattern they uncovered. little accountability and motivated by vested interests to pursue over defense, including disclosing vulnerabilities and encrypting as Together, they interviewed dozens of an ambitious global agenda. That foreign policy establishment much of the internet as possible. But improvements can occur only if DRAWING FROM EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS with Henry Kissinger, professors brilliant adults (about half were Harvard uniformly denounced Donald Trump, who won in part, Walt argues, technologists and policymakers work together, he writes: “We need from three Harvard schools examine the former secretary of state’s graduates) and their parents. No matter for appearing to promise a different direction for foreign engagement. laws and policies that address the threats and the economics and public and private dealmaking and the lessons it provides to what a family’s race or income level, the That promise has proved illusory, he writes, because the Trump the psychology properly, and won’t become obsolete with changing negotiators. In a foreword, Kissinger calls the book the fi rst of the same eight principles (framed as roles) administration has combined the worst tendencies of liberal technologies.” many on him and his career to focus on his philosophies and methods emerged from the stories. The “early hegemony with incompetence. of negotiation, as the authors assess how he approached such learning partner” got the preschooler The book ends by proposing an alternative approach. Walt challenges as the war in Vietnam, hostile relations between the United hooked on learning and problem solving, advocates for “offshore balancing,” which he calls “America’s Not for the Faint of eart States and China, and the Arab-Israeli war. producing the “early lead effect” in traditional grand strategy.” It focuses, he writes, “on preventing other Lessons in Courage, Power Persistence The authors begin with a lesser- kindergarten. The “fl ight engineer” states from projecting power in ways that might threaten the United Wendy Sherman, Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership known initiative in 1976, when Kissinger monitored, making sure school kept the States.” The strategy is not isolationist, he emphasizes, but would work and Director of the Center for Public Leadership worked with southern African states to child’s journey on a high trajectory. The to maintain regional balances of power and would prioritize local forces persuade the white-minority government “fi xer” sacrifi ced to keep important doors to opportunity open. The as a fi rst line of defense. It is a realistic strategy that served the country of Rhodesia to accept majority rule. “revealer” exposed the child to life’s possibilities. The “philosopher” well in the past, he asserts, and would do so again in the future. WEAVING TOGETHER STORIES of her life and career—not only as According to them, it demonstrated many engaged the child in deep, meaningful conversation. The “model” undersecretary of state for political affairs but as a national of the skills that he brought to other inspired emulation. The “negotiator” taught self-advocacy and strategic campaign manager, social worker, and advocate—against the negotiations, such as building multiparty behavior. Finally, the “gps navigational voice” remained as the parent’s Clic ere to ill erybody tense negotiating backdrop of the historic Iran nuclear deal, Wendy coalitions, focusing on the motivations of voice in the child’s head, still coaching, after the child left home. Security and Sur i al in a yper connected World Sherman elevates the leadership values that shape personal and counterparts, and building relationships The book addresses the meaning of success, parent motivation, Bruce Schneier, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy professional success. The stories begin with an early lesson in with them. Similarly, in seeking to sibling dynamics, and how high achievers respond to hurdles. courage from her father, who, with her mother, risked fi nancial ruin normalize relations with China, Kissinger chose other countries to Mainly, it interweaves the life stories of high achievers to reveal the to run his business with integrity in civil rights-era Baltimore, and assist with establishing communication and studied Chinese leaders eight roles that parents can play to launch their children on a journey THE SECURITY EXPERT BRUCE SCHNEIER shows the insecurities that move to high-stakes negotiations with North Korea, Cuba, in the to understand how best to interact with them. to self-realization. have arisen in a world pervaded by internet-connected computers— Middle East, and with a cast of international diplomatic actors. These examples point to a key lesson from Kissinger, according and how to address the problem before catastrophe strikes. As he Throughout, Sherman relays lessons learned, some deeply to the authors: his practice of “zooming out” to larger strategic goals
www.hks.harvard.edu spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school
4 HKSmag_wi19_34-37_FP r1.indd 40 4/2/19 12:27 PM 4 HKSmag_wi19_34-37_FP r1.indd 41 4/2/19 12:28 PM 1964 55th Reunion 1977 the nonprofit I founded seven years ago— CLASSNOTES WorldDenver—which brings international Use the Alumni Richard Nuttall mpa retired this year after Greg Conderacci mpp “Still teaching education, expert speakers, and visiting Directory to contact a fulfilling 44 years practicing medicine. marketing at the Johns Hopkins School of delegations from all over the world to your classmates. “My time is fully taken with my extended Public Health and, for fun, riding my bicycle Colorado. International travel, gardening, family, including grandchildren, plus in ultra-long-distance races. Set a new writing, canoeing, ranching, and caring for hks.harvard.edu/ helping a small local NGO with a primary personal best this year: 356 miles in 24 my elderly mother are in the plans, as well alumnidirectory care clinic in Tanzania.” hours. I share my energy and endurance as reconnecting with old friends after a secrets in my new book, Getting UP! busy career. HKS remains an important 1967 Supercharging Your Energy.” source of inspiration for me!!” Gregory Kostelac mc/mpa returned to Tim McNeill mpp writes, “After the 1988 Harry Harris mc/mpa reports completing Hubei University of Economics in Wuhan, Dukakis presidential campaign, where I three careers in government, academia, China, as a visiting scholar to present served as associate director of issues, and the private sector with the recent sale lectures on the 2018 U.S. midterm election tanked, I became publisher/CEO of of HealthCare California, which he founded results and the American legal system. nonprofit Wisdom Publications, Inc., a in 2004. Enjoying his home in central quasi-academic publisher of Buddhist California as well as the state’s great philosophy. The association reached back weather and leisure lifestyle, Harry 1978 to my 1970s years in the Peace Corps in continues his frequent global travels with Richard Broinowski mc/mpa writes, Afghanistan. Recently retired after 30 years. new adventures along with renewing old “Since Harvard, I’ve been Australian Staying involved as board chair.” acquaintances and making new friends. ambassador to Vietnam, then to the Republic of Korea, and finally to Mexico, Central 1969 50th Reunion American Republics, and Cuba (based in 1980 Mexico City). Since retirement in 1998, I’ve Patricia White mpp was elected to the Anthony Robbins mc/mpa writes, “After 15 been an adjunct professor in media studies board of the National Museum of Women years serving as co-editor (with my wife, at University of Sydney, and president of the in the Arts in Washington, D.C. It is the only Phyllis Freeman) of the Journal of Public New South Wales branch of the Australian major museum in the world solely dedicated Health Policy, we have told Palgrave Institute of International Affairs. I’ve written to championing women through the arts. Springer, our publisher, that this will be our four books—on my grandfather who was last year. Nick Philipson, at Springer, will Kenneth Young mc/mpa writes, “After HKS, clerk of the Senate, on Australia’s nuclear conduct the search for a new editorial team I worked at the United States diplomacy, an autobiography, and a book at the 40-year-old, progressive quarterly.” Environmental Protection Agency. called Fallout from Fukushima. I’m writing a Returned to Maine in 1983 to become fifth, an official biography of a famous deputy commissioner at Marine Resources Melbourne Victorian-age bookseller. I 1974 45th Reunion and commissioner of Maine Department of comment about foreign affairs on Al Jazeera Sandford Borins mpp is continuing to Environmental Protection. Later jobs and Australian TV and radio. Married to teach public management at the University included consulting assignments and a Alison, two kids, two grands. One cat, of Toronto. “I recently published a book final 12-year stint at a regional planning Genji.” (coauthored with my wife Beth Herst) titled, and development agency. Presently, I work Negotiating Business Narratives: Fables of Jeffrey Soule mcrp writes, “Supported by with others trying to keep the Hubbard the Information Technology, Automobile a grant from the State Department, I Free Library afloat. It is in some ways the Manufacturing, and Financial Trading undertook a speaking and outreach tour of most challenging assignment yet. So much Industries, with Palgrave Macmillan.” three Russian cities: Perm, Yekaterinburg, irony. We worked hard to grow jobs. Now — and Chelyabinsk. Audiences included we have a big labor shortage, face a Sanford Barbara Goldsmith mcp reports that students and faculty at local universities, demographic winter along with climate Borins Barbara J. Goldsmith & Company LLC, with design professionals, and civic change, and an assault on our democracy. mpp 1974 offices in Washington and Brussels, started organizations. The focus of the program HKS was one of those rare but welcome its 33rd year on January 1. “I currently go was incorporating natural and cultural transformative moments for me, a life and between Washington and Rhode Island; am conservation for sustainable cities. The career changer.” the proud mother of 27-year-old Caitlin, audiences were interested in learning who holds a master’s degree from the about the American urban experience, London School of Economics; remain busy mistakes, lessons, and trends. The 1981 with my work for now (but please let me discussions were lively and included Ed Edelson mc/mpa writes, “Proud that know if you are interested in buying my questions of implementation, public my efforts to bring the story of Southbury, company); might get serious about finding engagement, and balancing cultural Connecticut to the attention of U.S. a permanent significant other (am open to heritage with development.” Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington, introductions); would love to see all my — D.C.) has resulted in a prominent position in classmates at the 45th reunion who I have the new exhibit “Americans and the “Where in the World Are We?” was the name lost touch with!” — 1979 40th Reunion Holocaust,” depicting that Southbury was Greg of the discussion that drew 75 Kennedy Karen de Bartolomé (Strawser) mpa, after the first government to vote and to succeed Conderacci gigs as a White House fellow (U.S. trade in stopping American Nazi movement. The School alumni to the Royal Institute of 1976 mc/mpa 1977 representative) and director of international town of Southbury prevented efforts to build Josh Gotbaum mpp staged a micro-reunion British Architects in London in January. business for the Port Authority of New York/ a new (and slated to be largest) training in August with Scott Parr mpp 1982, Jim New Jersey, moved to Colorado to start a camp in 1937. Video documentary Jon David Willingham mc/mpa 2016 Harlan mpp 1977, phd 1981, and Linda family. “Two sons and 2.5 decades later, we produced when I was chief elected officer of Seale mpp 1977 at Scott’s home in joined in the conversation. are happily settled on a tiny ranch in the town has brought this story of standing
PAUL CLARKE Brewster, Massachusetts. Boulder County. Next year I will retire from up to purveyors of ‘hate and fear’ to the attention of thousands.”
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Joe Leitmann mpp was nominated to chair recipient of Harvard University Graduate the corporate world and started my own the International Recovery Platform, a School of Design’s Wheelwright Prize, turnaround management practice, serving Home Work consortium of organizations committed to Morgan is known for his signature style, both the nonprofit and private sectors. I’m good practice for post-disaster which brought together modernism, earth in the midst of a hiatus, serving as an reconstruction, which is based in Kobe, architecture, and aspects of ancient North adjunct professor in the business and Matthew Aronson mpp 2010 Japan. He was also named to the Board of American building. More information economics department at my alma mater, Directors for Bikes for the World (a about the book is available from the Kalamazoo College. My son, Langston, is development nonprofit) and the U.S. University Press of Florida’s website. now a sophomore at Kalamazoo and my FOR MATTHEW ARONSON, graduate school provided an opportunity chapter of The International Emergency daughter, Lily, is in seventh grade. Partner to reflect on his experiences teaching young people and founding a Peter Woodrow mc/mpa is co-author (with Management Society. Joe continues to Jason is in IT sourcing at Trinity Health. I still Diana Chigas) of Adding Up to Peace: The youth-led organization as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine. “Being head the Resilient Recovery and Urban enjoy playing lots of competitive volleyball Cumulative Impacts of Peace Programming. here at hks, I got to rinse and wash and look at and dissect all the Resilience programs at the World Bank’s and working on genealogical projects.” The book is based on case studies Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and things that I did there,” he says. After graduating, Aronson worked at regarding how multiple peace efforts in the Joseph Olchefske mcrp writes, “My wife Recovery in Washington, D.C. the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he same conflict zone have cumulative Judy Bunnell mpp and I are looking forward Rob Reiner mcrp was elected to the board impacts, and how they “add up or don’t to seeing all of our classmates at our 35th designed and implemented programs to prevent and end youth of the National Museum of Women in the add up” to producing significant progress reunion next May. We are hoping to organize homelessness in communities across the country. Arts in Washington, D.C. It is the only major toward larger societal-level peace. The book a fun social event for our class on the In early 2018, having started his own consulting practice, museum in the world solely dedicated to is available for download at www. Saturday of reunion weekend (May 18th). Aronson was hired by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh to develop a championing women through the arts. cdacollaborative.org or from Amazon Invitation and event details to follow.” books-on-demand. comprehensive plan to end youth homelessness in the city. Aronson’s team has used a multifaceted approach in developing Steve Weissman mc/mpa reports that after According to Aronson, the adult a response plan centered around expanding the city’s network of 1982 directing the energy program at Berkeley Law for 10 years, he has moved across — homelessness system can be partners into a larger community of stakeholders, leveraging their — Frank DeRosa mpp writes, “I just returned 1983 campus and now teaches energy policy at unsafe for youth and young expertise and sharing ownership of the process. Richard from Algeria talking about the low cost of Dileep Nair mpa writes, “I’m working now UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public If you walked outside Shieldhouse solar energy to the sixth largest oil/gas at “a different pace”—I never use the word adults who often need different Aronson is consistently struck by the impact that young people Policy. He enjoys sharing the building with mcrp 1982 exporter. Another milestone in clean “retired”! After 25 years in the Singapore tomorrow in Boston kinds of supportive services. with current or former experience with housing instability have some familiar faculty faces from HKS days, energy: the all-in cost of solar is less than Administrative Service, five years as including Robert Reich and Michael O’Hare. And the size of the affected had on the work. His team meets regularly with the Boston Youth the fuel-only cost of fossil fuel-powered inspector general of the United Nations in and were magically “Goldman is a much smaller school than population adds to the Action Board and has supported the participation of its members electricity generation. Sunny Algeria could New York, and 15 years as a diplomat HKS—you probably could fit the entire able to go down every export renewable electricity to Europe representing Singapore in Dubai, Laos, and problem’s urgency. “If you at every level of decision making to ensure that the final original building into the HKS Forum. instead of oil and gas to power electric Ghana, I now sit on the boards of three walked outside tomorrow in recommendations address the needs of the people they are But the atmosphere is warm and the street and into every vehicles and heating!” listed companies and two government scholarship is high. Come visit if you Boston and were magically working to serve. agencies. I also do a bit of teaching at the shelter, you would fill Eric Elbot mc/mpa writes, “Part of make it out to the Bay Area.” able to go down every street Aronson’s passion for partnering with youth has not waned University and Civil Service College. I look developing UnWar III Labs to create a forward to making it to Cambridge for a an auditorium with and into every shelter, you since his Peace Corps days. “Spending time with the Youth Action Sino/U.S. grass-tops leader media platform homecoming in the near future.” would fill an auditorium with Board, volunteering and spending a night at the Y2Y shelter in with collaboration-reinforcing algorithms to 1985 young people who — act as an independent strategic compass in Jack Gardner mpp reports that in his role as young people who have Harvard Square—those are easily my most gratifying and favorite
Peter preventing Graham Allison’s ‘Destined for 1984 35th Reunion chairperson of the YMCA of the Central RAYCHEL CASEY have nowhere to go. nowhere to go,” Aronson says. moments of the work.” Woodrow War’ outcome. Machine-learning decoding Bay Area, he recently helped lead the Salvano Briceno mc/mpa writes, “Since I mc/mpa 1982 of war-trigger patterns, false flag events, merger of two adjoining YMCA retired from the United Nations in 2011, I information disorder campaigns, etc. associations into the new YMCA of the have been involved in academic work counter-acted by enhanced performance- East Bay (YEB), one of the 25 largest around the world in the field of disaster risk team-trained players in UnWar Game Theory YMCAs in the nation. Leveraging the reduction, advising the International scenarios (Schelling plus) and eventually: membership and operational efficiencies and scientific and technological one requiring the students to determine Science Council Regional Office for Latin 1986 real-time/long game, skillfully fair, created by the merger, YEB is expanding dimensions are combined to offer a how they will use the school and its America and the Caribbean, the Integrated networked de-escalating UnWar its Head Start program to serve more comprehensive rather than a fractal view resources to pursue their career and life Jeff Bleich mpp has been elected chair of Research on Disaster Risk programme (ISC/ interventions. Chinglish: ‘Add Oil Group.’” low-income families and making of the prospects of individual African goals. The essays are amazing.” Fellow the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, a UNISDR), the International Consortium on significant capital investments in its countries. By integrating the stability, alumni should reach out if interested in 12-member congressionally chartered board Robert Griffiths mpp writes, “Retired from a Landslides (ICL, based at Kyoto University), after-school programs and fitness organizational, and scientific and participating in the scholarship. composed of presidential appointees. Jeff 34-year career with the U.S. State and the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR/DRR) facilities. In his “spare time,” Jack is still technological perspectives, it is possible was also recently honored with the Peter Department, but capitalizing on the programme of the Chinese Academy of James Shultz mc/mpa writes, “After two running the largest affordable housing to gain considerable insight into the Haas Medal for Public Service from UC experience in Asia that career brought me, I Sciences, among others. I have also decades living in Cochabamba, Bolivia, my — management company in California and factors that will shape the futures of Berkeley. The award recognizes an am now teaching the politics of China and published a number of articles on this family and I returned last year to the U.S., to Ejeviome climbing tall mountains with Rick African countries and, more importantly alumnus/a of UC Berkeley who has made the politics of Southeast Asia at Brigham crucial topic of modern times. Still living in the odd landing place of Lockport, New Otobo Counihan mpp. present a composite picture of the significant voluntary contributions to the Young University. And we finished building France next to Geneva; planning to move to York, a small town that sits astride the Erie mc/mpa 1985 progress of each country. betterment of society within the United our “dream home,” complete with a tubular Malaga in a couple of years.” Ejeviome Otobo mc/mpa published in late Canal. Such are the powers of a first States through creative social change. slide, secret passageways to attic lofts, trap 2017 a book titled, Africa in Transition: A James Pearson mpp writes, “My wife Laurie grandchild, Isabella Rose. I continue to lead Joe Cislowski mpp was appointed by doors between floors, and a zip line in the New Way of Looking at Progress in the and I celebrate the Harvard Kennedy School the social and environmental justice Governor Jerry Brown to the California backyard, hoping that by building it, the Region. The book notes that African in our community by sponsoring a organization I founded in 1992, The 1987 Commission on Aging. He writes, “I look grandkids (10 and counting) will come!” countries have made considerable progress scholarship at the District of Columbia Democracy Center. I also lead advocacy forward to this opportunity to advocate for Nadine Hack mc/mpa, CEO of beCause in the past decade and a half. However, Theatre Lab. It supports a student with development projects for UNICEF on five Richard Shieldhouse mcrp has a new older adults to ensure they can lead Global Consulting (www.because.net), was Use the Alumni conventional analyses of progress or lack financial need and who also won an continents. In 2019 I’ll have a new book book out titled, William Morgan—Evolution healthy, purposeful, and dignified lives.” featured on November 6 on The Voice of Directory to contact thereof in Africa have focused on either essay contest. The essay topic: Explain coming out: My Other Country, 19 Years a of an Architect, which offers a personal BOLD Business Radio talking about your classmates. Kevin Howley mpp writes, “After living in political or economic trends separately. how the student will use the education at Gringo in Bolivia. Be in touch.” look at the life and work of William corporate social responsibility, stakeholder various parts of the U.S. since leaving the Seldom are the two brought together, and the Theatre Lab to achieve their goals. hks.harvard.edu/ Morgan. A visionary architect, early engagement, diversity and inclusion, and Kennedy School, I returned to the Detroit even much rarer is the case when the Why this topic? The Kennedy School is a alumnidirectory supporter of green design principles, and self-awareness for leadership development. area 10 years ago. About 15 years ago I left political stability, organizational capacity, treasure chest of options for an education, Listen at http://voiceofboldbusiness.com.
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She is a regular contributor to the Library of the organization as the recipient of the Tomorrow’s Leaders. Dan is now six years Professional Coaching where you can read Michael and Kitty Dukakis Lifetime into running the IBM Center for the Empowering her September 26 post on communications. Achievement Award. Business of Government, a public-sector- This fall, Nadine was also a participant/ focused think tank, and serves on multiple Doreen Denny mpp reports that after a contributor at Salzburg Global Seminar advisory boards and associations focused Afghan Women career break to raise two children, she has program on New Horizons in Social on public sector issues. reentered familiar halls of Congress and the Investment: Global Exchange for Action and executive branch as senior director of Edson Kondo mpp writes, “This year I had Ruby Ajanee mc /mpa 2009 Impact of Philanthropy & Social Investment. government relations for the nonprofit the greatest honor of being elected to the Shigetaka Seki mpp has been engaged public policy women’s organization, HKS Alumni Board of Directors. Thank you with the recycling of plastic products. He Concerned Women for America. so much for those of you who sent me RUBY AJANEE IS THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR for Oxfam in Afghanistan, received an environmental science PhD messages of support and good wishes. — Natalie Jaresko mpp writes, “For about one from Tohoku University focused on a Please let me know if there is anything you where she leads a team of more than 300 staff who are helping to Dan Chenok and a half years I have served as executive study of designing recycling systems for want me to pass on to the Kennedy School rebuild the nation after decades of insecurity, war, and disasters. mpp 1990 director of the Financial Oversight and vinyl products. or have any ideas on how the Alumni Board Management Board for Puerto Rico. I Empowering people is a hallmark of Oxfam’s efforts. “You can several interesting studies on the working conditions of women in could serve you better. Three years ago, I Jack Werner mc/mpa is a senior fellow of arrived here with a mandate to restructure open doors for the local populations to enable them to change the Afghan police force,” says Ajanee. These reports describe the had the privilege of being invited by the the Climate Institute, working on renewable the island’s $74 billion of debt, achieve Getulio Vargas Foundation of Brazil to help themselves and their communities. Outsiders cannot do this,” says “appalling conditions” in which women are working, and how, in energy and climate change programs. He is fiscal balance, and enable a return to create a new School of Public Policy and Ajanee. “I always remind my local colleagues that they are the ones Afghanistan’s conservative society, it is difficult to advance an assessor for the American National market access after a decade of economic Government. In 2019, we will be receiving Standards Institute (ANSI). He has been decline and two devastating hurricanes in who have the answers and the capacity to make decisions about women’s inclusion in the security sector. “Given the persisting our first group of MPPG students.” serving as a consultant for the past four 2017. My experience as minister of finance themselves; our job is to empower them and create an environment challenges, I have made it a priority to put a program in place that years to IRENA, as the executive director of of Ukraine in restructuring the sovereign Eva Ostrum mpp writes, “After more than where their efforts can produce desired results.” Oxfam has, since will help change the conditions of the few courageous women the Institute for Sustainable Power, and is and public company debt, as well as two decades in K-16 education, I now it started supporting Afghanistan in 1961, always worked with and joining the police force by creating a safer environment for them,” finalizing a renewable energy standards reducing fiscal deficits while decentralizing support students, parents, and schools and PV Practitioner Certification program for the fiscal system, was critical to the tasks with college admissions (evaostrum. through local partner organizations. says Ajanee. This involves everything from changing perceptions the 15 West African countries who are here. Dealing with every possible question wordpress.com). I love working directly with Ajanee credits her mid-career degree for much of her current and cultural norms to appointing ombudsmen in the Ministry of members of ECOWAS. He has been serving in public policy....” teens and parents around the country. I strategy, especially the adaptive leadership skills she learned from Interior to installing separate restrooms for women. on contract to the U.S. Department of also help urban schools build effective George Mazza mc/mpa reports that after King Hussein Bin Talal Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership Ron Heifetz. Despite her ambitions, Ajanee is realistic about what can be Energy as a coach for communities across college admissions systems/structures, to serving as a senior civil rights attorney in the country who are participating in the Solar mitigate “zip code” impact on educational “Afghan culture is very hierarchical, and many Afghans are not achieved in a demanding environment such as Afghanistan. “The the U.S. Department of Justice for over 20 in Your Community Challenge program. outcomes. All this takes place as I seek my empowered to make decisions. Through the practice of adaptive real lesson for me is that as much as I want to, I cannot change years, he has returned to studying theology, doctorate in educational psychology and focusing on Christian-Jewish relations in his leadership, I guide my staff to take responsibility, learn to solve the world singlehandedly. I can, however, empower people who raise my two daughters who, while in foster doctoral program in religion and culture at problems, and make decisions,” she says. This allows her to build could change their lives and help others. The real and sustainable 1988 care, chose me to be their mom. Thanks to the School of Theology and Religious Bob Ebersole mc/mpa recently started as HKS and “One Church, One Child” for critical thinking skills in her local staff and prepare them to respond change is the change that comes from within and not when it is Studies at Catholic University. chief financial officer for Outer Cape Health focusing my attention on adopting through to a stressful and constantly changing environment. imposed,” she says. With her leadership, Oxfam in Afghanistan Services on Cape Cod and is moving there Marcel van Opstal mc/mpa writes, foster care to begin with!” A project close to her heart is improving the working conditions is determined to make a measurable difference in the lives of with his husband Troy and their dog Apollo. “Amazing how fast 30 years went since of Afghan policewomen. “With a local partner, Oxfam has conducted Afghan women and men. Bob completed five years at Lowell graduation. Remember I came to HKS to Community Health Center overseeing the acquire tools for policy analysis, decision 1991 construction of a $26 million expansion making in issues related to international Aixa Beauchamp mc/mpa, president of including dental and vision services. He development with a view of a career shift. It Beauchamp & Associates, was featured in ended his second three-year term on the happens. Got involved in the introduction of Boston Magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential Lunenburg Board of Selectmen, having the environmental protection dimension in People in Boston.” “A longtime philanthropy served as vice chair. the European Union development policy in consultant, Beauchamp helped create the County, Illinois. Developed 57 units of network serving California. I’m helping worked in the Victorian (Melbourne) the framework of Agenda 21, advocated for Latino Legacy Fund five years ago to advance affordable housing for my church. Currently facilitate RASA, the Regenerative Agriculture Treasury, the Australian economic Tom Young hksee reports that the South biodiversity protection in Belize, became the socioeconomic status of Boston’s working on a project to build a housing Sector Accelerator. Stop by when you’re in consulting firm ACIL Allen, and as strategy Carolina State Senate passed a resolution ambassador of the European Union in Haiti Hispanic residents. Since then, both component manufacturing plant to assist in the neighborhood.” director in the NZ Ministry of Transport, in 2018 to honor and commend him for the and Republic of Congo. Retired Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty the production of affordable/workforce Wellington. Main fields of work: economics, extraordinary venture of completing a now since 2014, keep busy teaching Walsh have recruited her for advisory roles, housing. Illinois has an approximately policy, strategy. Main sectors: transport, thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail at the age international cooperation and peace and her influence continues to grow.” 300,000-plus unit shortage. It’s a 1992 health, international trade, agriculture.” of 75. Tom, a retired U.S. Army colonel, lives building in Colombia, whilst advocating worthwhile, socially responsible project Herbert Adams mc/mpa still enjoys the in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He Fabiana Feld mpa has been busy crafting Richard Hyde mc/mpa is currently pastor for community-based development.” that will require a lot of money. Will practice of law and the occasional foray spent five months in the wilderness, “Creating Markets” engagements for of the First Congregational Church of Gray, a train and employ unemployed veterans, into politics. He writes, “Check out the starting at Springer Mountain, Georgia, and International Finance Corporation. As chief town just north of Portland, Maine. “I also disadvantaged minority youth, and adults Adams Law Group and our website ending at Mount Katahdin, Maine. Senator investment officer, she works closely with get down to Washington, D.C. several times 1990 returning from incarceration. Any YouDidntDoIt.com. I also continue to serve Gregg Hembree, who presented Tom with the World Bank, International Monetary per year to lead tours for Harvard alumni Dan Chenok mpp recently became adjunct assistance is appreciated.” on the faculty at Clayton State University. the resolution, stated that the colonel has Fund, and local emerging-market and students in the University of Notre associate professor with University of And I am into my third decade as a trustee always lived by the motto of “Be All You governments to remove obstacles to Terrence Smith mc/mpa recently received Dame Washington Program. Harvard Texas’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Can Be,” which exemplified his courage economic and business growth by creating level 1 instructor certification from the United fingerprints are all over the nation’s capital. teaching on federal government budget, which I have attended since Reverend and fortitude on the trail. private-sector-led initiatives that reduce States Curling Association. Terrence lives in Two of the McMillan Plan commissioners, policy, and management issues at LBJ’s Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor. Please poverty and unfair income distribution. Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he does McKim and Olmstead, along with Secretary Washington, D.C. campus. Dan also feel free to contact me if you are ever in the some part-time consulting and in the winter Moore, studied at Harvard and were co-authored a book about government Peter Nicholson mc/mpa writes, Atlanta area.” 1989 30th Reunion is employed as a part-time curling instructor. influenced by Professor Charles Eliot reforms in the last 20 years and what they “Greetings from Chicago. I’ve worn many James Brett mc/mpa, former president David Greig mc/mpa writes, “The MPA Norton, who, if he did not first say, “solving can teach leaders in the U.S. and around hats since graduation including deputy David Witzel mpp writes, “Claudia Williams of the Massachusetts Association of provided a valuable refresh of core problems beautifully is the fundamental the world in the next 20 years: Government director of administration and director of and I moved to Oakland, California! She’s Mental Health, was recently honored by economics, plus new skills. I then returned craft of architecture,” could have. The for the Future: Reflection and Vision for planning and development for Cook CEO at Manifest MedX, a nonprofit health to the New Zealand Treasury, and later National Mall is very much their creation.”
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Charlotte Pierce mc/mpa writes, “Amid part-time doing consulting to nonprofits, work, family, fatherhood, and civic life, PAE I wrote for the NHL and Bryant in 1998. Urgent Threat of Hormone-Disrupting Burmese and Congolese refugees. I leave training and racing in my first Head of the but spend an inordinate amount of time often in poor physical and mental health, I had the amazing opportunity to be part of Chemicals to Our Health and Future . . . for Rome to sing at a Papal Mass for New Charles and a few other rowing regattas this doing lay leadership for several nonprofits.” struggling with competing ideas about the NHL’s Diversity Task Force and work and What We Can Do About It (Houghton Year’s and will return shortly after the new year, I expanded the PiercePress.com book masculinity, and angry toward women, with Bryant and Willie after graduation. Mifflin Harcourt) was featured on CBS This year. October was my 12-year breast list with the publication of the expanded employers, and government. These men are Bryant is also producing the biopic “Willie: Morning and is a national bestseller. cancer survivor anniversary, as well as a edition of our Daniel McFly children’s struggling and hurting children, women, How the Descendant of Escaped Slaves one-year survivorship of colon cancer. I Shuji Yuge mpa reports that it has been picture book, which was endorsed by the themselves, and our society and economy.” Changed Hockey Forever,” due to be love to keep in touch with my classmates 19 years since he graduated from HKS. Jane Goodall Institute/Nepal. We’ve begun released in the spring.” and friends from 1998–2000 and hope Shuji worked at the Japanese Embassy in acquisitions for v. 4 of the Peeragogy to hear from you soon!” Peter McKeown mc/mpa is professor of Australia from 2012 to 2016 in the political — Handbook, and we are beta testing an app 1995 surgery at the University of Tennessee section as a counsellor in charge of Leonardo for our DayTripper family activities series. Elias Freig mc/mpa is celebrating almost Medical Center and president and CEO of defense cooperation with Australia. Trasande Looking forward to rowing camp in January three decades as a social, business, and 2001 QMEDALLC HealthCare Consulting. He He is now working as the director of the mpp/md 1999 and a trip to Nepal in February, as well as environmental entrepreneur. He writes, Lothar Ehring mpa writes, “Greetings to all previously served as head of the School of International Policy Division of the Defense our annual HKS ‘92 reunion gatherings!” “Enjoying every day my cause and mission from Brussels where I now live since 2003 Rural Medicine at the University of New Policy Bureau at the Japan Ministry of working for a more sustainable, equitable, when I left Geneva, my first stop after HKS.” England in Armidale, Australia and deputy Defense. Shuji is very grateful for all the fair, competitive, just, transparent, and dean of the Joint Medical Program with professional training and wonderful Albert George mpp writes, “The 1993 prosperous Mexico and now serving as University of Newcastle; chief of surgery at experiences he received at Harvard. It is documentary that was produced in Jeffrey Cimbalo mpa is now managing consultant and strategist, president of Asheville VA Medical Center; and consulting his hope that all nations become more conjunction with the launch of the director at FTI Consulting, Inc., focusing on Green Growth Group, and also general professor of surgery at Duke University. united for the betterment of mankind. Resilience Initiative for Coastal Education disputes consulting, domestic and cross- director of Build Your Dreams (BYD) México, (R.I.C.E.) called “Sea Change” was the border compliance, and investigations. He the “global sustainability giant” in my Todd Rassiger mpp was recently named recipient of the 2018 Telly Award. This lives in Atlanta with his wife, Susan, and country. Happy 2019 to all the dear acting president of Gradifi. Gradifi, a 2000 award was the result of a three-year their daughter, Amelia. Crimson Community.” Boston-based company, pioneered a Timothy Anderson mc/mpa writes, “I collaboration between the Medical technology platform that enables U.S. Mia MacDonald mpp writes, “Really continue to love being CEO of World University of South Carolina Public employers to make payment contributions enjoyed catching up with classmates at our Steve Powell mpa recently met with Computer Exchange. We have shipped Information and Community Outreach 1996 towards their employees’ student loan reunion, and am pleased that a current MPP Bulgarian Minister of Economy Emil low-cost refurbished computers loaded with Office, South Carolina Education Television, Pat Corrigan mpp writes, “Continue debt and 529 plans for their dependents. student is doing a PAE with the policy Karanikolov in Sofia. Steve reports that the educational content to nearly five million Allen University, and the South Carolina running my own business—interesting work “We innovated a private-sector solution organization I run in New York City, Brighter minister (at right in photo; Powell on left) youth in 49 developing countries. I am Aquarium. The “Sea Change” documentary in the areas of adaptive management, to a material public policy issue of Green (www.brightergreen.org). She’ll and his government are supporting grateful to classmates who served on our was produced while conducting over eight leadership, behavioral sciences, and escalating student loan debt (currently develop a strategy for garnering greater companies founded by Powell that operate board: Ken Choi mc/mpa, Oby Ezekwesili Climate Change Community Leaders anti-human trafficking. Excited to be joining at $1.4 trillion and growing $200mm a attention to and action on food systems in Bulgaria and other countries along the mc/mpa, David Lozano mc/mpa, and Diana Institutes engaging traditionally under- others to launch a niche company to run day) and college affordability.” Since and animal agriculture within the UN legendary Silk Road, as part of China’s Topcic-Rosenberg mc/mpa, and to served communities on the topics of adaptive management programs.” launching in 2016, Gradifi has worked climate change convention and other global Belt & Road Initiative. Powell was the classmates on our International Advisory climate change and sea level rise. Now with more than 350 companies that range — policy spaces. In June, I visited the new founder of HBO Sports and the first Stephanie Mickle mpp, CEO of Mickle Council: Janice Cooper mc/mpa, Thais airing on PBS.” from small businesses to nonprofits to Andrew Equal Justice Initiative museum and programming chief at ESPN before Public Affairs, recently published a new Corral mc/mpa, and Pedro Guevara mc/ large enterprises. Rick Minor mc/mpa was elected to the Yarrow memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. They becoming an investment banker. book, Follow the Leader: Believe in Yourself. mpa. Some classmates regularly help with Leon County Commission in Tallahassee, mc/mpa 1994 are searing, infuriating, galvanizing, and Currently, he is managing director of Craft Your Future. Her book, which is part contacts, money, and ideas like Marilyn Florida, and assumed office in November essential. Bryan Stevenson mpp/jd 1985 SinoPowell Capital and also of Silk Road memoir, part practical advice, draws on her Averill mc/mpa, Dan Carpenter mc/mpa, 1999 20th Reunion 2018. That same month, he and his wife and his colleagues have done another Logistics, which both work with 20-plus years of experience and is written Karen Kalish mc/mpa, and Bill Schmidt Takao Aiba mpp reports that 2018 was a Jessica were blessed with the birth of their enormous service to the U.S. and the world.” international governments and financing to encourage and equip women everywhere mc/mpa. We seek help in Puerto Rico and special year for him—he celebrated his 50th second child, Charlotte Rose Minor. In groups to develop projects in with the tools and confidence to get with our Inspire Girls project.” birthday. He brought his private voice to the addition, Rick continues to serve as the infrastructure, logistics, trade, and involved in the political process. Stephanie U.N. biodiversity COP and climate change Karen Kalish mc/mpa visited Cambridge CEO of Second Harvest of the Big Bend, the 1994 25th Reunion renewable energy throughout the world. is one of D.C.’s most sought-after advisors COP. In addition to his fruitful business and Boston in October and had dinner regional food bank, which has had a record- Susan Hackley mc/mpa writes, “Since Powell was president of the Student and political strategists, and was achievements, Takao climbed Mount with Marty Walz mc/mpa, Sara Hamlen breaking year distributing 12 million graduating from HKS, I have stayed close to Government while earning his MPA degree recognized by Impact DC as one of the 40 Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters), Mount Fuji mc/mpa, Marilyn Averill mc/mpa, Betsy pounds of food to North Florida families Harvard. Except for a brief foray into the at HKS. In 2015–16, he was president of the Under 40 Most Influential on Capitol Hill. (3,778 meters), and Mount Kinabalu (4,095 Myers mc/mpa, Cara Hesse mc/mpa, and and individuals struggling with hunger. dot-com world, I have been at the Program HKS Washington, D.C. Alumni Council. Follow the Leader: Believe in Yourself. Craft meters). He also finished a 100-kilometer Tim Anderson mc/mpa at Henrietta’s on Negotiation at Harvard Law School (17 Powell Fellowships will provide financial Your Future is available for purchase on ultra marathon and four full marathons. Table. “Marty Walz is consulting and an — years as managing director). I am so aid to up to two international students Amazon and Audible. interim executive director at the Old South 2003 Stephanie grateful to be working in the peacebuilding enrolled at HKS during each of the next two Erik Jorgensen mc/mpa was re-elected in Meeting House, Sara Hamlen is healing Kyle Cottrell mc/mpa writes, “It’s hard to Mickle field, and in recent years I’ve had the fun of academic years. November to a fourth term in the Maine from losing her parents, Marilyn is working be a Marine but harder to be the mom of a mpp 1996 traveling around the world with our PON 1997 House of Representatives, representing Gary Stahl mc/mpa 1994 is living in hard on climate change, Betsy is giving Marine. My painting “Semper Fi Sisters: A Global program, which I helped create. I’m Del Wright mpp accepted the position Portland, Maine. Geneva with his nine-year-old twins. He is speeches all over the world, Cara is in Legacy of Leadership” was inspired by the also finishing up my documentary film, of director of UMKC Law China Program still with UNICEF, now as director of private Lourdes Martin Salgado mpa writes, culinary school, Tim is still putting women I served with (1986–2006) and the “Veteran Children,” about the impact of war at Peking University and is currently sector fundraising and partnerships. “In “Speechwriter and consultant. Currently computers all over the world, and Karen is women I met through my daughters’ service on America’s children and families. I got researching and writing on blockchain touch with a few classmates living here working at the regional Ministry of raising academic achievement by doing (2013–today). It was unveiled at the married to Paul Henry while I was at HKS, so and cryptoassets at UMKC Law. and elsewhere.” Education in Madrid. Proud and busy mum teacher home visits in public schools all Women’s Memorial at Arlington National we are celebrating our 25th anniversary. of three little girls. Would love to be back over Missouri with great success.” Cemetery on September 1, 2018, to great Looking forward to seeing classmates at Andrew Yarrow mc/mpa writes, “My new to the classroom!!” acclaim and honors 100 years of service of our reunion!” book, Man Out: Men on the Sidelines of 1998 Lisa Screeton mpa 2000 writes, “Greetings women in the United States Marine Corps. American Life, was published by the Stephanie Geosits mpp writes, “On the Leonardo Trasande mpp/md is Jim G. from Montana and the Bluegrass State of Lisa Popik Coll mpp writes, “Never left the It is currently on display in the office of the Brookings Institution Press in fall 2018. eve of Willie O’Ree’s induction into the Hendrick, MD Professor and vice chair for Kentucky! I have been teaching world Boston area! Married Arieh a week after assistant commandant in the Pentagon. The Drawing on hundreds of interviews Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018, Willie, research in pediatrics at NYU School of history, American government, and public graduation—three kids later—Coby, 22; video augment can be viewed on YouTube.” throughout the U.S. and considerable Bryant McBride mpa 1990, and I met up to Medicine and holds faculty appointments policy for Browning Public School on the Gabriel, 20; and Rachel, 17. Took some time data-mining and analysis, my book mark this historic occasion in Toronto. at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service Blackfeet Reservation near Glacier National Andrew Kline mc/mpa reports that MPP off of professional life to raise them. Work explores the lives of tens of millions of Willie, who broke the NHL’s color barrier and College of Global Public Health. His Park in Montana for the past two years, and and MPA classmates from the Class of 2003 American men who are disconnected from 60 years ago, figured prominently in the new book Sicker, Fatter, Poorer: The recently relocated to Kentucky to work with collaborated to raise over $150,000 to
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in Chicago on March 26–29. Gerald serves Vince Buzek hksee was elected on large-scale culture change and increased to the entrepreneurs in Qatar and the as CEO/director of the VA Connecticut November 6, 2018, to the Regional academic achievement. He oversees region. Feel free to get in touch if Use the Alumni Healthcare System. Transportation District-Denver Board of professional and leadership development, interested in any of the above.” Directory to contact Directors for District J in Denver, Colorado. change management, and executive your classmates. Pablo Quintanilla mpp writes, “I have Baha Hariri mpp writes, “Living in the San RTD-Denver, metro-Denver’s transit agency, coaching to ensure that all 11,000 staff transitioned to the World Economic Forum’s Francisco Bay Area with my wife and two is governed by a 15-member board of (school- and district-office-based hks.harvard.edu/ Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution in daughters, still have a foot in local politics directors serving a population of 3.1 million personnel) are equipped with the skills, alumnidirectory San Francisco. I am Salesforce’s (my current and remain a consultant for my larger individuals with a service area of over mental models, and competences employer) first secondee to the centre. The business clients but my main focus is 2,400 square miles. Vince will represent necessary to dramatically bolster centre partners with governments, leading residential and commercial real estate, approximately 180,000 citizens in his equitable outcomes for 80,000 scholars. companies, civil society, and experts from namely building multifamily buildings in district. Vince looks forward to the around the world to co-design and pilot San Francisco and investing in commercial challenges of operating and growing a innovative new approaches to policy and properties throughout the Bay Area.” fiscally constrained transit district with 2006 governance in the future. Over the next 12 unfinished transit corridors needed to Tahrat Shahid mpa/id earned a DPhil in Anton von Rudkowski mc/mpa writes, months I will be developing “Ethics service a growing commercial and politics from the University of Oxford in “After returning to Munich, Germany, I Frameworks” to help centre partners residential population. 2016. Tahrat has been appointed as the haven’t continued with my professional evaluate the use and deployment of their challenge leader for the food systems career as a cardiovascular surgeon. Lucas Caltrider mpp writes, “In September technology. My wife Silvana, son Matias, portfolio of the Global Challenges Research Instead, in 2006 I decided to follow my 2018, I joined the U.S. Department of State and I live in San Mateo, California.” Fund (GCRF), a £1.5 billion U.K. government passion for classic architecture, in as an economic affairs officer in the Foreign fund supporting cutting-edge international Tim Sommella mc/mpa recently moved Florence, Italy, where I spent the next two Service. My first post will be Shanghai, development research and administered by Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless from years reconstructing an apartment in an China, in 2019. Since graduating, I worked United Kingdom Research and Innovation Galveston (Texas) to Pensacola (Florida) old palazzo of the 15th century. In 2009 I in international investments for six years (UKRI). She is also leading the promotion of this past summer. Tim was also selected purchased an old, ruined hacienda of the and in economic development on USG and gender and intersectionality research that for the Naval War College by the U.S. 16th century, near Quito, Ecuador, and other donor projects in Eastern Europe, cuts across all of the six GCRF portfolios of Coast Guard and will commence studies committed myself to its total Central Asia, Turkey, and East Africa for resilience: security protracted conflict, in July 2019. reconstruction and modernization. seven years. My wife and two children are refugee crises, and forced displacement; The serious construction and restoration very excited to begin this new chapter in cities and sustainable infrastructure; food work took three years. Since 2014 it our lives and all the opportunities to learn systems; global health; and education. 2008 became my beautiful country residence that we will encounter.” in Ecuador. 2018, I am still here: Emmanuel Arnaud mpp writes, “I’m happy — www.haciendagranobles.com.” Blake Foote mpp writes, “Life is good in to share that the company I’ve started has The Kennedy successfully elect five progressive women England. He writes, “HSMC is one of the Brooklyn! I serve on the boards of CUNY’s 2007 become the world leader in home School’s annual to Congress. This giving club also United Kingdom’s foremost centers for School of Professional Studies and the Ed Bachrach mc/mpa has co-written exchange. If you are more into opening Career Shadowing encouraged people to volunteer on research, teaching, and professional 2005 Brooklyn Public Library. I do some The New Chicago Way: Lessons from doors than building walls, join us! www. Initiative matched campaigns and to recruit friends and family development for health and social care Jordana Barton mc/mpa, with the Federal consulting to nonprofits and local Other Big Cities. The book is the most homeexchange.com.” 80 alumni-student to donate and volunteer. HKS classmates organizations, and a “critical friend” of Reserve, received the 2018 digital equity government in NYC on workforce comprehensive comparative analysis pairs in 10 cities report that it was the Kennedy School’s the U.K. health services community. A Silvia Bastante de Unverhau mc/mpa award, “Community Broadband Hero of development issues. I’m also involved in of Chicago government written. across the world. mission that inspired them to help flip the rich and energetic learning environment! I writes, “After graduation from HKS I went the Year,” from the National Association of supporting the Brooklyn Community In Boston, Cate House. www.TheFutureIsFemale.Club. find it reassuring that HKS principles, Tim Coates mpp writes, “Had a wonderful back to consulting with the Monitor Group. Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Foundation. Otherwise, I keep busy with my Fox-Lent mc/mpa values, and insights fit with and well wedding to Johannah Chase on April 21, From 2013 to 2017 I was global head of Lucy Nesbeda mc/mpa is currently writing (NATOA). 2018 publications include: two boys, John (10) and Luke (8). My 2019, looking serve the vision and mission of the surrounded by many HKS friends. philanthropy advisory at UBS helping a book about right wingers and “Preparing Workers for the Expanding husband, Andrew, and I enjoy escaping for insights into National Health Service(s) of the U.K. Immediately after we went on a two-week wealthy individuals have impact with their fundamentalists, A Field Guide to Internet Economy,” “Telehealth Along the NYC and exploring nature with our boys up careers in the Thanks HKS!” honeymoon to South Africa, starting with a resources. Since earlier this year, I am Wingnuts. “Stay tuned; expected Texas-Mexico Border,” and “Telehealth in Maine. We often visit Doug Schlemmer nonprofit world, walking safari and finishing with wine to managing director at Co-Impact, www. completion of manuscript is mid-2019. Initiatives Highlight the Need to Close the mpp in Portland, Maine where he and his connected with celebrate not being eaten by lions.” co-impact.io, focusing on systems-change Would appreciate any and all assistance Digital Divide.” Previous publications wife moved a couple years ago.” Craig Altemose 2004 15th Reunion philanthropy in education, health, and towards publication. Also researching and include “Closing the Digital Divide: A Adam Hunter mpp married Ryan Wesley mpp/jd 2010, Greg Bernstein mc/mpa and his wife Sara Margot Hoerrner mc/mpa reports that for economic opportunities in developing teaching about shamanism for leadership. Framework for Meeting CRA Obligations.” Hunter (Nibblins) on September 1, 2018, at co-founder of wrote a movie, “Official Secrets,” which will seven years she has been independently countries. It’s a new model of collaborative Will likely be teaching small groups in She is on the steering committee for the the Carnegie Institution for Science in the Better Future be in theatres in 2019. The film, which stars organizing an annual dinner in different philanthropy where philanthropists share Cambridge. Archetypal shamanic practices Digital Opportunity for the Rio Grande Washington, D.C., surrounded by family Project, which Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith, cities around the world to gather her risks and are able to make big bets. I have are proving to be enormously useful for Valley and the Digital Inclusion Alliance and many friends, including several former addresses climate Matthew Goode, and Rhys Ifans, tells the midcareer ‘05 classmates around good fulfilled my desire to focus on philanthropy those seeking to improve their capacity to San Antonio. HKS classmates. The couple’s ceremony change at the true story of a British spy who, at great food and great conversation. These dinners, since leaving HKS, and live in Zurich with make a difference. If interested, please was personal, and toasts were touching. grassroots level. personal risk, single-handedly tried to stop Ruth Blackman mc/mpa writes, “On held in Washington, D.C., Dubai, Vienna, my husband and two children.” contact me through the alumni portal.” and Mumbai, among other cities, regularly Rauf Mammadov mc/mpa writes, “I feel the Iraq war from happening. Greg also November 28, 2018, I officially retired from David Bibo mpp reports that after nearly attract between 20 to 60 classmates from excited to share the news about my Roberta Sachs mc/mpa writes, “I started continues to teach screenwriting at Arizona the Public Service of Barbados after serving four years as head of policy, analytics, and near and far, and have grown to include decision to pursue the DBA degree with IE this summer as communications director State University. for 49 years and 2 months. I was fortunate strategic and resource planning for FEMA, expanded programming throughout the Business School, which I plan to complete for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public to serve at the highest level and represent he was named deputy associate Gerald Culliton hksee, adjunct associate weekend, such as political panels, cultural in 2022. My research question focuses on Policy. We advocate social and economic my country in many fora. It was a long but administrator for response and recovery. professor, received the 2018 American events, walking tours, and hot toddy tours. the impact of major sporting events on justice issues for disenfranchised and rewarding journey and I enjoyed every David will serve as the top career official College of Healthcare Executives Uniformed Contact Margot to learn more about the local entrepreneurship. On a professional low-income Virginians focusing on moment of it. I say thank you to the Harvard leading the FEMA headquarters office, Services Veterans Affairs National Regent’s 2019 MC/MPA ‘05 annual dinner! front, I would like to inform everyone immigrant rights, wage theft, Medicaid Kennedy School and my classmates who responsible for disaster response, logistics, Award for leading an organization about the establishment of IBM expansion, and criminal justice reform. I am have contributed to my success as a public Ashley Stewart mpp joined Baltimore recovery, and field operations. recognized for its clinical quality, research, Innovation Hub in Doha, Qatar, a project thrilled to be working for a nonprofit and officer. These contributions went beyond City Public Schools in February 2018 as — and teaching. The singular national award which I managed during the last 12 David Disi mpa recently completed his putting my Kennedy School degree to work.” the academic and I am the richer for it. I the new executive director of talent and Ed Bachrach is presented to only one person nationally months. The hub will initially promote doctorate in education at the University of start a new chapter in my journey and it is organizational development. In this mc/mpa 2007 Anthony Stem hksee is a PhD candidate each year, and was presented to Gerald at FinTech and SportsTech innovations Pennsylvania. His dissertation, titled my desire to continue to serve my country capacity, Ashley leads system-wide at the Health Services Management the American College of Healthcare through making such cutting-edge “Education for Sustainable Development: as the opportunities allow and write about organizational effectiveness and capacity- Centre at the University of Birmingham, Executives Annual National Congress held capabilities as AI, IoT, and DLT available Business School Preparation of Student my experiences.” RAYCHEL CASEY RAYCHEL CASEY building strategies that are fundamental to
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friends whom they will urge to vote. Before election day, the vote triplers from climate change-related flooding, dying. We had a great time taking the kids research in thoracic transplantation that drought, and heat. She lives in North (Theo and Mariano) to California Adventure. aims to expand heart and lung organ Power to receive a personalized text message reminding them to mobilize those Cambridge with her husband and their It is great to keep in touch with HKS friends.” recovery nationwide and save lives. three specific friends to vote. Reynolds got the idea for Vote Tripling after daughter and welcomes visits from Andrew Sullivan mpp and Erica Matthews taking “every behavioral science elective I could while I was at the classmates. the People mpp married in 2015 and are happily living 2010 Kennedy School,” he says. After the Kennedy School, where he was in Sausalito, California. Erica works in Ramaswami Balasubramaniam mc/mpa Robert Reynolds Gleitsman Leadership Fellow, Reynolds worked at ideas42, a firm in corporate affairs for Chinese technology 2009 10th Reunion writes, “I am now a visiting professor at the company Alibaba Group. Andrew is a Washington, DC, that uses the power of behavioral science to solve Paul Adrian mc/mpa co-founded latakoo ILR School of Cornell University. Spend the mpp 2015 partner in a public affairs and political society’s toughest problems. He liked his job and never imagined he with Jade Kurian. Network news and sports first half of the fall semester each year consulting firm, Hudson Pacific. “Drop us a organizations, entire television station teaching two courses—one on adaptive A NATIVE OF RURAL MONTANA, would start an organization. But after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, line the next time you’re in the Bay Area!” groups, cable broadcasters, production leadership and the other on sustainable Robert Reynolds is acutely he started thinking about the people in his hometown in Montana, companies, activists, political campaigns, Hassan Tetteh mc/mpa was promoted to development. Also released my sixth book aware of the divide that exists between the so-called urban elites and including his younger brother Nicky, and the access they had to and government agencies use latakoo.com the rank of captain in the United States titled Voices from the Grassroots recently.” and much of the rest of the United States. He believes that many of these many inconsistent voters. “I asked myself, ‘What nudge would spark to transfer high-quality video from Navy and currently serves as the chief Angela Boyd mpp and David Ludwig were anywhere to anywhere regardless of medical informatics officer (CMIO) for Navy elites—he calls them the “fancy people”—see everyday Americans as the someone like Nicky to get his friends to vote?’” In the 2018 married in April 2018 with many HKS alumni connectivity or file size. Aid organizations Medicine. Savoy magazine recognized his problem behind our nation’s low voter turnout. Reynolds disagrees. midterms, Vote Tripling worked with 26 campaigns, enlisting more in attendance. Angela is now splitting her use latakoo to quickly share high-quality clinical leadership and named Hassan a time between their home in D.C. and “Ordinary people are the solution,” he says. “The power is in their hands.” than 18,000 people to serve as vote triplers. Now, Reynold’s goal is content from parts of the world where “Hero of Medicine” for his Specialized Madison, where she is teaching creative To encourage people to exercise this latent power, Reynolds co-founded nothing less than to upend today’s typical people need help and bandwidth is sparse Thoracic Adapted Recovery (STAR) Team, writing at the University of Wisconsin and to raise money for relief. News based in Washington, D.C., and his Vote Tripling, a nonprofit that relies on behavioral science to encourage political campaigns. “We live in a world where getting an MFA in fiction. — organizations use latakoo to get video on voters to head to the polls. It is premised on research showing that many campaign advisors say success is Ordinary the air more quickly. Campaigns, agencies, people are far more likely to vote if a friend or family member reminds largely rooted in raising money,” says and activists use latakoo to share video “Directory Ad 1” Size: 5.1 x 6 in them on election day than a stranger volunteering for a campaign. Reynolds. “However, I think another model for people with the media and communities. Vote tripling works like this: Campaigns identify supporters and ask a successful campaign is one largely focused are the Gonzalo Fanjul mc/mpa writes, “I am very them to hold three friends accountable to vote. These supporters—“vote on organizing everyday people and prompting proud to announce that in November 2018 triplers”—share their cellphone numbers and the first names of the them to be pro-voting messengers. solution. I was invited to join Ashoka’s social innovation network as a fellow. This MAKE YOUR NETWORK recognition will be an important push for our research and journalism project porCausa (porcausa.org), which is trying to fight lies and myths in the migration Social Entrepreneurs,” examined the state for you, and how you can get involved Tai Sunnanon mpp writes, “Want tangible debate. I invite anyone interested to look of social entrepreneurship curricula, that is, here: www.hks.harvard.edu/more/alumni/ resources, tools, and ideas that help make at our project and contact me with any programs that combine education for alumni-leadership.” the world a better place? Then you don’t questions, suggestions, or funding tips! RELEVANT sustainable development and traditional want to miss the inaugural Global Social Joe Pfeifer mc/mpa, recently retired as the Many thanks and all best.” business entrepreneurship instruction, at Enterprise Summit in Los Angeles from chief of counterterrorism and emergency Find alumni who will make a diff erence in your world. leading business school MBA programs in March 22–24, 2019. We’ve got 15 speakers, Kimberlyn Leary mpa writes, “Continued preparedness from the New York City Fire the United States. three keynotes, and five dynamic, to enjoy life in Cambridge. This fall I Department (FDNY), taught about the “Art of participatory sessions that will help to became the executive director of the Donna Hockey mpp writes, “Hi everyone! Crisis Leadership” with HKS Professor Arn elevate our respective work in the field. Center of Excellence in Women’s Mental I wanted to give a quick update on Surreal Howitt as part of the Schwarzman Scholars And if you want to speak, let me or Karina Health at McLean Hospital and continue to Brewing Company (est. June 2018). At SBC, Program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Weinstein MPP know! www.gses2019.org.” be the director of the Enabling Change we are revolutionizing non-alcoholic beer Christopher Robert mpp, phd 2012 Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School by brewing flavorful, full-bodied beer Letha Tawney mc/mpa writes, “I was continues to grow Dobility, a social of Public Health.” without alcohol. We now have two NA craft honored to be confirmed to serve on the enterprise dedicated to technology that beer styles: Chandelier Red IPA and 17 Mile Oregon Public Utilities Comission in May David Martinez mpp reports that after improves data, research, and analysis. Porter. Our Red IPA won the 2018 World 2018. It’s been pure joy to innovate with nearly nine years in the U.S. Foreign Service, Dobility’s flagship product, SurveyCTO, Beer Award for the U.S. Both brews are the most forward-looking people and he resigned his diplomatic commission in is now helping to improve data collection carried nationwide in Total Wine and More companies in the electricity sector and November. He worked most recently for the for thousands of projects in around stores, online at www.SurrealBrewing.com, concretely reduce emissions through my U.S. Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace 150 countries. and on Amazon. With the rising trend of prior work at World Resources Institute. Process to help end the western mindful drinking, we aim to give people Massi Santini mpa/id joined the European I’m thrilled to be asked to serve Oregon hemisphere’s longest running war, and more options by offering an anytime, University Institute in September 2018 as a as a regulator and play a new role in the subsequently with Professor Brian Mandell anywhere beer.” policy leaders fellow, after being deeply transition to affordable clean energy.” and Toby Berkman mpp 2010 to redesign troubled by the perils facing the the State Department’s negotiation training Emilian Papadopoulos mpp writes, “I am Curtis Valentine mpp is the new deputy international liberal order. Happy to put programs. David has joined a great team at thrilled to be chairing your HKS Alumni director of the Reinventing America’s aside the technical certainties of his work Facebook—with Andy O’Connell mpp and Board for the 2018–2019 year, with 10 Schools Project at the Progressive Policy at the World Bank, he is trying to figure Caitlin Baker (Costello) mpp—as a public newly elected members, nine other Institute (PPI). Curtis also serves as an Update your profi le and out why populist parties have been so policy manager for strategic response, returning members, and two HAA liaisons. at-large board member of Prince George’s successful, on both sides of the Atlantic helping respond to crises and build better The board supports alumni engagement County (Maryland) Public School System. Use the Alumni Ocean, and how liberal-democratic and policies for preventing real-world harm on explore the Alumni Directory today. with the entire HKS community and Directory to contact progressive parties can develop an equally Julie Wormser mc/mpa joined the Mystic the platform. promotes the incredible work alumni are your classmates. successful political narrative to inspire River Watershed Association in summer doing around the world, every day. Learn Roberto Reynoso mpp writes, “Kyle Goss hks.harvard.edu/alumnidirectory people’s hearts and minds. 2018 as its deputy director. She launched hks.harvard.edu/ more about your board members, our work mpp and I got together this year to run the and co-facilitates the Resilient Mystic alumnidirectory Los Angeles Marathon, which we did without Collaborative, a shared effort among ten municipalities to decrease the risk of harm 52 www.hks.harvard.edu spring 2019 | harvard kennedy school 53
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Swarnankur Chatterjee hksee was programs to all marginalized female Carla Laroche mpp writes, “In July 2018, I promoted to full professor at the University students who don’t have access to formal began a new position as a visiting clinical Doing Better of Georgia’s College of Family and education due to age, marital status, lack of professor at Florida State University College Consumer Sciences. documentation, or internal displacement. of Law. I am developing a law clinic, Gender and Family Justice Clinic, where law Kimberly Dowdell mc/mpa 2015 Jasmina Chauvin mpa/id completed her students will teach family law workshops in doctoral degree at Harvard Business School 2012 prisons and jails. Clinic students will also EVER SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD growing up in Detroit, Kimberly Dowdell this year and now works as assistant Alejandro Alves mpp recently became represent people who are incarcerated or professor of strategy, economics, ethics, and has believed that the city “can and should be better.” That belief deputy director for the Overdose Prevention recently released with family law and public policy at the McDonough School of stayed with her as she went to study architecture at Cornell University, Program at Vital Strategies. In this role he is domestic violence matters. I communicate Business at Georgetown University, focusing helping to lead the work of a newly regularly with Alice Abrokwa mpp, Ashley as she worked as an architect in Washington, D.C., and New York City, her research on firm growth in emerging announced initiative by Bloomberg Orynich mpa, Naima Green mpp 2010, and and later as she studied at Harvard Kennedy School as a Sheila C. markets. Together with husband JP (mpa/id) Philanthropies to support the creation of Kelsey Larsen mpp 2010; they continue to and kids Sofia and Adrian, Jasmina moved Johnson Fellow. After graduating, she returned to her hometown to state-level policies and approaches to lead in their respective fields.” from much beloved Cambridge to take up the challenge. Initially, she worked for Detroit’s Housing and reduce overdose deaths. The program at Washington, D.C., where JP also accepted a Katie Naeve mpp writes, “Following Vital Strategies is part of a partnership that Revitalization Department to facilitate real estate development. In new position as economist in the research graduation I joined Oxfam America to lead also includes Johns Hopkins University, the 2016, Dowdell joined Century Partners, an innovative Detroit-based firm, department of the Inter-American policy and advocacy for an agricultural U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Development Bank, after graduating this finance program in Africa. I then joined that was awarded a project to revitalize the Fitzgerald neighborhood on Prevention, and the Pew Charitable Trusts. year with a PhD in public policy from HKS. Mathematica Policy Research, where I the northwest side of the city. Dowdell, who also teaches architecture and urban planning at the Marianne Caballero mpp writes, “Left the conducted applied policy research focused Amy Davies mc/mpa writes, “I’m so Century Partners is working to rehab 100 homes and transform University of Michigan, was recently inducted as president of the World Bank economist position to move to on international development programs excited to move back into the Degree more than 250 vacant lots. Working in areas beyond the central National Organization of Minority Architects. She explains that only Liberia as an advisor to the Minister of around the world. I now work for Root Programs and Student Affairs department Finance, through the Tony Blair Institute for Capital, a nonprofit impact investor business district is part of what Dowdell believes equitable growth about 2 percent of licensed architects in the United States are African- at HKS. It’s been an honor and privilege to Global Change. It has been very working in agricultural development in rural and development must include for a more just city. American. “That is an issue when you talk about redeveloping our cities, get to know so many HKS alumni over the challenging but at the same time exciting communities in Latin America, Africa, past two years. I like to think that part of The Fitzgerald Project is supported with public and private investment where there tend to be a greater and rewarding. I have been working on and Indonesia, where I manage impact my new job as assistant dean for student as well as participation from the community. A recent victory for the team concentration of people of color,” she says. strengthening the delivery mechanisms to evaluation globally and lead our Women — services and programs will be to launch the achieve President George Weah’s priorities in Agriculture program. On a personal level, was securing funding from the nonprofit KaBOOM! to build a playground Dowdell is helping to build a stronger and next generation of HKS alumni. Definitely and getting to use my expertise in public I still live in the Boston area with my in the neighborhood. This effort is not just to rebuild homes in a highly more diverse pipeline of young people The time is now let me know when you’re in Cambridge and financial management on the ground. husband, Mario, and our two children: stop by to visit our amazing new campus.” under-resourced neighborhood, but to build alliances in the community going into the architectural profession, so to figure out how HKS-related highlights include getting to Felipe—3.5 years and Lucia—5 months.” for a healthier collective future. Solving complex community problems is that the people who design cities better Allison Shapira mc/mpa reports that her introduce Professor Hausmann to Minister William Nelson mc/mpa received the 2018 to create the first book, Speak with Impact: How to Tweah during the spring meetings! I also a necessary part of Dowdell’s mission to improve the quality of life for reflect the people who live in them. “We Air Force Hero of Military Medicine Award Command the Room and Influence Others, got myself an adorable dog called Pepper people living in cities. “As society starts to trend more toward cities,” she must include the consumers of great design from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for infrastructure was published by HarperCollins Leadership Soup, and get to spend the weekend at the Advancement of Military Medicine. The says, “it’s more and more important that we figure out how to make cities right from the beginning; inclusion is not on October 16. It’s a practical guide for the beautiful beaches—barring rain.” to ensure that Heroes of Military Medicine awards honor as sustainable as they can be, as equitable as they can be, all the things just a buzzword, it is at the core of my busy professional moving up in their career Talmage Cooley mc/mpa writes, outstanding contributions by individuals [cities] grow who wants to speak with confidence and that make a strong city. The time is now to figure out how to create the practice as an architect, developer, “Democracy.com, founded by members of who have distinguished themselves authenticity—at work or in their community. infrastructure to ensure that they grow responsibly.” educator, and leader.” the MC/MPA class of 2012, recently through excellence and selfless dedication responsibly. “I’m excited to share this knowledge with launched the second generation of its to advancing military medicine and the HKS community!” groundbreaking online marketplace for enhancing the lives and health of wounded, civic and political engagement. Our first ill, and injured service members, veterans, 2011 generation site saw rapid user growth and and civilians. The award was presented by won major industry awards for innovation. the U.S. air force surgeon general on May 3 Brandon Barford mpa shares that the The company expects to quickly scale the in Washington, D.C. at the 2018 Heroes Mark Warner (D-Va) in July, with a focus on advanced learners. I’m also having fun statewide education funding, property tax second half of 2018 brought great joy, as new platform and will be actively hiring Dinner: www.hjfcp3.org/heroes-dinner. economic issues. Daniel moved to the being an advisor to Ascent Leadership relief, and a sunny day fund to invest in his gorgeous English rose, Susie — both full-time and intern positions as it Alexandria division of the U.S. Attorney’s Networks (www.ascentleadership.com), our next generation’s future.” Robinson, moved across the pond from Anthony Nguyen hksee is an honor U.S. Allison expands the team. Please contact us!” Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in husband Kevin’s new high-level executive London to start life together as husband air force veteran and president of Harvard Cristina Garmendia mpp is wrapping up Shapira April to begin working in the appellate training program that is launching its first and wife in beautiful Georgetown. An Erica Harrison Arnold mpp reports that Alumni of U.S. Air Force. He is currently her year-long appointment in the mayor’s mc/mpa 2010 section, while continuing to prosecute cases cohort this fall at Techonomy in the San intimate civil ceremony was held in a after more than five years practicing law in president of Air Force Law Center, Inc. He is office for the city of St. Louis, where she involving fraud and economic crime. And Francisco Bay Area.” D.C.-area rose garden this past June and a Atlanta as a government contracts and also president of the Vietnamese American was brought on to develop racial equity most importantly, Daniel and Carolina larger celebration will follow in London in construction attorney for a leading Justice Foundation, a 501(c)3 veterans’ law Nick Bayard mpa/id and Sedia Bayard indicators for institutions across the areas welcomed the newest member of their the spring of 2019. international firm, she has transitioned and education organization, and a member welcomed their third child, Keaton Orion of education, built environment, and family, Rafael Daniel Ferrerosa Young, back to the education field. She is the new of the U.S. Air Force inspector general’s Bayard, on March 22, 2018. justice. She partnered with the Stanford Casey Osterkamp mpp and her husband in September! director of performance analytics and team. On July 4 of this past year, the Computational Policy Lab to develop Beau welcomed a baby boy (Thomas Jesse Patrick Boateng II mpp co-founded a research for Henry County Schools, the White House and U.S. president dashboards and data tools for the city’s Underwood) into their family on skincare brand developed for men of color eighth largest school district in Georgia. bestowed Anthony the prestigious department of corrections, with the goal to September 10, 2018. 2013 called Ceylon. The brand recently launched Her charge is to to tell the story of how the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award safely reduce the city’s jail population, 95 Michelle Barmazel mc/mpa 2013 writes, and was featured in Men’s Health Hassina Sherjan mc/mpa is bringing school district has performed “historically for his service to the U.S. military and percent of whom are defendants in “Life has been interesting! As planned, I’m magazine under the headline, “How Ceylon policy change to girls’ education in and comparatively,” examining a American community. pre-trial detention. She was recently working in gifted education, advocating for is Changing Skincare for Men of Color.” Use the Alumni Afghanistan through Aid Afghanistan for combination of student scores, system named to Forward Through Ferguson’s Daniel Young mpp and his wife Carolina families struggling to meet the needs of their Directory to contact Education (AAE), the organization she priorities, and both equitable and Jeanne Dietsch mc/mpa was sworn in on State of the Report Advisory Council. have had a whirlwind of a 2018. Carolina children in schools that don’t know how to your classmates. founded. AAE received the 2018 UNESCO inequitable outcomes. Erica has also been December 5 as senator for New Hampshire received her doctorate from Columbia accommodate them. I’m also active in MAGE Austin King mpa joined the Federal Trade King Sejong Award and is working with the selected as part of The Broad Residency in District 9, of 24. “We’ll be working for an hks.harvard.edu/ University in political science in May and (www.massgifted.org), working at the state Commission as attorney-advisor to Ministry of Education to extend AAE Urban Education’s 2018–2020 cohort. independent redistricting commission, alumnidirectory began work as a policy advisor to Senator capital to implement laws to get teachers Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. trained in gifted and better assessments for
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King previously worked at the Consumer chief of operations for the Burlington amazing gifts yet has struggled with Halimatou Hima mpp writes, “I am getting Financial Protection Bureau as counsel in the police department. Returning to public employment for 20 years. I hope you’ll ready to complete my PhD in development legal division’s Office of Law and Policy. service, working with cops again, and agree it’s time for that to change.” studies at the University of Cambridge. My getting to do it all in the vibrant Vermont research in education in Niger has given me — Mike McMahon mpp reports that after community where I grew up frequently the opportunity to gain deeper insights into The annual graduating from HKS, he worked in Chicago seems too good to be true. If any of you 2014 5th Reunion what needs to be done to turn an unequal networking night as a state/regional energy policy analyst. find yourselves up in the Queen City, Jieun Baek mpp writes, “After graduation, system around. I am also grateful to have in San Francisco He is currently happily employed at the please let me know!” I was a research fellow at the HKS Belfer organised the first Africa Science Week in always draws a big Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Center where I wrote my book, North Niger, which has brought together over crowd, including Northwestern University (ISEN). He Michael Tozer mpp writes, “I’ve started an Korea’s Hidden Revolution: How the 3,000 students with the aim to invite young students who continues his role as a mediocre mandolin amazing journey this year, culminating in Information Underground Is Transforming a people to discover, dream, and learn new were in town for a player for the Chicago-based Rocky Top $1.2 million funding and two royal visits! I Closed Society (Yale University Press, 2016). skills. As part of the science week, several January Term trek. Bluegrass Band—the hardest-working founded Xceptional.io, a tech company — I am currently in my third year of my PhD in friends and colleagues from Cambridge Caroline Krawiec bunch of misfits east of the Mississippi. that embraces the unique strengths and Jieun Baek public policy at Oxford University (where joined in to give workshops at the University Brownstone talents of people with autism and places mpp 2014 Jon Murad mc/mpa writes, “Hello to there are quite a few other HKS-ers!) of Niamey. Overall, I am looking to the future hksee 2019 (left) them in data and IT jobs. Recently, our everyone who wants to #changetheworld! studying early-stage dissenters in with renewed optimism and hope!” and Heather autism recruitment app won the AU$1 After retiring from the New York Police authoritarian countries, with a focus on Grady mpa/id Million Google.org Impact Challenge and Michael Koehler mpa keeps growing his Department and spending two years in the Burma/Myanmar. If you are ever in 1984 (right) were we received visits from HRH Prince Andrew leadership firm KONU where he private sector as a security consultant for London/Oxford, let me know—you will among the close and HRH Princess Beatrice. Sixty-five collaborates with six other HKS alumni and CEOs, I’m thrilled beyond measure to be always have a place to stay!” to 100 Kennedy percent of people with autism are faculty. He started teaching leadership at wearing a clip-on tie again as the deputy School alumni underemployed. My sister, Sarah, has Jonathan Chang mc/mpa writes, “Can’t NYU Wagner and in HKS’s executive and students in believe that it’s been five years since education and finished his coaching Robin Lipp mpp is clerking for United attendance. graduation! I am now working at National certification at Georgetown University. In States District Judge Cathy Bissoon in 2015 University of Singapore, heading its the last 12 months, he delivered workshops Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following Chak Ming Chan mc/mpa was elected Entrepreneurship Centre, Overseas on how to teach adaptive leadership, graduation, Robin served as a fellow at the as the vice president of the Law Society College, Lean LaunchPad, and Social coached business leaders and top-notch Vera Institute of Justice in NYC and spent of Hong Kong in June 2018. Venture Lab. It has been a treat to have a scientists through transition and two years working to advance evidence- Cassie Collier mpp and her sister, Jacklyn, job that requires me to travel extensively innovation, and facilitated leadership based initiatives at the Laura and John are co-founders of Bundle, a personalized around the world, giving me numerous programs for peace builders, young leaders Arnold Foundation in D.C. board game company. In adaptive occasions to catch up, connect, and in the Mediterranean, charter school Mai Mislang mc/mpa writes, “I oversee a leadership language (a shout-out to collaborate with HKS friends. Moreover, principals, government officials, and social project called Lost Sheep Initiative that Professor Heifetz and former classmates), GET as the HKS Alumni Ambassador to entrepreneurs. He lives in D.C. with his advocates for community-based drug the game builds the holding environment Singapore and a member of HKS Alumni husband Allister Chang mpp 2015. rehabilitation (CBDR) in the midst of that allows you to connect with the people Board of Directors, I get to continue Marina LeGree mc/mpa founded Ascend: Duterte’s drug war. We work with multiple around you. If you’re curious to learn more, interacting and giving back to the broader Leadership Through Athletics, a nonprofit stakeholders, particularly the Catholic check out her website at www. HKS community.” working with young women in Afghanistan. church, whose 3,000 parishes we envision thebundlegame.com and let her know if CONNECTED Charon Darris mc/mpa writes, “July Ascend helps young Afghan women as sanctuaries from the police that are bent you’re ever passing through NYC! marked my one-year anniversary as the become leaders through mountaineering on neutralizing rather than rehabilitating Juana Hernandez mpp was recently executive director of the Adams Street and community service. In this, their fourth drug users. Lost Sheep Initiative offers recognized as one of the “40 Under 40” Foundation, a ten-year-old college access year, the team summited Aghanistan’s grants to local governments that have rising civic leaders in Los Angeles County. organization located in downtown highest mountain, Mount Noshaq (24,580 expressed a genuine commitment to Sponsored by the Empowerment Congress, Engaging with other HKS alumni Brooklyn. I am delighted to share that our feet). A documentary film about Ascend’s establish their own CBDR. Since July 2016, the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor 2018 cohort had a 99.0 percent completion work won awards this fall at the Banff drug users that have surrendered to Mark Ridley-Thomas, and retired State can enhance your ability to make rate, resulting in 103 graduates. Moreover, International Film Festival and the Kendal authorities total about 1.3 million, a number Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley- 96.1 percent of our graduates are enrolled Mountain Film Festival. that clearly the government’s own Thomas, the annual awards ceremony in college for the fall and 100 percent of our resources and facilities cannot serve.” Faton Limani mc/mpa previously worked honors Los Angeles leaders from the an impact on issues that matter college-enrolled students are matched with as a head teaching assistant and instructor Tim Purinton mc/mpa writes, “Last government, philanthropic, nonprofit, and schools where they will only borrow $5,500 for adaptive leadership courses at HKS, year I moved to D.C., not because I was private sectors. As senior manager of or less during their first year (69.7 percent to you. where he supported more than 500 elected to political office, but to take a postsecondary initiatives at the Los Angeles are predicted to borrow $6,000 or less over students in their learning and mentored position at the Nature Conservancy, where Area Chamber of Commerce, Juana leads the course of four years).” more than 100 in their leadership I’m now the executive director of the regional cross-sector partnerships and Bryann DaSilva mpp writes, “Married my challenges. In addition, he taught adaptive Maryland and D.C. chapter. In addition helps mobilize the business community to hks.harvard.edu/get-connected beautiful husband Spencer Whalen on June leadership in Asia, helped establish the to working towards a bright future where advocate for policies that expand higher 30, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Many friends Adaptive Leadership Alumni Network people and nature thrive, I’m an urban education opportunity. from HKS attended, including Philip Tizzani (2,000-plus members), and organized beekeeper and occasional fly fisherman John-Clark Levin mpp is currently studying mpp, Ashley Baker mpp, Maggie Williams annual conferences for the network. on Chesapeake Bay.” for a PhD in politics and international mpp, Deloris Wilson mpa 2016, Alexandra Faton founded Leadership Advancement Ted Zagraniski mc/mpa is delighted to studies at the University of Cambridge in De Filippo mpp, Jiyoung Han mpp, Claudia Associates, a leadership development be the father of a two-year-old boy! After the U.K., with research focusing on how Newman-Martin mpp, Kyle Herman mpp company, and also started working for three years at the Pentagon, Ted is still in the governments can do a better job forecasting 2015, Robert Reynolds mpp 2015, and of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Learn about your alumni benefits at U.S. Army. He is now based at Naval Station the impact of technological change and course Rebekah Smith mpp, who served as coordinating graduate studies. Faton Norfolk, USA. For the past five years, his using those insights to make better policy maid of honor. I have been with BCG for a recently become a father for the second hks.harvard.edu/alumni-benefits work has focused mainly on Europe and the decisions. His team at St. John’s College just few years, and am now on a year-long time—Dua was born in May 2018. future. Ted is extremely grateful to his secondment in London with Save the beautiful wife for her outstanding parenting
Children, developing their global strategy.” PAUL CLARKE skills and incredible support.
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New International Airport under organizing framework into our work. If you Gal Lin mpp joined Yehuda Elram mc/mpa Children Summit to address child the secretary-general on worldwide construction. Unfortunately, the want to learn more, feel free to contact me, 2016, co-founder of eggXYt, an Israeli poverty in Mississippi. This is a massive political, peacekeeping, humanitarian, Use the Alumni administration of Lopez Obrador cancelled or visit www.volteuropa.org.” biotech company based in Tel Aviv, in statewide conference to implement and human rights issues. Directory to contact the project. I currently write weekly for unlocking the promise of genetics to strategies based off tactics learned from your classmates. Alyce Su hksee reports that at the Dana Rassas mc/mpa writes, “I have Excelsior, a national newspaper, and promote more sustainable agriculture HKS and the U.N. Global Leadership invitation of Dr. Lee George Lam, chairman joined a campaign called American participate weekly in radio and TV and food industries. “Together we’re Summit. The U.N. Human Rights Council, hks.harvard.edu/ of Cyberport, she participated in the Muslims for US All as the co-chief of opinions. HKS was truly a career changer answering the call to find ways to feed The U.N. Association, Ole Miss Law alumnidirectory Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) operations. A group of bipartisan American as it gave me tools for leadership, finance, the 10 billion people that will live on this School, and the Ole Miss Graduate 2018 last November. The forum featured Muslims and non-Muslims joined forces and negotiations.” planet by 2050, and securing food supply School have collaborated to set Hong Kong as the Smart City, powered by and are working hard to shift perceptions, for the most vulnerable. What an achievable goals and unify all disciplines Ashley Zlatinov mpp and her husband artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, depoliticize Islam, and increase adventure!” and fields to combat this injustice. welcomed their second daughter to the and fintech. Investor presentations understanding of American Muslims. We According to UNICEF, Mississippi’s kids world at the end of January. Continuing to featuring companies led by Kristal.Ai, Asia’s Lauren Powell mc/mpa writes, “Since are challenging misconceptions about face a poverty rate more than 10 percent enjoy life in San Francisco, Ashley recently first AI-driven virtual fund manager, seeded graduating from HKS, I’ve moved to American Muslims and pushing all higher than Romania, the highest rate in started work at Google, where she leads by IDG Ventures, together with Ice Node Richmond, Virginia, to serve as the Americans to question the stereotypes they the developed world.” global health AI policy. She’s loved the Interactive, ChillDD.com, CUPP director of health equity for the have come to believe. We aim to ensure opportunity to work across sectors and RewardChain, Copernicus, Kalon Couture, Commonwealth of Virginia! In my role, I Naresh Perinpanayagam mc/mpa that it’s no longer effective for politicians to fields and apply many of her HKS course Gritus, AureliaCare, Hashreader, and lead the state’s efforts to bring equity to returned to the office of the U.N. fan the flames of fear and bigotry. We will learnings (particularly negotiations!) to her Qupital, were scheduled one-on-one for the opportunity for all 8.4 million Secretary-General Antonio Guterres be launching soon, and our website is soon day-to-day work. “Please reach out and visit Alyce Su by CVCF 2018. residents of Virginia to be healthy and in New York, where he works for the to be public. Please help support us and if you are in the area!” well. Over the past year, I’ve had the senior official responsible for advising check out the campaign (amforusall.org).” Natalie Unterstell mc/mpa is one of the opportunity to contribute to landmark 80 women selected from all over the world achievements in health care, such as to join the largest female expedition to 2016 Medicaid expansion and the creation of Antarctica. As part of a year-long, global Katherine Blaisdell mpa writes, “In the Henrietta Lacks Commission. It is an leadership program for women scientists June, I launched a practice as a public honor and a privilege to serve as the and policymakers called Homeward Bound, speaking coach and communications youngest in my position in state history, the expedition aims to raise awareness of consultant under the name Divine and to bring all that I’ve learned while at the need to promote and encourage women Communications (divinecomms.com). HKS to the people of Virginia.” in science, technology, engineering, and I’m building on the work I did as a teaching mathematics (STEM). Kirsten Rulf mpp writes, “Starting in assistant with Tim McCarthy while at HKS as January I will put to use what I have well as the nonprofit management, learned at HKS about digital government, teaching, and curriculum development 2017 innovation in government, artificial I did after graduation.” Win Chesson mpa writes, “Audie and I intelligence, and cybersecurity: I will Joshua Burgin mc/mpa writes, “2018 has continue to enjoy our return to NYC living, start a new job as the head of the strategy been a year with an international focus. especially our swim team. In August we and policy unit for all things digital and In May the Transatlantic-Russia Civic joined over 10,000 LGBT and allied athletes innovation in the German federal Workshop, in October the New Security in Paris to compete in swimming at the Gay government and in Angela Merkel’s THE BEST THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER Leaders Program of the Warsaw Security Games (formerly called the Gay Olympics— cabinet.” — won the 2017–2018 championship of Forum. In early November we traveled as a until the Olympics sued despite allowing HAS A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU. Harvard Kennedy Borja Santos mpa/id writes, “After 10 University Challenge, Britain’s longest- family to Shanghai and Tokyo so the kids Rat Olympics...). It was magical! We both School alumni years working in different countries, I running and best-loved quiz show. could practice their Mandarin, and in late medaled! Professionally, I’m still loving my gathered in came back to my own country Spain and November I joined an OSCE-ODIHR work as a private wealth advisor in the Washington, DC, MaryRose Mazzola mpp and Mark I have been working as an independent presidential election observation mission to Goldman Sachs Partners Family Office while for the annual Blakeney were married on July 28, 2018 at consultant. I am combining my expertise the country of Georgia. Warmest wishes to I work hard to build my own book of HKS Goes to DC the Popponesset Inn on Cape Cod. HKS in international development doing all of you!” business as well. My favorite part is working event, which alumni in attendance were Miranda Berry impact evaluations with institutions like with families and foundations to align their brought together mpp, Tom Etheridge mpp, Jesse Hampton David Campbell mpp reports that after the World Bank and working as an investment portfolios with their values. Ask alumni and current mpp, Jessica Huey mpp, Phil Huppe mpp, spending two years working in politics, he associate professor of international me about it and please visit us in NYC!” students who Nicholas Kang mpp, bridesmaid Laura has now moved to Deloitte, where he works development at IE University, and at participated in the Melle mpp, Amelia Mitchell mpp, Anne in the Future of Canada Centre—Deloitte Sun-Yin Ho mc/mpa has been pursuing the same time, supporting urban public Choose from over 35 executive education programs created career-shadowing Stotler mpp, Dan Weaver mpp 2016, and Canada’s thought leadership hub. For any a PhD in health policy while at the same policies that improve the economic specifically for public, corporate, and nonprofit leaders. program. Johannes State Senator Barry Finegold mc/mpa passing through Toronto, David is always time writing a column and launching an development and innovation of von Billerbeck 2003. MaryRose served as Senator happy to see a friendly face! online venture. Spanish cities.” Plus, Harvard Kennedy School degree program alumni mpa 2020 and Finegold’s chief strategist and campaign Nikola Ilic mc/mpa writes, “Last year I Vikram Janardhan mc/mpa writes, “I am are eligible for a 30% tuition discount. Pedro Protasio manager for his successful campaign this joined a new organization, Volt Europa. Volt the CEO of a medical device company, mpa/id 2020 past fall and is currently in her first year at 2018 is a new and progressive pan-European Insera Therapeutics, focusing on solutions were in the mix. Northeastern University School of Law. Natalia Cote-Muñoz mpp moved to NYC political movement that is currently present for stroke treatment. We recently won our with her long-term partner and started a Rodrigo Perez-Alonso mpa writes, “After in 34 countries and involves more than 52nd patent award for the world’s first research associate role at the Council on graduating I continued working on 20,000 people. Our mission is to reinvent cyclic vacuum aspiration system that sucks Learn more about the programs and Foreign Relations focusing on Latin economic regulation and regulated politics through citizen empowerment and blood clots out of intracranial vessels, and download the program guide today at America, regionalization, and industries. I am currently working in the community organizing and unite Europe in in the process saves the stroke victim’s life. www.hks.harvard.edu/executive-education SM international trade. YOU’RE HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. National Air Transportation Chamber in the face of rising nationalistic movements. We have regulatory approval in 32 countries Mexico, serving as its executive director. As a strategy team lead, I have introduced in Europe and are working on approval with Martin Genter hksee writes, “The The chamber consists of more than 67 and anchored Marshall Ganz’s community- the U.S. FDA.” experience I gained from HKS has national and international airlines flying in GEE JAMES equipped me with the tools to organize and out of Mexico. A major project was the the first annual Mississippi Save the
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Alumni Board of Directors Dean’s Council LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND EXECUTIVE BOARD Laurence D. Belfer, Chair Kenneth A. Hersh Emilian Papadopoulos mpp 2008, Chair Peter L. Malkin, Chair Emeritus Frank F. Islam Malik Ahmad Jalal mpa/id 2011 With the visionary support of Malcolm Wiener, the Kennedy School Deborah Bailey mc/mpa 2015, Vice-Chair MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE John Haederle mc/mpa 2000, Secretary Tasso Jereissati Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine mpp 1996 has developed path breaking ideas in social policy. Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook mpa 2010, Maha J. Kaddoura mc/mpa 2000 Andrew T. Balls mpa 1998 Member-at-Large Kay Kapoor Laurence D. Belfer Teresa Acuña mc/mpa 2017, Member-at-Large John F. Keane Sr. Cecilia Chan Latifa Kosta MEMBERS Edward D. Dong mc/mpa 2015 George Kounelakis Luma Al Saleh mc/mpa 2017 Ramin A. Isayev mc/mpa 2001 Lyla Kuriyan mpp 1998 WELFARE REFORM. RACE AND POVERTY. COMMUNITY POLICING. For 30 years, the Malcolm Ramaswami (Balu) Balasubramaniam Peter L. Malkin Edward M. Lamont Jr. Wiener Center for Social Policy has been contributing insights and solutions to some Scott D. Malkin mc/mpa 2010 Yanchun “Lily” Li of society’s most vexing problems. Now, with a renewed focus on the critical issues of Rudy Brioché mpp 2000, haa Liaison Mohammad Safadi Brandt C. Louie inequality and opportunity, the center is looking to the future. Jonathan Chang mc/mpa 2014 Gabriel B. Sunshine Andrónico Luksic Leila El-Khatib mc/mpa 2013 Erica L. Wax mpp 1997 Eugenio Madero Through it all, the center has benefitted from the generosity and vision of Malcolm Wiener, whose support for the Kennedy School has also included faculty chairs, Edson Kenji Kondo mpp 1990 MEMBERS OF THE DEAN’S COUNCIL Mohamed L. Mansour Tami Kesselman mpa 1995 Bashar Masri teaching spaces, and programming. Mohammed B. Alardhi hksee 1992, Carl Manlan mc/mpa 2012 Lorenzo Mendoza hksee 2010 The past accomplishments and future work of the Wiener Center were highlighted mc/mpa 2004 Manuel Muñiz mpa 2011 James B. Metzger Fahd A. Al-Rasheed at a 30th anniversary celebration held in April. The event included the 30th Anniversary Diego Osorio mc/mpa 2009 Eric M. Mindich Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki Malcolm Wiener Lecture, presented by Harvard University President Larry Bacow. Emilian Papadopoulos mpp 2008 Anthony P. Morris Abayomi Awobokun Formed in the late 1980s, the Wiener Center Frank Pearl mc/mpa 2011 Paul J. Much mc/mpa 2009 Ed Bachrach mc/mpa 2007 “The Wiener Center has caused us to focus on issues was from the start an influential voice Steven Rahman mpp 2000 Christian Long Oberbeck Issa Baluch David Rosenberg mc/mpa 1986, Hilda M. Ochoa-Brillembourg mc/mpa 1972, central to who we are as a people and a nation, and in domestic policy. Its core faculty was Thomas C. Barry haa Liason hksee 2002 distinguished both by the quality of their Harvey Beker also on the tools and strategies available to us in Ruma Samdani mc/mpa 2012 Marvin E. Odum research as well as by their understanding Lisa M. Bellucci mc/mpa 1997 improving people’s well-being and to help people Meredith Segal mc/mpa 2017 Nelson Ortiz mc/mpa 1983 Steven J. Berger of the political and management challenges Brooke Suter mc/mpa 2017 Minnie R. Osmeña mc/mpa, hksee have control over their own lives.” Scott M. Black of implementing their recommendations. Jennifer Tutak mpa 2012 Jerome L. Rappaport mpa 1963 Mary M. Boies David Ellwood, director of the Wiener Center and Scott Black Professor of Political Economy Work by Director David Ellwood and Mary Jo Jang-Han Rhee Octavio Camarena-Villaseñor mpp 1994 Bane, Thornton Bradshaw Professor of Public Visiting Committee Tom Rousakis mpp 1997 Joseph F. Campbell Jr. mpp 1978 Sean C. Rush mc/mpa 2007 Policy and Management, Emerita, and the Wiener Center’s first director, was instrumental in Kenneth S. Apfel, Chair Richard E. Cavanagh Vincent J. Ryan framing discussion around welfare reform in the early 1990s. Similarly influential was work Adrian C. Cheng MEMBERS Carlos Salinas de Gortari mpa 1973 by William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor, in understanding Anne Chiou mpp 2005 Lawrence D. Bobo Elliot J. Schrage mpp 1986 urban poverty and race and work by the Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management Timothy C. Collins David Chiu mpp 1995, jd 1995 Jane E. Silfen mpp 2013 Jamie A. Cooper mpa 1994 in developing and popularizing community John H. Coatsworth Carl-Henric Svanberg Howard E. Cox Jr. policing in the 1980s. Philip Hart Cullom (Overseer) Anthony Tamer Robert L. Culver mpa 1978 More recently, the center has focused Joshua Gotbaum mpp 1976, jd 1976 Emil Tedeschi Bharat Desai on the structural barriers to mobility, Jane D. Hartley Lynn Thoman Teresa H. Doggett mpa 1983 Sally Jewell Joseph B. Tompkins Jr. mpp 1975 including the role of education, economic Ellen K. Dyvik mpa 1990 Brenda Jones mc/mpa 2018 Jesús Viejo Gonzalez mpp 1998 opportunity, and racial and social Ernesto F. Fernández-Holmann mpa 1966 Michael Kremer Enzo Viscusi discrimination. The breadth and depth of Anne Finucane Robert D. Reischauer Brooke N. Wade the Wiener Center’s portfolio represent Claire L. Fitzalan Howard Patti B. Saris Malcolm H. Wiener Karen A. Frank Malcolm Wiener himself, Ellwood said. Maria Torres-Springer mpp 2005 Michael A. Zaoui — Ana Paula Gerard Rivero mc/mpa 1995 “Malcolm Wiener is a genuine Kent Walker (Overseer) Dorothy S. Zinberg Kate Wiener; Klaus Reinhard Gorenflos mpa 1989 renaissance man,” Ellwood said. Wiener, Ngaire Woods Schwab mc/mpa 1967, Charles H. Grice mpp 1985 founder and executive an alum of Harvard College and Harvard Dionisio Gutiérrez Mayorga chairman of the World Law School, is, among other things, the John R. Hargrove mc/mpa 2012 Economic Forum; founder of an investment management Nicolaus P. Henke mpa 1990 Memberships as of February 22, 2019 Elizabeth Wiener; company, a preeminent scholar in Aegean Malcolm Wiener; Carolyn prehistory, and an expert in nonlethal Wiener; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; military technologies. and David Gergen, “He is one of those rare people who public service professor of public leadership, really does understand how different pieces fit together to form a whole,” Ellwood said. “He’s pictured at the Malcolm also a man who cares deeply about those left behind and so the Wiener Center is a reflection H. Wiener Lecture on of one of his many interests. But it is also ultimately reflective of his deep commitment to the Political Economy, 2017. world of ideas and to the notion that scholarship and practical ideas really matter.”
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MARTINA MÜLLER MPP 2019
“I’m a lawyer by training. I was working in the government of the state of São Paulo as a cabinet advisor, where I managed environmental policy and worked on international COLE WHEELER MPP 2018 cooperation with other states and countries. I knew there were important elements I SENIOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE ANALYST needed to get more skilled on because I never studied how to plan a budget, how to plan FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT: ICF INTERNATIONAL INC. for contingencies, how to consider a country’s macroeconomic situation—and that’s why “My interest in the environment I decided to go back to school. I would not have applied to the Kennedy School if I hadn’t emerged from my own feeling of known about the Bacon Fellowship, and I found it to be the perfect way to complement THE BACON FELLOWSHIP dread about climate change—a what I’d learn in class. Because it’s not just about the money. Bacon Fellows have weekly feeling common to a lot of people in meetings on environmental issues and leadership, field trips, and events. We are a family. my generation. Friends and I would It is extremely valuable to be here and bring an environmental perspective to so many talk about it but not really know different policy issues, such as housing, women’s rights, and employment. Environmental CLIMATE CHANGE POSES significant and how to think about it. I still have concerns are very much related to all these issues. My challenge here and when I leave is to complex challenges to policymakers in this experience when I talk about promote a bigger integration between this policy area and the work done in other fields.” climate change—people don’t know every nation. From typhoons to hurricanes how to grasp such an existentially to droughts, extreme weather events cause challenging topic. I felt like if I really people across the planet—especially the wanted to be a force for change in most vulnerable populations—to experience the environmental field, I needed to physical and economic suffering. know more. The Bacon Fellowship was the deciding factor in my ability Through the generosity of Louis and to go to graduate school. It gave me Gabrielle Bacon, the Kennedy School now has a the freedom to dig into the issues student fellowship program to support change- that I felt were most interesting makers interested in working at the nexus of and important rather than focus so the environment and public policy. THE BACON heavily on setting myself up for how to get a job that would help me cover ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP, which loan payments.” provides full tuition and robust cocurricular experiences to recipients, has funded 17 student fellowships since 2016. “Our overriding passion for the natural world aside, the pressing burden of our planetary degradation is the most globally encompassing MEHUL JAIN MPA/ID 2017 CLIMATE CHANGE SPECIALIST concern, one that extends beyond national THE WORLD BANK boundaries, beyond gender and race, even “In 2007, I reached Boston to study at mit beyond humanity, enveloping all living beings and was pleasantly surprised to see that and ecological systems,” say Gabrielle and the Charles River was as clean. It was Louis Bacon. “The Kennedy School instills a turning point for me. I studied water a critical sense of mission in its students, engineering and water resourcing, and LIA CATTANEO MPP 2020 went back to India determined to clean fostering an outward vision gently laced with “I primarily work at the intersection of climate and transportation policy, and I’m particularly the River Ganges. I kept coming up with obligations to society and to an environment interested in the climate impacts of autonomous vehicles. The fellowship is more than technical solutions but didn’t make much just financial support. This year, the Bacon Fellows went on a trip to Miami, which is in need of cleaner air, purer drinking water, headway. I realized that I needed to get ground zero for climate change. We are going to speak with a variety of stakeholders to and consideration for the marginalized and involved in policymaking and build my learn how development interests conflict and align with climate needs. Miami passed a credibility. I applied to hks. It was the vulnerable people in the face of climate $400 million bond measure to spend money on climate projects, and we are interested in Bacon Fellowship’s first year and I was challenges and social injustices.” figuring out the decision-making structures and perhaps making some recommendations. extremely fortunate to be selected as a Here are snapshots of a few current The Bacon Fellowship has been a great way to sharpen my focus and to come back to the Bacon Fellow. I am convinced that my environmental community that I love so much and feel so passionate about.” and past Bacon Fellows who are making a journey at hks wouldn’t have been as difference for our planet. rewarding without the fellowship support.”
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AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE for international security in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, ASH CARTER helped craft a program to secure the awesome power of the Soviet nuclear arsenal. Returning to the Kennedy School after serving as secretary of defense in the Obama administration, Carter, Belfer Professor of Technology and Global Affairs, is devoting himself yet again to harnessing disruptive technology, ranging from autonomous vehicles to social media, for the public good. To that end, he founded the Technology and Public Purpose Project. He is also looking to the classroom to share and provoke new thinking, such as his course titled “Practical Solutions for Technology’s Public Dilemmas.” —
PHOTO BY JESSICA SCRANTON
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WHICH VALUES GUIDE YOU?
AS A MEMBER OF THE HKS COMMUNITY, YOU BRING PRINCIPLED AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC LEADERSHIP TO THE WORLD. RAYCHEL CASEY