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Classnotes

Stay in touch with your classmates and peers

1967 / 1969 / 1970 / 1971 / 1974 / 1976 / 1978 / 1979 / 1980 / 1981 / 1982 / 1983 / 1984 / 1985 / 1986 / 1987 / 1988 / 1989 / 1990 / 1991 / 1992 / 1993 / 1994 / 1995 / 1996 / 1997 / 1998 / 1999 / 2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020

Note: Years bolded indicate reunion years.

1967
—

Harry Harris MC/MPA visited pristine Antarctica and the Falkland Islands in December 2019. He cruised on MS Roald Amundsen’s maiden voyage with new hybrid propulsion. A March 2020 cruise to the Norwegian fjords and Arctic Circle was cancelled when Norway closed its borders! With California’s unique pandemic health closures, Harry has remained sequestered in central California with ample quality time to engage in new pursuits. He looks forward to receiving first doses of the coronavirus vaccine; then, off to more global travel and new adventures!

Lionel Ingram MC/MPA writes, “After thirty years in the Army, I retired in 1993 as a colonel, moved to Exeter, New Hampshire, and returned to the Kennedy School to complete my dissertation. In 1995, I earned my PhD in political economics and government. In 2018, I retired from the University of New Hampshire as a Murkland Senior Lecturer emeritus.”

1969
—

Jack Underhill MC/MPA retired in 1997 after 41 years of federal service, 33 of which were at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Since then, Jack has been active with the Life Long Learning Institute at George Mason University and has undertaken mission trips overseas and to disaster areas in the United States for the Annandale United Methodist Church. He has also served as a Stephen Minister, counseling people who need help. Every year he has presented papers on poverty-related issues at the annual conference of the American Society for Public Administration. Jack is a poet and has been active in the Poetry Society. He enjoys and helps nine grandchildren.

1970
—

Geoffrey Dutton MCRP writes, “Some fun facts: I never attended or graduated from KSG, which subsequently absorbed my program at HGSD and later delivered it back; I have never been in public service and only occasionally practiced planning. What have people who got MCRP degrees from KSG done with them? What I did was to research, develop software, and consult in geosciences, then chuck that to be a journalist and technical writer, and then chuck that to write ad lib. Since then I’ve littered the web with hundreds of stories, articles, and memoirs, published a novel, and am working on its next installment. I must say, it beats a 9-to-5 job.”

John Hurley MC/MPA writes, “I knew the scene, having grown up as a ‘townie’ in Cambridge/Somerville. A CORDS posting in Vietnam helped prepare me for the fall of 1969 at Harvard! I then was assigned as course chair for incoming Foreign Service officers when I returned to State. Following tours at then Embassy Bonn, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the department, I switched hierarchies, went to seminary, and was ordained a Catholic priest in the Washington Archdiocese. Now in semi-retirement I am at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, site of the JFK funeral.”

1971 | 50th Reunion
—

Mark Thompson MPP writes, “In retirement I have recently written and published Disputed Decisions of World War II: Decision Science and Game Theory Perspectives (McFarland, 2020). It references and discusses prominently the writings of Graham Allison, Richard Neustadt, Howard Raiffa, Thomas Schelling, and Richard Zeckhauser—in part, to be sure, out of continuing gratitude to them but also (being as objective as I can be, which is not easy) because their works remain in my opinion the most authoritative, insightful, and internationally respected on the topics I have addressed.”

1974
—

Manolo Abella MC/MPA shares that after ����vlog���� he was asked to modernize public employment services in the Philippines. He also briefly served in Beijing during the normalizing of relations with China, and later played a key role in organizing an overseas employment program of the Philippines. In 1979 Manolo joined the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he managed a 13 Asian-country program on labor migration, and later spearheaded the development of the ILO’s Multilateral Framework for Managing Migration. He later organized for the World Bank a multi-country research project on reducing migration costs. Manolo has published extensively on labor migration issues and has served on the advisory boards of COMPAS (University of Oxford) and MOOP (University of Sussex).

Sandford Borins MPP is now professor emeritus of public management at the University of Toronto. He is completing a book about political narratives in the United States, the U.K., and Canada, titled Public Representations. And with more time available he is posting more frequently about politics and narrative on his blog at sandfordborins.com.

Richard Feeney MC/MPA writes, “After the Kennedy School I returned to my hometown of Portland, Oregon, and pursued a government career at Multnomah County, Portland State University, and for 25 years as director of government affairs for TriMet, our transit authority and the pioneer in the development of Light Rail Transit. Currently a book reading group of retirees (five of us Harvard grads, three from ����vlog����), startled at the 120 days of protests that have taken root in the city, are trying to nudge our local government into a more assertive stance against racism, police brutality, and civic unrest.”

Frank Lawson MC/MPA writes, “Now retired and living in Sáo Paulo, Brazil. So far so good! No COVID-19!”

1976 | 45th Reunion
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Michael Wallage MPP is happily retired and enjoying Montana. “Trying to promote the word ‘numbulary’ = number-vocabulary. We all have vocabularies of the words we know and use. We should also have conscious numbularies, the numbers we know and use to quantify our perceptions and experiences, just as we use words to qualify our daily lives.”

The U.S.-China Relationship

1978
—

Richard Broinowski MC/MPA, since retiring from diplomacy, has become a published author in Australia. “My latest book (my sixth) is now with the printer. No title yet, but it’s about Australia’s relations with Cambodia—how we helped persuade the United Nations in 1991 to administer Cambodia until elections were held in 1993. An Australian general, John Sanderson, was commander of a multinational force to disarm and canton the Khmer Rouge and other warring factions pending elections. The elections were a success, but under Hun Sen, the country has slipped back into corruption and autocracy. Democracy is an alien construct in some countries.”

M. Feldman MPP writes, “I’ve sold my planning/architecture firm in a well-timed pre-COVID change and am now devoting more time to my teaching, nonprofit and public efforts, and some independent work (if it’s interesting), and more time with my wonderful wife, Anne. We’re lucky to have a pleasant home and garden to dwell in as we watch and wait for better times socially, culturally, and politically.”

Gregory Lipscomb MC/MPA retired from the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C., in 2014 and moved to Austin, Texas. He is now chair of the University of Texas Libraries Advisory Council.

Robert Sabbatini MCRP writes, “Hello! I have been happily retired since 2018 after completing seven years as a sole practitioner. You can check out my professional web site: sabbatini-loyd.com. I was recognized as an Italian citizen in 2019. Did some traveling with my wife, Bonnie Loyd, pre-COVID. Documented seven months in Italy on our first blog: ipensionati.com. Wishing everyone a brighter, safer, and prosperous future.”

1979
—

William Fleissig MC/MPA is living in Toronto, Canada, with his wife and teenage daughters, and rethinking how public/private partnerships are transforming from P3 to P10. William recently launched Collaborative Equities, a company focused on rejuvenating urban districts, addressing climate change, and broadening community benefits. Collaborative Equities partners with owners and investors—while empowering citizens and city leaders to actively engage—as malls and main streets intersperse more services with residential, recreation, and civic uses.

Mark Haas MCRP CEO of the Association for Enterprise Growth (AEG), writes that AEG, “is raising capital to expand nationally. AEG operates ecosystems of 50 business advisors in complementary disciplines and CEO peer groups. It helps owners of midmarket companies grow, add value, exit on their terms, and build personal wealth. The unique business model leverages diagnostic technology, a lean cost structure, and a focus on relationships, culture, and artificial intelligence to identify and deliver enterprise value. The germ of this idea came from experiences at Harvard and the power of convening diverse disciplines and perspectives to address complex problems.”

1980
—

William Dalton MC/MPA has held elective office for 11 years and has worked as a lawyer for over 50 years. He has served as general counsel for the American Cancer Society, commissioner and chair of the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, and president of the Acoustic Neuroma Association. William is the author of three books and approximately 1,000 newspaper columns.

Grace Flores-Hughes MC/MPA is a senior advisor to Caliburn International and a board member of the Women’s Campaign Fund. She is working on her second book.

Jerry Ostrov MC/MPA, retired since 2011, is a happily married grandfather of four. He has spent much of his time writing three historical novels. His first novel, In Ways Unimagined, covers the period 1933–1942 and has just been re-released on Audible as a narrated volume. Its sequel, Someone Waiting for You, overlaps the first volume and covers the period 1937–1967. It, too, is being readied for re-release on Audible. Jerry’s newest book, The Scroll and the Parchment, is an archeological thriller. Once the virus subsides, Jerry is looking forward to family, skiing, classical music, and hiking.

1981 | 40th Reunion
—

Timothy Buehrer MPP, after being evacuated from Jakarta in March, has left the USAID ASEAN project he had been running in Jakarta for many years. This past September he accepted an academic position at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. Lori Forman MPP is also on the faculty. “Looking forward to a more academic focus as well as the transition back to the U.S.”

Charlotte Cloutier MC/MPA writes, “Retired as of Dec. 31, 2016 after 25 years of consulting in health care. Enjoyed world travel till COVID-19 grounded us! Very appreciative of ����vlog���� and Harvard’s efforts to offer e-learning opportunities during these months of isolation. Hope these initiatives carry on into the future as we adapt to an ever-changing world!”

Lynn Harris MC/MPA is the newly elected board chair for ARTZ Philadelphia (artzphilly.org). Lynn joined the ARTZ Philadelphia Board in the spring of 2019. Following her retirement in 2018 as the longtime executive director of Center in the Park in Northwest Philadelphia, Lynn joined the ARTZ Philadelphia community as a volunteer with the ARTZ in the Making, ARTZ on the Road, and ARTZ @ Jefferson programs. Lynn is the primary care partner for her father, and so her interest in volunteering with ARTZ was both professional and personal. The depth and breadth of her experience in the field of aging and passion for the ARTZ mission led her to become board chair.

Fredie Kay MC/MPA writes, “As you may know, 2020 was the 100th anniversary of women obtaining the vote with the 19th Amendment after 72-plus years of effort by suffragists—white and of color. Women and men of color couldn’t vote until laws were changed or enacted, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As founder and president of Suffrage100MA (suffrage100MA.org), it’s been a privilege working with others to develop a coalition of nearly 200 Suffrage100MA partners, host events, provide historical remarks, partner with the Commonwealth Museum to create suffrage display panels, make a 30-minute film The Fight for Women’s Suffrage, Looking Back, Marching Forward! and more!”

Joe Leitmann MPP retired in early 2020 after 35 years at the World Bank. He is now heading Rapid Assessment, Planning and Implementation for Development LLC, consulting for the United Nations, doing pro bono work for the University of California, and learning new skills (Korean and saxophone). Joe is splitting his time between Washington, D.C., and California.

Giandomenico Magliano MC/MPA shares that the ����vlog���� experience was very instrumental in his diplomatic career path, particularly in learning how to anticipate trends and problem solve. He is an Italian ambassador and has held the highest ranking position since 2010. Past roles include director general for development cooperation, director general of economic affairs, director general for Asia, Africa, Latin America & globalization, and Italian ambassador to France. Giandomenico currently teaches globalization/deglobalization processes as a university lecturer in Rome. He also works in the private sector as vice president of Pizzarotti (construction/public works) and as a board member of Banca Nazionale Lavoro and of Italgas (Italian gas distribution leader). He is married with three children.

Robert Reiner MCRP writes, “Since 2016, my nonprofit website has been providing nationwide pro-bono retirement income advisory services to those experiencing personal and financial stress. The pandemic has deepened already tenuous income security for most Americans, and language used by government agencies to explain programs and services that may be of benefit remain largely opaque. The site attempts to explain in clear terms what assistance and strategies are available and how they can be accessed.”

1982
—

Teresa Cader MC/MPA writes, “I became the associate director of the Ford Foundation’s Innovations Program in State and Local Government at ����vlog���� in 1985. I left that position to accept two fellowships in poetry from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Bunting Institute at Radcliffe. I’ve published three collections of poetry and won multiple awards and fellowships as a writer. I’ve been fortunate to publish in places like The Atlantic, Slate, Harvard Magazine, Harvard Review, Poetry, and many other magazines and journals. I have taught extensively in literature and MFA programs and have just finished a fourth collection of poetry. I hope to complete a memoir about my immigrant family this year. I married ����vlog���� faculty member Jerry Mechling and we have two grown daughters. Currently, I have committed myself to anti-racism work in the literary community and the support of a policy institute, Greenlining, headed by Black and Brown professionals.”

H. Eric Elbot MPA writes, “I am co-founder of the ����vlog���� Potato Heads, Shone & Elbot Political Consulting, and our good friend, Paul Shone, passed this year: ‘We miss you, Paul!’ Serving on the ����vlog����NEAA Board during this Byzantine 2020 allowed me to witness the compassion, wisdom, and helplessness of our wonderful school in coping with pandemic and national division.”

Erik Ferguson MCRP recently appeared as the Ghost King in a Bard at the Bar production of Hamlet. He also published his first short story, “Spitting Image,” online at Ellipsis Zine.

Elizabeth Santillanez MPA writes, “I am celebrating over 20 years working with the University of California, San Diego, in program management positions, currently with the Division of Biomedical Informatics, Health Sciences. Primarily I coordinate a training grant program for pre-docs, postdocs, and short-term trainees. Previously I worked with the Western Governors’ Association for almost 10 years as a policy analyst/program manager in international relations, working on regional programs on trade policy, education, and environmental management. On a personal note, I have a 21-year-old daughter who is a senior at UC Berkeley. So proud of her! Grateful we are healthy!”

Worth Thomas MC/MPA was appointed to Mississippi’s State Capitol Community Improvement District Advisory Board. The board will focus on the redevelopment of the city of Jackson; the state legislature will appropriate about $10 million to $12 million per year to the city’s redevelopment for the next 10 years. Worth was also appointed to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’ Finance Committee and to the Mississippi Top 50, which recognizes 50 influential business and government leaders in the state of Mississippi every year. Worth was recently elected to the Blue Ridge North Carolina Y Conference Board of Directors, The Mississippi Food Network, and the Methodist Children’s Homes of Mississippi Board of Directors. His client list includes several of the national Fortune 500 companies. Worth has completed mission work in East Africa.

1983
—

Christopher Gates MPA is co-director of the Philanthropy Bridging Divides project. He writes, “It is gratifying to be working to find a way to discover common ground between right and left in the philanthropic community.”

Kenneth Hughes MPA writes, “I am pleased to report that a Canadian company, Providence Therapeutics, where I am chair of the board, has received funding from the National Research Council of Canada to undertake Phase 1 human trials for a COVID-19 vaccine. We use a mRNA for our vaccine, the same as larger players better known, such as Moderna. Animal trials have been very promising.”

1984
—

Salvano Briceno MC/MPA writes, “This year my wife and I moved to Madrid, Spain, where we continue to enjoy our very pleasant retirement. I am still in touch with a few academic activities around the world in the field of reducing risk related with natural hazards. After living almost 30 years in France, next to Geneva, we undertook a new life project to benefit from the rich cultural and social life of Madrid, closer to our Latin-American origins.”

Judy Bunnell MPP and Joseph Olchefske MCRP are staying healthy and well in D.C.! Their daughter India is who knows where at this point! Joseph is teaching educational entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins and is an academic visitor (whatever the heck that is!) at the Kennedy School, where he is teaching sessions on school district reform. Judy and their daughter are starting a company, IndoJubu (guess where the name comes from!). The mother-daughter duo is doing social media, websites, and general communications for individuals and nonprofits trying to “build their brand.”

Margarita Castellon MC/MPA writes, “After a career of government relations work for two large private companies, community relations work for another, and lots of nonprofit board service, I recently retired to a life of travel (when it is safe again) and more nonprofit board work in the areas of philanthropy, community building, education, lifelong learning, and disabilities. My best regards to my classmates. Feel free to come and visit me in Florida!”

Ken Farbstein MPP reports that he’s moved into a fixer-upper in the woods of Concord, Massachusetts, with his fiancee. He notes, “Very conveniently, she’s a psychotherapist, so she’s fixing me too, for free.” Professionally, for NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), he’s assessing the ways social workers who work within police departments help troubled people get into a treatment track, rather than the criminal justice track. That’s part of his broader focus on identifying and widely spreading non-medication ways to help people labelled with diagnoses of psychosis.

Pina Frazzica MC/MPA worked in public health programs in sub-Saharan African countries after graduating from ����vlog����. In the 1990s, she worked at the National Institute of Health, organizing training and research in public health for developing countries. Pina was then nominated to be director general of CEFPAS, in Sicily, where she developed a regional school of public health and managed it for 17 years. Since 2013, she has worked in Rome at the National Institute for Health Migration and Poverty (INMP), whose mission is to diminish health inequalities in the country through facilitating the access to health services by the most disadvantaged social groups—migrants and poor populations.

Carol Landsman MPP has spent much of the pandemic housebound with hubby Steve Hassett. Living in Portland, Oregon, Carol walks in the neighborhood, plays tennis, weight lifts, and is on constant Zoom meetings. Her volunteer work is focused on police accountability and it seems the best way to achieve that is to meet constantly. Carol smiles when she thinks about the 35th reunion in 2019.

Lou Trajcevski MPP shares that this past October was a big month for him. He celebrated turning 60 along with the 20th anniversary of the formation of his company, Newcastle Housing Ventures, LLC. Based in Hartford, CT, Newcastle is an affordable housing finance and development consulting practice that assists developers in assembling financing to construct affordable and mixed-income rental housing.

Matt Tueller MPP is currently U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Over his 35-year diplomatic career, Matt has worked at U.S. embassies across the Middle East, in London, and in various domestic assignments in Washington. His wife resides at their home in Provo, Utah, spending time with their nine grandchildren. In October 2020 Matt was publicly blacklisted by the Islamic Republic of Iran in retaliation for a similar move by the U.S. government against the Iranian ambassador to Iraq. The State Department and U.S. Embassy in Baghdad have dismissed the Iranian accusations that he played a role coordinating terrorist activities in Iraq and beyond.

Andres “Antong” Victorio MPP eventually obtained a PhD in economics and moved to New Zealand. There he became a senior lecturer in public policy at Victoria University of Wellington and founded StatScience Research, a consultancy for advancing economics for public policy. He is the author of three books, most notably The NZ CPI at 100: History and Interpretation, and of more than thirty journal articles on the economics of altruism, housing, trade, financial crises, globalization, union power, and disaster-risk mitigation.

1985
—

Kalyan Chakravarty MC/MPA, after graduating from ����vlog����, obtained a PhD in fine arts from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. He wrote his doctoral thesis on his excavations in Chhattisgarh (published by Aryan Books International, Delhi), and went on to co-edit six volumes on indigeneity issues with Routledge. Kalyan was the former head of Chhattisgarh Forestry, National Museum, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, Lalit Kala Akademi, and NUEPA in Delhi. He is currently advising GOI and state governments on creating synergies between culture, development, and the environment, and is developing site museums on indigenous anti-colonial struggles. He is also editing public policy volumes for Mason Fellows and writing on the historiography of Indian art. He currently serves as a distinguished professor at Centurion University of Technology & Management (CUTM) in Bhubaneswar and is a board member of IGRMS, an anthropology museum in Bhopal, and Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) in Delhi.

Henry Ramos MPA writes, “I remain active in civic leadership as board chair of the New York-based Nonprofit Finance Fund, and as a member of the Santa Barbara, CA-based McCune Foundation’s Grants Review Committee. Last year I published a timely book, titled Democracy & The Next American Economy: Where Prosperity Meets Justice (Arte Público Press), with a foreword by ACLU national director Anthony D. Romero. Presently, I am involved in helping to initiate a new study institute on race and the political economy at New School University in New York City.”

Gabriela Romanow MC/MPA writes, “When we spoke and saw each other via Zoom in May, though I knew this might last for many months, I was entirely naive about how very long time would feel in a pandemic. My family has taken the opportunity to live together—a precious side effect of COVID-19—and I’ve saved many hours of commute time, while working for Mass. General Hospital from home. I am writing in October, when life itself seems precarious, the state of our nation is appalling, the world is on fire and under water, and a madman is in charge of the asylum. May this all be resolved (well, on the path toward resolution) by the time you read this.”

Anne Rudolph O’Donnell MPP is a member of the Whittier College Board of Trustees. Whittier College is a small, liberal arts college in Southern California. Anne notes that it’s an especially tough time to be a small, liberal arts college, but she admires the leadership and vision of the new Whittier College president, Linda Oubre. Plus, as a Minority Serving Institution, the school has the tremendous potential to further serve the needs of first-generation students. Anne continues to lead corporate relations and work for the chancellor at UC San Diego.

Carlos Sosa Franco MC/MPA has been writing these past five years. He has searched for his Spanish ancestors through the writing of a novel, Huellas de Azogue y Chocolate, written one book of essays, Iluminando Esquinas, as a tribute to the French historical school of the Annales, and finished a second novel, El Humo De La Amapola, which explores 1890–1923 European and world events. After 65 years, he has picked back up Spanish guitar and German language study. “Fandango is great and alles ist gut, ich bin zufrieden und beschã.”

1986 | 35th Reunion
—

Michael Bryans MC/MPA retired as an intelligence analyst from the Public Service of Canada in late 2017. However, he retains a keen interest in all matters regarding nuclear weapons proliferation and is engaged, from time to time, by government entities who find his knowledge and experience useful. “My time at KSG—and the wonderful, smart friends I met, worked with, partied with—changed my life.”

Owen Corr MC/MPA writes, “Hello to my fellow KSG '86 alums. I’m retired and splitting my time between Seattle and the Yakima Valley, where we grow apples, cherries, and the hops used in your beer. I’ve spent the past years in journalism, the Seattle mayor’s office, and most recently, running a magazine that covered the fruit industry. I also wrote two books on leaders in the communications industry. I’m forever grateful for what I learned at the K School.”

James Junke MC/MPA shares that in 2020 he turned seventy, celebrated forty years of marriage, and became a grandparent. “Feeling very fortunate in these COVID-19 times.”

Felisa Tibbitts MPP writes, “The pandemic has brought about prolific human suffering, and I feel for my classmates who have experienced personal losses. My family and I have remained healthy, fortunately. I have tried to use my home confinement to try out new things, such as home cooking and cool apps for delivering distance learning courses. I wonder what will be the state of the planet when our reunion happens in spring 2021? I am still based in NYC, teaching at Teachers College/Columbia University, still focusing on human rights and education. I’m in my fourth year as UNESCO chair in human rights and higher education. (No trips to Paris, though.) Thinking of you all!”

1987
—

Susan Ives MC/MPA writes, “As America’s public lands are given over to oil, timber, and other extractive industries, Restore Point Reyes National Seashore is working to end the giveaway at the only national seashore on the Pacific coast. Established in 1962 and barely an hour’s drive from San Francisco, Point Reyes is a refuge for humans and rare wildlife. Yet a handful of politically connected ranchers run 6,000 cattle in this park, overgrazing the land, depleting the water, and polluting vital ecosystems. The National Park Service routinely kills native wildlife to protect livestock and ranchers’ profits. This land is your land. Learn more: restoreptreyesseashore.org.”

Beth Knobel MPP, PhD 1992 has been named director of Fordham University’s Public Media Master of Arts program, which prepares students for public service roles in journalism and strategic communication. Beth has been a professor of communication and media studies at Fordham since 2007, when she returned from 14 years working as a journalist in Moscow—most of it for CBS News. During a recent sabbatical, Beth visited with ����vlog���� friends in California, including Kerry (Abelson) Abram MPP, Richard Gross MPP 1990 and Joel Freid MPA 1991. She also had “long-overdue catchups in the Midwest” with Carol Rubin MPP and Steve Reifenberg MPP 1988.

1988
—

Abigail Arnold MC/MPA writes, “Hi all—Since graduation, I got married, raised three wonderful children, who are now adults, was a practicing mediator for over 25 years, focusing largely on multi-party, environmental policy challenges and sustainable renewable energy at RESOLVE for 17 years, and then a partner at Kearns and West for seven. Twelve years ago, I helped start the American Wind Wildlife Institute, where I have served as executive director for over a decade. We are a nonprofit, made up of the wind industry and conservation science community, dedicated to assessing risk of wind to wildlife and developing solutions to address. Take care all!”

Alan Loeb MC/MPA continues to practice law in Washington and recently published an article on climate change in the Kennedy School Review online. The article critiques the current proposals and suggests a new framework.

Rodney Marks MC/MPA writes, “I hope that you—my classmates—and your families are well. When Debra and I returned home after Harvard (with our baby, Benjamin), I worked as an arts consultant until 1991. Then I became a full-time comedian. I credit the language of government learned at the Kennedy School! I’m only half-joking. My website is comedian.com.au, which is proof of age. Now that even Australia is affected by COVID-19, live comedy has been replaced by Zoom, Microsoft Teams... It’s been a huge learning curve. Benjamin is now a comedy writer. We have two other sons (a filmmaker and a software engineer), a filmmaker daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter.”

John Wasowicz MC/MPA reports that Slaters Lane, the third book in the Mo Katz mystery series, has been published by BrickHouse Books. The novel details a murder investigation that takes place in April 2020 during the preliminary phase of COVID-19. Undaunted by the coronavirus, the investigative team relies on a virtual street search, online witness interviews, and teleconferences to solve the crime and untangle a tale of jealousy and deceit. Slaters Lane combines a historical accounting of the pandemic, reminiscent of Daniel Defoe’s recordation of the impacts of the Black Death, with a classic murder mystery a la Agatha Christie.

The 2020 U.S. Elections

1989
—

Mehrdad Baghai MPP is based in Sydney, Australia, where he has been funding and leading High Resolves, a social venture which has engaged 400,000 young people around the world with immersive learning experiences around identity, independent thinking, social justice, and collective action. He’d love to hear from classmates and anyone interested in this work. Check out highresolves.org, videosforchange.org, and composereducation.org if interested.

Natalie Jaresko MPP writes, “Bankruptcy, hurricanes, revolutions, a governor’s term cut short by protests, earthquakes, elections, and now COVID-19—a health and economic crisis, all while suffering a recession. Every element of fiscal and economic policy challenge—more than I could have ever thought possible while studying at KSG or when I accepted the challenge to lead the Oversight Board almost four years ago. There is a path out of this for the people of Puerto Rico. Hoping 2021 provides political leadership, vision, and a  willingness to implement the structural reforms needed to make the economy competitive and return prosperity.”

1990
—

Robert Dodge MC/MPA has published his eighth nonfiction book, a memoir on adult onset epilepsy from McFarland Publishing titled Grand Mal. He’s now begun work on number nine.

Roy Norton MC/MPA retired from Canada’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in August 2020. He is now an adjunct assistant professor of political science and public service at the University of Waterloo. In addition, Roy is a resident fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, a global fellow at the Canada Institute of Washington, D.C.’s Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. He lives in Stratford, Ontario—home to the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, North America’s largest repertory theater company.

Neville Vanderburg MC/MPA writes, “I received my master of divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary in 2014. After a three-year residency I was ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church and moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi, where I assumed lead-pastor role at two legacy congregations. After two years of prayer and discernment we merged into a new congregation in July 2019. Cathy and I celebrated 42 years of marriage this July and are both excited about the future.”

1991 | 30th Reunion
—

Michael Brown MC/MPA participated in All Hands Brigade, a group of veteran labor and community organizers who led teams of callers to get out the vote for Biden in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. He also continues to support two effective Black community organizations with fund raising and training: The Union of Minority Neighborhoods and Dunk The Vote 2020. In recent years, Michael has seen Jacob Schreibman and Nurit Israeli in Israel, Robert Simon in France, Salvador Mayorga in Nicaragua, and Nan Carroll in Troy, New York. “Love to hear from my classmates.”

Julie DeSorgher MC/MPA writes, “We relocated to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 2017 to “retire.” Not ready to stop working cold-turkey, I started a part-time consulting business developing professional resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and providing related career development services. It has been both fun and successful. I also volunteer with a local women’s empowerment nonprofit helping clients through challenging life transitions. We’re enjoying a new pace of life and taking advantage of the natural surroundings—hiking, kayaking, and exploring. I hope we’re able to gather in May, but may need to wait until 2022! Stay well and be safe!”

Michael Diedrich MC/MPA writes, “The KSG program, professors, and classmates inspired us to provide meaningful leadership and service in our communities, states, and nations in diverse and innovative ways. I believe that we all continue to participate in all levels of service. After leaving our state legislature to raise our family, I am back in the South Dakota State Senate. The connectivity and fellowship of the KSG community has always been the best source of inspiration, information, and support. We have the responsibility to work to ensure that future generations have the quality of life and opportunities we enjoyed. Thank you.”

Noreen Dunne MC/MPA retired from formal college teaching at a Jesuit college in Darjeeling. She is now mentoring ex-students who are teachers in government schools for underprivileged children, to bring qualitative inputs to teaching and learning—especially during this COVID-19 pandemic—in the context of limited power and internet. As founding trustee and treasurer of Hayden Hall, an NGO/NPO in Darjeeling, Noreen has been overseeing the organization’s financial outreach work in primary health and education in the Himalayan hills, entrepreneurial initiatives in livelihood training, and development of organic solutions for waste management. They are also involved in herbal medicines, handicrafts in cotton, wool, jute, and the making of face masks (darjmate.com). Noreen notes that the organization is “financing relief distribution during the pandemic and lockdowns to approximately 87,000 people in 15 tea gardens, 13 rural areas, and 16 urban areas in three districts of North Bengal, for which local NGOs and individuals contributed about 75 percent of the cash inputs.”

Arlene Kirsch MC/MPA writes, “We retired to the beautiful Berkshires where we apply our skills and experience to active anti-racism and police reform work in Northern Berkshire County. In our town that includes community organizing to change the charter, in effect without change since 1956, and helping tell the story of the town’s racist history. Wishing all my classmates and your families good health in this pandemic.”

Lisa Liang Siemsen MPP writes, “Clay and I will remain in Singapore in the foreseeable future. Our kids are nearly grown and flown. Professionally, I am looking to pivot from project/infrastructure finance to the start-up space utilizing my financial and project management expertise. I am following my passions for financial literacy and lifting up others through financial literary education for foreign workers and young adults. Personally, my cravings continue to lead my cooking journey, which now includes home-smoked bacon, sourdough, croissants (quite a feat in humid/hot Singapore), and spiral curry puffs. To stay fit, I have taking up cycling all across Singapore.”

Andrew McLeod MPA writes, “Ever a political junkie and a conservationist, I remain in Washington and have taken a bit of a career detour—into the news business. I serve as executive director of Foothills Forum, an innovative civic journalism nonprofit in Virginia’s Piedmont region. In that capacity, I have the pleasure of working closely with Larry “Bud” Meyer MC/MPA 1990, the co-founder and board chair of the organization. I hope to see many classmates at our 30th reunion—whether virtual or in-person—on May 21–23, 2021.”

Steve Zwick MC/MPA, who retired in 2018 after 24 years serving as the San Miguel County, Colorado, county attorney, recently received the University of Colorado Law School’s 2020 Public Sector Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. He is a 1977 graduate from the law school.

1992
—

David Greig MC/MPA writes, “At 73 I’ve finally retired, having made good use of what I learned at Harvard in economics-related jobs in Australia and New Zealand, ending up as a transport specialist. I’m now in Wellington, New Zealand, my hometown — lucky to be in a country with the COVID-19 virus under apparent control, and with nice hills and mountains for hiking and skiing.”

Janet Martinez MC/MPA, after graduating from ����vlog����, received a PhD in public policy from MIT. She is a senior lecturer in law and director of the Martin Daniel Gould Center for Conflict Resolution at Stanford Law School. Janet notes, “We welcome the Stanford-����vlog���� joint degree students!” Janet recently published (with Amsler and Smith) Dispute System Design: Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflict (Stanford University Press, 2020).

Pablo Russo Subero MC/MPA spent several years leading transformational projects in the oil and gas industry in Venezuela. He has also served as executive vice president of Best Energy Management and as a part-time assistant adjunct professor at Andres Bello Catholic University and National Experimental University of the Armed Forces (UNEFA). From 2010 to 2018 he worked in human resources, developing growth strategies for family businesses. Most recently he has worked in Buenos Aires as a consultant, helping new entrepreneurs raise seed money for people in need of education, work, and medical care.

Marti Trudeau MC/MPA, this past May, received a doctoral degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Her work focuses on identifying unmet health-related social needs in the home care setting. Encountering these problems as a registered nurse prompted her to complete this program in order to develop innovative solutions to adverse social determinants of health.

1993
—

Damon Coletta MPP reports that Dr. Andrea Yodsampa, Daniel Jaouiche, and Kenny Grant accepted invitations to present on climate change before Damon’s global governance class. Damon is the 2020–2021 Scowcroft Professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Andrea is founder and CEO of DEPLOY/US and spoke to the class about the organization’s work advancing bipartisan climate leadership. Daniel is senior director with Ernst & Young and discussed government regulations providing certainty for energy multinationals’ investment decisions. Kenny is managing director with Berkeley Research Group and covered IGO frameworks for national decarbonization. “All thanks to  Diane Cherry MPP for organizing during the pandemic our Class of ‘93 Energy Group.”

Katia Hetter MPP was named CNN Digital’s senior editor for science and wellness in April. In this role, Katia created a new section and team in the middle of a pandemic and worldwide protests against racism. “Even before my team was announced via a video conference call, we started covering the impact of the pandemic and racism on people’s wellbeing and writing stories to help our audience cope with the intense ongoing stressors. We also get to cover interesting discoveries and events in space and science, including a recent launch to the International Space Station. I feel very lucky to have this job at this moment in time.”

Judith Lear MC/MPA has been involved in the EveryWoman Treaty, an international movement to stop violence against women. Two fellows from the Carr Center, Lisa Shannon and Vidya Sri, are the founders, and Ferdous Ara Begum MC/MPA 1983 from Bangladesh, asked Judith to help with the section on violence against older women. The treaty has garnered both support and pushback from around the world.

Rudy Ruiz MPP released a new novel, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez (Blackstone Publishing), in September 2020. The American Library Association’s Booklist stated, “With an atmospheric setting and beguiling prose, lavish details, fascinating, well-developed characters, and charming elements of magic realism, Ruiz conjures a magnetic story…” Learn more at rudyruiz.com.

Gwen Young MPP is a member of the ����vlog���� D.C. Council and continues to engage with ����vlog���� classmates. Gwen has begun work as the COO of the Women Business Collaborative: a first-of-its-kind platform of women’s organizations dedicated to women’s leadership in business. In addition, Gwen continues to consult on geopolitics and gender equality, and sits on various boards dedicated to furthering social and economic development across sub-Saharan Africa.

1994
—

Jane Gilbert MPA writes, “After four exciting years serving as the City of Miami’s first chief resilience officer, I recently stepped down to have more family time and to pursue my interests in national climate policy. On that note, I just completed a (virtual) ����vlog���� Executive Education program on climate policy and it reminded me how much I enjoyed and valued my interactions with ����vlog���� faculty and peer students. Thank you ����vlog����!”

Susan Hackley MC/MPA writes, “I feel grateful that for now anyway my family and I are healthy, and that we live in a well-run state, Massachusetts. After 19 years, I retired in December 2020 as managing director of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, a wonderful job that took me around the world and that aligned perfectly with my interest in helping people communicate effectively. You can’t be a good leader if you aren’t a good negotiator! Or as JFK said, “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.” As a former political operative doing a Mid-Career year at ����vlog����, I took my first course in negotiation, and that changed my life.”

Lise Stone MC/MPA went back to her journalistic roots for the election, working for The Associated Press by contributing to the national tabulation on November 3 (and beyond?). She is currently serving as vice chair on the Václav Havel Library Foundation Board and Zooming from Manhattan and Dobbs Ferry, New York.

1995
—

Vidal Garza Cantu MPP writes, “The challenges of regulatory and public affairs for the multinational company FEMSA continues to be my passion. We have been able to cope with COVID-19 by not affecting our employment base.  Tremendous lessons of courage and endurance. Staying safe using Canvas, I continue to teach at Monterrey Tech public policy analysis and implementation every spring and economics and public policy every winter term.”

Meinolf Meyer MPA writes, “Happy to have seen many of our MPA2 class in a video conference in May! Updates: Still enjoying working at Google tremendously, now “work-from-home” at least until next summer; making good progress in the newly founded charity/NGO Starke Demokratie e. V.; Ulli and I are happy empty-nesters now—both kids in college from this fall.”

1996 | 25th Reunion
—

Candida Daniele MC/MPA writes, “So ... I retired from my position as a patient safety and quality consultant for Inova Health System in northern Virginia on February 6, 2020, and looked forward to travel and spending my time doing whatever moved me...not!! Just like everyone else I spent the spring cleaning closets and attending Zoom meetings. I did sell my townhouse in Alexandria, Virginia, in September and moved to Fenwick Island, Delaware, with my boyfriend to enjoy a retirement community steps from the many golf courses and the Atlantic Ocean. While in the metro D.C. area I enjoyed belonging to the ����vlog���� Alumni Group and will join the Harvard Club of Delaware. Contact me if you are in the area!”

Patrick Mendis ����vlog����EE was awarded the Taiwan Fellowship by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (ROC). He is currently teaching as a distinguished visiting professor of global affairs at National Chengchi University and researching as a senior fellow of the Taiwan Center for Security Studies in Taipei. Previously, Patrick served as a distinguished visiting professor of Sino-American relations at the Yenching Academy of Peking University in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and as a commissioner of the United States National Commission for UNESCO at the U.S. Department of State, an appointment by the Obama administration.

Guy Swan NSF was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Guy currently serves as vice president at the Association of the United States Army in Arlington, Virginia. On the Board of Visitors, Guy serves alongside four U.S. senators, five U.S. House representatives, and five presidential appointees.

Deconstructing the 2020 U.S. Elections

1997
—

Christopher LaMonica MPP writes, “Although I did graduate with the Class of ’97, I was originally part of the ’96 MPP group. As the years go by I think of you all quite often and trust that your individual quests to make a positive impact on the world are moving along as you had always envisioned! Currently a professor of government at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, specializing in local and coastal governance in sub-Saharan Africa. Alas, cadet trips to that region, as elsewhere, are on hold due to COVID. All the best from guy with the beard in the back row, Chris, or, as Zelikow would cynically bark: ‘Mr. LaMonica!’ Never hesitate to contact.”

Alex Rodriguez MPP is president and CEO of FreeFall 5G, Inc, an early-stage intelligent antenna development company working to change the world with revolutionary antenna systems for the 5th generation of global wireless standards. “With highly specialized antenna technology and IP, we are accelerating global 5G connectivity to help transform the global economy!” Visit Alex and his team at FreeFall5G.com.

1998
—

Eric Henson MPP is working in economics consulting, and teaching Nation Building II—Native Americans in the 21st Century (����vlog����, HUGSE, and FAS), from his home in Watertown, only a few miles from campus. He is looking forward to the time when we can all safely be back at the Kennedy School in person.

John Kenagy MC/MPA writes, “Hello to all you ����vlog���� 98ers! I’m still in the midst of developing a healthcare adaptive innovation. ����vlog���� and Heifetz’s work, in particular, are amazingly powerful but also very threatening to conventional, data-driven management. Now, COVID has created the classic ‘adaptive problem to solve’ and we have the data. Anybody interested in a healthcare disruptive innovation? I’d love to reconnect. I hope you, your family, and friends all remain healthy and happy.”

Ramiro Ortega Landa MC/MPA is a leading economic inclusion and development finance expert working in emerging, post-conflict, and frontier economies, including: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen. He promotes market-driven, private sector-led growth by supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Ramiro received USAID’s World Award for Innovations in MSMEs Value Chain Finance.

1999
—

Amr Abdallah MC/MPA writes, “It has been more than six months into COVID-19 and working from home, yet within every challenge, there is a blessing. I got to be able to connect more with my family and not travel. I got an opportunity to appreciate the joys of life and be a part of my kids’ growing up. Working from home is a new experience, but it comes with its own challenges. I continue to lead our efforts to support youth employment in the MENA/Gulf region, which is more important than ever. Resilience has a new meaning. Grateful to my wife and kids and extended family. This soon will be over, and we will go back to normal. I am optimistic and will continue to be.”

Bill Carlson MC/MPA was elected to the Tampa City Council in 2019. Since then, he has been working on issues ranging from economic development, international trade, and arts and history to civil rights, human rights, affordable housing, good government, and pandemic response. He is most proud of the efforts to reinvent the economic development processes in Tampa to anchor on standard metrics that will improve equity and investment in the community. He also runs a twice-weekly online show (cafecontampa.com) and looks forward to featuring classmates from around the world. Please visit him when you are in Tampa Bay.

Jean-Christophe De Swaan MPP writes, “For the past ten years, I have divided my time between teaching in the economics department at Princeton and working for a New York-based investment fund. My book Seeking Virtue in Finance: Contributing to Society in a Conflicted Industry (Cambridge University Press) came out in September 2020. The book seeks to improve finance from within and help restore its focus on serving society, by suggesting a framework for acting virtuously in finance and shining a light on inspiring individuals in the industry. One of the chapters delves deep into the social impact of investment strategies.”

Sergy Kasyanov MC/MPA writes, “Twenty-one years since our program at the Kennedy School have passed already (can you believe it?!). I hope everyone is doing great! Let me inform you about the official establishing of the new Harvard Aerospace Alumni Organization (HAAO) to highlight the advancements of aerospace scientific developments and their impact on our society, and to bring young talented minds to Harvard. It is my great honor and privilege to invite you to the HAAO with lots of opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. We hope you can be part of this incredible journey! Please register at our LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/groups/6948593.”

Verónica Loewe Muñoz MC/MPA earned her doctorate in biosciences and agri-food sciences, cum laude, at the University of Córdoba, Spain, in 2016. In 2017 she won the Innova+Agro National Prize as distinguished researcher, and in 2019 she was awarded the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Outstanding Doctoral Research Award in recognition of her scientific achievements in stone pine (P pinea) domestication. She works at the Chilean Forest Institute, and also does consultancy work. She lives in Santiago with her husband and her son, Simon, who recently got his degree; her daughter Caterina, completed studies, and has a lovely family with two children.

Munir Merali MC/MPA writes, “After ����vlog����, I am enjoying a tenure of over 20 years in international development/diplomacy working in South/Central Asia and Afghanistan. I have facilitated a diverse and exciting portfolio of projects in the social, economic, and cultural sectors, including efforts to promote cross-border trade and development—to help enhance regional cooperation. The educational experiences and networking opportunities—through various Schools at Harvard—have greatly contributed to my personal and professional development. I am also honored to serve on HBS’s South Asia Advisory Board. Please feel free to reach out.”

Amina Rasul-Bernardo MC/MPA was the N-PEACE awardee of UNDP (Campaigning for Action category) for her contributions to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda at leadership, policy, and decision-making levels. Amina was recognized for her work engaging inter-faith methodologies and women’s leadership as integral elements of the promotion of sustainable peace. She has helped advance women, peace, and security in the Philippines and regionally, and continues to use innovative partnerships to move the needle on women’s participation at all levels. Visit n-peace.net/winner-2019/amina-rasul-bernardo.

2000
—

Zahra Kahn MPA published a landmark article titled “Systemic Racism in Mammogram Guidelines” in Think Global Health (June 24, 2020). The article has gained national and international attention for mammogram equity, being the first to spell out mammogram disparities using the terms “racially unjust” and “systemic racism.” Zahra coined the term “Breast Cancer Dodger” to emphasize earliest detection opportunities through annual mammograms in the 40s for minorities like herself. She has been working to launch a healthcare start-up, Medina Global Health. Zahra recently celebrated her 25th wedding Nikkah anniversary with Dr. Nazer Qureshi, together with their two daughters, Hanya and Summer.

Karen Kalish MC/MPA is in St. Louis, working on parent and family engagement in low-performing schools and increasing access to the internet in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. “I am selling my 110-year-old wooden house—which is a hole in the ground through which I have poured money!—and building a modern house in a wonderful neighborhood in the city. I have a trainer four days a week—use it or lose it!—and walk 10,000 steps a day. Everything is a “get to”—no “got to’s” in my life! Come visit when there’s a vaccine.”

2001 | 20th Reunion
—

Lowell Ackerman MC/MPA writes, “Still valuing my time at ����vlog���� 20 years later. Keeping busy during the pandemic and over the past year have managed to complete writing four books: Five-Minute Veterinary Practice Management Consult—3rd Edition, Pet-Specific Care, Problem Free Pets, and Proactive Pet Parenting. Had planned extensive global lecture schedule for 2020 and 2021, but all paused for COVID-19.”

Moshe Arenstein MC/MPA writes, “For the past four years I have been the executive producer of Politics Nation with Rev. Al Sharpton, a live TV show on MSNBC with a focus on civil rights and social justice. Producing from my dining room during the pandemic has been challenging to say the least, but I remain positive that equality and justice will prevail. I am calmly teaching my 16-year-old twin boys to navigate the roads safely in a sea of dangerous drivers, and my 11-year-old daughter that in the Zoom era she will never experience the pure joy of a no-school snow day. And I’m still happily married. Twenty-year reunion? Can’t believe all my KSG friends have grown that old!”

Josiah Brown MPP writes, “Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southern Connecticut (@CASAsouthCT) has made steady progress, despite the pandemic and persistent injustices, with disproportionate effects on children at risk. Since starting up in May 2019, we’ve trained three cohorts of volunteer advocates and will have a 4th cohort prepared by December 2020. CASA volunteers help determine and advance the best interests of children who have experienced abuse/neglect. With a lean model of 30 volunteers per staff, we’re raising funds to grow to serve additional youth. My wife and I have kids in grades 10 and 7 in New Haven public schools (currently remote). Best to everyone!”

Angela Calman MC/MPA was named director of the Office of Communication and Education for the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiologic Health in August of 2020. Angela serves on the board of the International Association of Spelling as Communication (I-ASC), a nonprofit that serves non-speaking and neurodiverse communities and their families. Angela has an 11-year-old daughter, Cassandra.

Mark Fedor MC/MPA writes, “I completed my assignment as chief of staff to the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, a position I had from 2018 to 2020. I was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for promotion to rear admiral on July 1, 2020. My next assignment will be as the assistant commandant for resources and chief financial officer. My family and I will reside in Crofton, Maryland. I am certainly grateful for all the opportunities my ����vlog���� degree afforded me and wish all the best to my classmates in the great class of 2001.”

Gabriel Grant MPP writes, “I live with my spouse, Allegra, in Seattle, where I co-own a mission-focused real estate development company called Spectrum Development Solutions. Our team of 12 develops workforce and affordable housing, higher education, and community facilities. Outside of work, I chair an affordable housing development nonprofit called Bellwether and try to get outside to hike and bike in the beautiful Pacific Northwest as often as possible. I’d love to connect with any former classmates who come through Seattle!”

John Monaghan MC/MPA writes, “I’ve written two thrillers!! Take a look at them at johnmonaghan.com. You’ll love them. After 20 years with the NYPD, having been decorated 28 times for the intelligent performance of duty in the face of grave personal danger, I retired as a commanding officer in the rank of captain in 2003. Since, I have testified as an expert witness before the U.S. Congress, (House Judiciary Committee), for the NYC Law Dept., and in federal court and the state Supreme Court as an expert in police policy and procedure. Today, my wife of 34 years and I live in Blauvelt, New York, where we raised our three healthy, happy, and educated children—BC, BU, Marist.”

Jose Rosenberg MC/MPA is working as the representative (senior liaison officer) of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) at United Nations headquarters in New York. Jose writes, “Our son, who was in the womb during most of my year at the KSG, is now a university student himself! My wife, Maria Cristina, and our children paid a visit to Harvard last year, the first time since graduation, and it was a moving experience.”

2002
—

Lisa Hogan MC/MPA is president of the Corporate Social Responsibility Foundation. The foundation published a new equitable development resource, A Model Miami/South Florida Community Benefits Agreement: A Resource Guide. A coalition of leading Florida nonprofits contributed to the model, which provides distressed communities and historically disenfranchised groups with a comprehensive sample Community Benefits Agreement to assist them in drafting binding and enforceable agreements with developers seeking to build real estate projects in their neighborhoods. Attorneys, residents, and policy experts can download the open source ebook at bit.ly/3egHEW0.

Andrew Leigh MPA writes, “G’day from Canberra, Australia, where Gweneth and I moved back after Harvard, and are now raising three amazing sons. My first job was as an economics professor at the Australian National University, and then I moved into politics in 2010. I’ve just clocked up a decade in the Australian House of Representatives (more at the modestly-named andrewleigh.com). Senator Moynihan was Harvard’s 2002 commencement speaker, and I’ve tried to follow his book-writing example. Last year’s was Innovation + Equality (MIT Press). When the world starts flying again, do drop by—it’d be fun to see old classmates again, and introduce you to the local kangaroos.”

Padmesh Shukla MPA/ID, since graduating from the MPA/ID Program, has been working for many years as the CIO of the $15 billion Transport for London Pension Fund. Padmesh is thrilled to see development lingo finally seeping into the world of investments. He believes investments now have to be part of the solutions to global problems—be they climate change or better infrastructure in developing nations—in what can be broadly termed as responsible investing. “I look forward to be a part of this exciting area in a more entrepreneurial  capacity in the next phase of my life to make a difference. Hope to talk to many of my fellow alumni for ideas and inspiration.”

2003
—

Marty Martin MC/MPA reports that Sharon Johnston and Marty Martin were married on August 1 in Callaway Chapel on the campus of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Several Harvard classmates who attended via the internet include Frances Sun, Yang Wang, Robin and Duncan Earle, and Mariko Gakiya. The Martins reside in Raleigh, North Carolina. Marty continues to provide legal services, as well as board assessment, consulting, and training for nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations nationally.

Terri Schreiber MC/MPA writes, “In response to the tragic loss of classmates Komla Dumor and John Arrington, the ����vlog���� MC-MPA class of 2003 launched the Global Action Collaborative discussion series. Our goal is to create community, share personal stories, and leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of ����vlog���� alumni to help solve global issues. Topics such as voter suppression, the 2020 U.S. election, income inequality, the opioid crisis, and global warming are on the schedule. We invite classmates to join us on the 2nd Sunday every other month For access to Zoom, email terri.schreiber@comcast.net.”

Alan Secter MPP recently joined UN Watch as its North American director of development with a mandate to establish a New York office, increase the organization’s U.S-based diplomatic outreach, and grow the philanthropic revenue stream. UN Watch is a Geneva-based NGO that holds the United Nations accountable to its founding principles, combats anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias at the UN, and protects human rights for victims worldwide. Alan, his wife, Rachel, and their four kids live in Long Island, New York.

Carla Walker MC/MPA worked this past August on a team that published Building an Equitable and Just Green Infrastructure Strategy in the North Central Region. Serving as climate advisor to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, Carla supports the city’s participation in the American Cities Climate Challenge, which helps cities accelerate on their climate goals. Carla developed Cincinnati’s programmatic platform to build awareness of EVs and an energy efficiency program that provides energy upgrades and financial assistance toward electricity debt for low-income renters.

How the United States Can Come Together

2004
—

George Alexander ����vlog����EE was appointed by the secretary of defense (SecDef) to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). DACOWITS is one of the oldest Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees. The committee provides the SecDef recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment, retention, employment, well-being, and treatment of women in the U.S. military. George is a former major general and senior medical corps officer. He served as deputy surgeon general for the Army National Guard in the Office of the Army Surgeon General.

Ken Biberaj MPP, during the COVID-19 pandemic, created a virtual conversation series called “Coffee with Ken,” which welcomed such guests as Joe Stiglitz (Nobel economist), Anne-Marie Slaughter (CEO, New America), John King (former U.S. secretary of education), Suzanne Clark (president, U.S. Chamber of Commerce), and several other CEOs and public leaders. Ken returned to the D.C. area in 2017 and is a managing director at Savills, a global commercial real estate advisory firm.

Avichai Levit MC/MPA writes, “My book Legislative Deliberative Democracy: Debating Acts Restricting Freedom of Speech During War was recently published by Routledge. During war, national legislatures tend to enact laws that restrict freedom of speech. I argue that the degree of democratic legitimacy of laws that restrict freedom of speech during war depends on the extent of legislature deliberation on such laws. My book presents an alternative normative account of deliberative democracy that focuses on the deliberations of a national legislature. In it, I also delve into the details of Congressional deliberation during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.”

Robert Manson MPA writes, “Hi everyone. Hopefully you are all doing well at what is a challenging time the world over. I am based in Dublin, Ireland. Professionally I run a commercial real estate business in Dublin. In terms of public service I am very involved in Special Olympics. Our son George (11) is a double Special Olympian in golf and basketball. My company also supports the Dublin Simon Community providing homeless services throughout the city. Last year I was appointed by the Harvard Alumni Association as a director for Europe. We are creating a lot of virtual programming for the Harvard Clubs of Europe. It is great to see so many ����vlog���� alums throughout the HAA.”

Takashi Yoshinaka MPA writes, “Japan will change, with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on top of the Japanese government. The premier’s top priority is regulatory reform. The reform is seriously taken among government officials and the people. It is Minister Taro Kono who is in charge. He has power and unprecedented popularity through his Twitter account with more than 2 million followers. He is tough and persistent, and even stubborn. New and surprisingly interesting things are happening right now. As his executive secretary, I am having an exciting life every day.”

2005
—

John Atilano MC/MPA, on July 8, 2020, assumed command of the New England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The New England District comprises a $500 million annual program providing civil works, military construction, and interagency support to the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Leonardo Beltran Rodriguez MPA/ID writes, “I wanted to share that I have the honor of being confirmed for a second period of three years to the Administrative Board of Sustainable Energy For All, an outstanding institution. I am advising the UN secretary-general to advance Sustainable Goal #7 and working with leaders in government, the private sector, and civil society to drive further, faster action toward the achievement of universal access to sustainable energy by 2030.”

Amil Bera MPP has launched Advaya Metamorph, a transformational coaching business. He helps ambitious people create ease, discover meaning in their lives, and connect with their inner wisdom. The rigors of modern life have left many disconnected from personal agency. Advaya Metamorph’s methodology revolves around seven paradigms that align with the human energy system, with the purpose of helping individuals “achieve a better experience of your life.” For more information, visit advaya.com.

Andrea McGrath MC/MPA joined the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University as a fellow in its Fair Finance team, working directly with leading practitioners and students who are striving to reimagine financial systems that work for all and help build intergenerational wealth in communities that have been historically excluded. Andrea also continues to lead her social impact strategy firm, amplified impact, and serves as a Lead Boston 2020 Fellow and an Innovation fellow with the Harvard iLab.

Matthew Scogin MPP is starting his second year as the 14th president of Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Matt returned to Hope, his alma mater, last year after serving as chief administrative officer of the global financial services firm Perella Weinberg Partners in New York City. Hope College is a nationally ranked liberal arts college with around 3,000 undergraduate students.

Alexander Wagner PHD was promoted to full professor of finance at the University of Zurich this past September. His recent research has covered the financial market implications of COVID-19. He is also vice dean for continuing education and alumni.

2006 | 15th Reunion
—

Lisa George MPP writes, “At the start of 2020 my family (husband Paul MPA 2007 and 5-year-old son Benji) relocated to Singapore from Sydney, Australia. It’s been a challenging time to move countries, but Singapore has been a great place to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic. I am continuing in my role as global head of the Macquarie Group Foundation, where I’ve worked for over 10 years. It’s been wonderful to reconnect with several ����vlog���� classmates here in Singapore. We look forward to exploring the region once travel restarts!”

Yousaf Haroon ����vlog����EE is now a certified board director registered with the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG).

Sanjay Inamdar MC/MPA writes, “In 2006, I founded Institute of Leadership at the oldest engineering college of India (Bhau.org). In 2010, with the full involvement and help of my son Hemchandra Inamdar, a social entrepreneurship initiative named Ignited Innovators of India (i2i) was started. The concept of i2i has reached over 200,000 students. Currently, I am the chairman of Student Start-up of India, which includes 10,000-plus colleges. This is a gigantic work. Nevertheless, I am exercising my leadership learning at ����vlog���� to make it as effective as possible. My thanks go to ����vlog���� faculty for unravelling my abilities and shaping my thoughts. C U all at reunion.”

2007
—

Khurshid Marwat MPA writes, “Since 2007, I have worked as an additional director in the Federal Investigations Agency, investigating white collar crimes, and subsequently as Pakistan’s commercial council general in Afghanistan. Currently, I am working as joint secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and look after professional and vocational training activities in the country. My wife, Shahnaz Maqbool MPA, is a joint secretary at the Economic Affairs Ministry. My elder son has graduated from LUMS this year and has started to work for Lucky Group as a management trainee officer, while the younger one is in the second year of his business bachelor’s at LUMS.”

2008
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James Ahlers MPP joined Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH) as assistant general  counsel in July 2020. PCH is the sixth largest pediatric hospital in the United States and Arizona’s only children’s hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. James is proud to be a part of the organization’s mission and vision to provide the best healthcare for children and their families through a family-centered care model. James lives in Phoenix with his wife, Tiffany, and their two sons, Henry (12) and Liam (10).

Laura Rudert Rivas MPP writes, “My husband and I have been in Washington, D.C., since March 2020, evacuated from Côte d’Ivoire due to COVID-19. On September 30, we welcomed our daughter, Anara Lily Syed, to the world at GWU Hospital. We expect to return to Abidjan by the end of the year to resume our respective roles—I am the country director for MCC’s $525 million urban transport and skills development program. Farhan is USG interagency deputy coordinator for the President’s Emergency Response for HIVAIDS relief in Côte d’Ivoire. Please look us up if you are in D.C. or in West Africa—we’d love to see you!”

2009
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Bruce Haupt MPP writes, “After seven years abroad (Oman for the last six), moving back to Houston, Texas. Looking forward to reconnecting and seeing classmates and friends more in the future! Otherwise, in the final year of my PhD program and can’t wait for whatever is next.”

Antonio Nunez Martin MC/MPA has just published a new book titled The Leader Before Innovation. Through the experiences and recommendations of more than a hundred bold CEOs who are already leading the transformation of their organizations, the book provides readers with the tools to successfully navigate this new normal and, from there, help them lead the future.

Michael Robinson NSF was an ����vlog���� national security fellow from 2008 to 2009. He currently oversees all high-risk travel and security for Microsoft data center employees globally.

2010
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Bilgehan Caner MPA/ID and his wife, Arzu, are thrilled about the arrival of their first baby son, Tuna Caner, born on October 18, 2020.

Manisha Dookhony MC/MPA writes, “2020 was our reunion year, but COVID-19 prevented us from traveling to Boston. Confined in Mauritius, I sang happy birthdays, participated in weddings, and celebrated Nobel Prizes and life events of my Harvard friends via conference calls. These past months have made us closer, even from far. In these challenging times, we supported one another. It made me realize the amazing strength of our community. Sending lots of love and care to all friends. I pray for your safety. May we all emerge stronger from these difficult times.”

Jasmin Johnson Glaeser MPP, based out of Zurich, Switzerland, currently works as a public policy consultant in West Africa and Asia. She just returned from five months in Sierra Leone, where she worked on the COVID-19 response, and is currently working with the Ministry of Education in the Solomon Islands. She recently started an animal welfare NGO called Compassionate Paws International (compassionatepaws.org) to aid street animals in the countries she works in. She is currently in “lockdown” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but she’s with (part of) family, so it’s okay.

Aasim Saeed MPA leads the digital health office at Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH)—the largest nonprofit health system in Texas. BSWH aspires to be a national leader in consumer-centric care, customer experience, and affordability, and is in the midst of a broad digital transformation to help achieve these goals. The flagship digital product from BSWH is the MyBSWHealth app (iOS + Android)—the highest rated and most adopted patient portal in the country. Any current students or alumni interested in digital health or agile product development are welcome to reach out to learn more!

2011
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Eduardo Baeza MPA writes, “After working for the Spanish government, in mid-2017 I reverted to the private sector and moved with my family to Dallas, Texas, to become general manager of an ammunition company. It was a positive experience, both professionally and personally, as it was the first time that my family lived abroad. I really enjoyed the Texas lifestyle, people, weather, and food. In February 2020, we decided to move back to Spain where I now work in the renewable energies sector. I really look forward to our next class meeting and to catch up with all of you. Viva MPA ‘11!”

Jonathan Glassman MPP, after seven years at Apple, joined Google as a product manager last April. In this role, Jonathan is responsible for rebooting the payments experience for millions of SMB customers around the globe. He is living in the Bay Area, but remains hopeful that it may be possible to celebrate the 2011 10-year reunion in person. Fingers crossed!

Clifton Smith MC/MPA writes, “Over the last five years I’ve had the opportunity to create a global mindful leadership program impacting 60,000-plus people in my firm (EY) and our clients with an inspirational keynote and an 8-week mindfulness course. Earlier this year I was approached by Wiley and Son’s Publishing about writing a book about my journey. I’m excited to announce the book is complete! Mindfulness Without the Bells and Beads: Unlocking Exceptional Performance, Leadership, and Well-being for Working Professionals strips away the bells, beads, and hyperbole associated with mindfulness, and explains how you can take your performance and leadership to the next level.”

Talaya Waller ����vlog����EE recently published her first academic book, Personal Brand Management: Marketing Human Value (Springer Nature, 2020). By providing a research-based, theoretical framework, the book examines the concept of personal branding as it is applicable to individuals throughout all stages of career development as well as across industries and disciplines.

2012
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Francisco Aguilar MPP writes, “Hello all! The company we launched from the Innovation Lab while at ����vlog����, Bounce Imaging, continues to grow. We are increasingly equipping special operations units within DoD, have some research work ongoing with the Air Force, and were selected by Army xTechSearch for some work on thermal camera systems. We also continue to serve approximately 300 law enforcement and fire/rescue teams in the U.S. and internationally. In personal news my baby daughter, Graciela, can now retrieve toy sloths, rabbits, and rhinos on command in both English and Spanish, so that’s about as exciting as it gets. Please reach out to catch up!”

Nathan Dial MPP writes, “After the recent civil unrest around race, I wrote a three-article series about my race and military experiences for the Air Force Times. Subsequently, I co-wrote a fourth article about race issues in Air Force Flying Squadrons on how the Air Force fighter pilot archetype is a national security issue because it harms retention with women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community. The articles have received positive feedback and have circulated throughout the Air Force and Pentagon.”

Fei Fei MPP writes, “Since graduation, I’ve worked at McKinsey as a consultant, then joined Google to lead product marketing, then moved to Gartner as the managing vice president. I’ve recently given a TED Talk on the topic of resilience, something that we need even more to handle a global pandemic. TED Talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=g-vpsFRKzXY.”

Adam Heal MPA writes, “Jeanne and I are living in New Jersey along with Emma (now 8), Alex (5), and Oliver (2). I’m working for the United Nations on conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the Asia-Pacific. Most recently, I’ve been leading a project on the security impacts of climate change in the region. Jeanne is doing research at Rutgers University on infectious diseases. Hoping to be able to see some of you in 2021 if you pass through New York. Stay safe and well.”

Pietro Rabassi MPA writes, “Since summer 2020 we have been based in Brussels, where I work still in the energy sector in charge of Nord Pool’s business in continental Europe (the world’s first international electricity market) and now part of Euronext—the major European stock exchange group. My wife, Marguerite, works at NATO for the French government, where she meets lots of American colleagues—something that reminds her and us of our times in the U.S. Our almost 3-year-old daughter Irene and 1.5-year-old son Paolo are both doing very well, switching between French, German, and Italian—English still to come!”

Simar Singh MPP writes, “Since graduating from ����vlog����, I’ve been working on complex humanitarian and human rights challenges in conflict-affected areas, including negotiating humanitarian access and accountability for crimes against children. I’m currently leading a global initiative to strengthen the resilience of refugees and would love to connect with other ����vlog���� alums working in this space! On a personal note, I got married in India just before COVID-19 shut the world down and was delighted to have many ����vlog���� friends in attendance, including Claudia Nunez-Sanudo MPP, Hely Olivares MPP, Caryn Morrow MPP, and Arjun Vasan �ѱʱ�.”

2013
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Stoica Popa MPP completed another two-year master’s at the University of Texas at Austin after graduating from Harvard, during which he was also a teaching assistant. In 2015, after spending eight years in the United States, Stoica returned to Romania. Since then, he has been active in the NGO sector, did business in the real estate sector, and did a PhD in history while again serving as a teaching assistant. In addition, after returning to Romania he published another three books, making a total of four so far, and was a public speaker at various events and conferences. In parallel, he continued to attend international trainings and seminars in various countries.

Sushma Raman MC/MPA published her first book, co-authored with Bill Schulz. The Coming Good Society: Why New Realities Demand New Rights was published by Harvard University Press and has been described by reviewers as “thought provoking,” an “essential read,” and “enjoyable.” You can find the book on Amazon.

Ami Jean Valdemoro MPP is currently based in Manila, Philippines. She recently launched The Moxy Gal, a training and coaching platform for mission-driven women. Inspired by Rosie the Riveter and women of the Greatest Generation, Ami’s mission at The Moxy Gal is to empower young women to step up and lead—as founders, directors, or intrapreneurs—so that they can stay productive and relevant, and thrive.

Guido Van Garderen MC/MPA taught a course on brand strategy during Lent semester at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Last year the course was nominated for an “Inspirational Teaching Award” and was evaluated by students with a 4.7 out of 5. “Feel free to stop by LSE this spring, if you want a tour of the ‘European’ ����vlog���� ;-).”

2014
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Jonathan Chang MC/MPA writes, “In light of the pandemic, I decided to focus on policy work by working closely with the governments of Singapore and Indonesia on a variety of issues covering innovation, entrepreneurship, social impact, and education. As of November, I joined Google to lead Google for Education’s digital transformation efforts in Indonesia—the world’s largest archipelago. With over 17,000 islands and 265 million people, success means close collaborations across public, private, and social sectors. Indonesia is part of Google’s Next Billion Users initiative. The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation for emerging markets in an unprecedented way.”

Miriam Chernoff MC/MPA writes, “Hi everyone! For fun, in 2016, I co-authored a self-published family story: Sonny’s Story: How an Adventurous Dog Found a Home. It’s available through the Harvard Bookstore and Amazon. After more than 20 years, I will be retiring as a statistician with the Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research at HSPH after April 2021. Over this time, there has been tremendous progress in treating and preventing HIV/AIDS. I am looking forward to new adventures. Hopefully some travel, classes, and maybe even some writing. Maybe even reconnecting with the world of archaeology, my original passion. Hoping everyone is safe in these difficult COVID times.”

Charon Darris MC/MPA currently serves as the executive director of the Adams Street Foundation, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that helps hundreds of students a year gain access to college. Raffaele Mauro MPA is launching a new venture capital fund focused on space technology.

2015
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Peter Krul MPP accepted the CEO position of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation in July 2020. He has been looking for creative ways to increase the number of kids playing hockey, enhance the quality of the training process, and improve the overall levels of health and education of kids and youth in the country. “Definitely an interesting way to have a positive impact on society :-).”

Caroline Mauldin MPA recently launched The Southern Equity Collective (SEq) with three co-founders. SEq is a majority Black-owned, multi-racial consultancy helping companies, nonprofits, and individuals across the globe acknowledge and integrate anti-racism into their strategic operations and brands. The consultancy works with clients who are committed to the hard work of recognizing, understanding, and unlearning racist behaviors and policies. By internalizing anti-racism into every facet of their operations and narrative, SEq’s clients are setting themselves apart and emerging as stronger institutions.

2016
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Jason Cain MC/MPA ran for North Carolina State Legislature in November. “Will let you know how that turned out at our reunion!”

Shaniece Criss MC/MPA is an honoree for Women Vision SC. “As the nation marks the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, this one-hour special profiles 11 extraordinary women from South Carolina on SCETV.” Read more at scetv.org/stories/local/2020/dr-shaniece-criss-women-vision-sc.

John Gibbs MC/MPA, after three years of serving as a political appointee in the Trump administration, was appointed by President Trump as acting assistant secretary for community planning and development at HUD, where he most recently led the successful and rapid deployment of $9 billion in CARES Act coronavirus funds for HUD. These efforts put critical economic development and homelessness response funds into the hands of communities around the nation to help them respond to the pandemic. More recently, John was nominated by President Trump to be director of the Office of Personnel Management, the HR wing of the federal government.

Ella Yisraela Goren Gratzyani MC/MPA joined the management of Gilead Sciences Israel as director of government and public affairs.

Chowdhury Maroof Mohsin MC/MPA writes, “Upon my return from Harvard in 2017, I have been teaching at North South University Dhaka as an adjunct lecturer of political science and thoroughly enjoying it!”

Theodora Skeadas MPP writes, “In my role as executive director of Cambridge Local First, a nonprofit network of nearly 500 locally-owned and independent businesses in Cambridge, I have been working around the clock since March to support our city’s local businesses. Our mission is to support, promote, and celebrate a ‘local economy community’ by educating the public and government about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of a strong local economy. We are part of a national network of independent business alliances, and this has been an incredible, albeit challenging, journey in the local economies ecosystem!”

Alyce Su ����vlog����EE has been nominated for one of the Woman of Influence Awards 2020 by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Now in their 17th year, the awards showcase the talents and contributions of women throughout the community. The awards are prized, having gained traction and reputation over the past 17 years, and the competition is fierce.

Natalie Unterstell MC/MPA is currently serving as director of Talanoa Think Tank, a policy think-and-do tank, where she is focused on the transition to a low-carbon and resilient economy. Since graduation, Natalie co-founded Agora! and became a leader of RAPS and RenovaBR, all civic movements dedicated to thought leadership and enhancement of democracy in Brazil. She also participated in the largest female expedition to Antarctica in 2019, as part of the Homeward Bound project from Australia.

2017
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Kevin Barnard MC/MPA writes, “Megan Issac MC/MPA and I recently completed a nine-month deployment onboard USS Abraham Lincoln, setting the record for the longest deployment ever for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier! There was no shortage of geopolitical events during our time at sea: attacks against merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, explosions at the Saudi oil facilities, Taiwan’s presidential election, and growing riots in Hong Kong. While our jobs are very different (Megan is a public affairs officer and I am an intelligence officer), we frequently commented on how valuable our ����vlog���� experience was in making us better naval officers.”

Abdirahman Ismail Isse MC/MPA writes, “After graduation, I have returned to continue my humanitarian career with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). After a brief mission in northern Yemen, I have been posted in Baghdad as deputy head of the ICRC delegation for Iraq, where I have been managing the implementation of humanitarian activities across 10 offices. In May 2020, I returned to Yemen. Currently, I am the head of mission of the ICRC for southern Yemen, where I am managing—among other activities—the Red Cross response to the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up a COVID-19 treatment center in the city of Aden, catering for the entire south of Yemen.”

2018
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Matthew Fecteau MC/MPA was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on August 11, 2020, while serving with the U.S. Army Intelligence & Security Command in the greater Middle East. When receiving the award, Matthew remarked, “I want to dedicate this award to my aunt, Christine ‘Teen’ Pappas. This has been a difficult year for her due to her medical condition. She is my best friend, hero, and my moral compass.”

Marco Midence MPA writes, “During 2018 I became the first minister of presidential priorities and public innovation in my country, having the responsibility of leading all the public policy initiatives in Honduras. In May of 2020, I was appointed the e-government minister of Honduras, responsible for creating a digital agenda in my nation. Furthermore, in August I was sworn in as the new and youngest minister of finance in the history of Honduras. My first assignment was to draft a budget proposal that would meet the needs of all the public institutions during this COVID-19 pandemic. I also implemented a comprehensive economic reactivation plan to save jobs.”

Brian Monahan MC/MPA writes, “I have been working from home as an attorney and policy analyst during the pandemic while homeschooling my two daughters, Keira (6) and Maddie (4). My wife, Rhonda, and I continue to live in Lexington, Massachusetts, and look forward to attending more Harvard alumni events following the pandemic. I continue to wait for a new kidney transplant and am grateful for more time with my family. Stay safe everyone!”

Mercy Odongo MC/MPA is exercising leadership as a counsellor at the Kenya Consulate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In 2018, she was one of 200 young leaders selected from 44 countries for the inaugural class of the Obama Foundation for Emerging Leaders Africa. Mercy has been a member of Global Diplomatic Forum Youth Working Group since 2018. She is also the founder and chief curator of Adaptive Leadership Foundation. In collaboration with ����vlog���� Executive Education, she has worked as a coach in transforming leadership for 21st century Africa. Since 2018 the program has trained over 140 emerging leaders from across Africa on the topic of Adaptive Leadership for Africa: Chaos, Complexity, and Courage.

Paul Orajiaka MPA writes, “I am currently running for the governorship of Anambra State in Nigeria under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party. The elections are due in November 2021 and since graduation from ����vlog���� in 2018, I have made consultation with my family and my Ihiala local government political class, and have gotten numerous endorsements from notable political figures within Anambra State. Anambra State is at the heart of south-eastern Nigeria, and getting the right leadership that will propel value-based leadership for such a key state is at the core of my reason for running in the gubernatorial race.”

Rohan Parakh MPA/ID writes, “After graduation, I joined IDinsight, a data advisory firm started by ����vlog���� alumni, where I led product and innovations for Data on Demand. I managed national surveys for the NITI Aayog, led product strategy for data systems, and established partnerships with academia and governments. My training in econometrics by Dan Levy was extremely handy in solving tricky experimental design and data analysis issues. Six months ago, I switched gears to tech-for-development by joining Wadhwani AI. Here, I build AI products for the next 5 billion, and regularly draw on lessons taught by David Eaves and Stephen Goldsmith on using technology for public good.”

Naresh Perinpanayagam MC/MPA continues to work in the office of the UN secretary-general, former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres. In 2019 Naresh passed the New York bar exam (a 2-day, 12-hour exam), and in 2020 was admitted as an attorney in New York. He says “the best part of the bar exam process was studying constitutional law at Harvard, especially Professor King’s class on Congress and lawmaking.”

Joshua Polacheck MC/MPA writes, “After my father’s death in November 2019, I focused my energy on protecting American democracy and trying to rebuild it better. In the summer of 2020, I took over as the executive director of the Pima County (Tucson) Democratic Party with the goal of delivering the winning margin in the tipping point state of Arizona. Beyond winning in 2020, I want my legacy to be building genuine connections for my party to all the diverse communities in southern Arizona.”

2019
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Lucien Charland MPP writes, “I launched a company teaching Python computer coding for data analysis: Code From Zero. Students and early professionals across the U.S. are giving super positive feedback! Please check us out at codefromzero.com and share our site with anyone you think may be interested. Promo code ����vlog����VIP will get you 20 percent off the Practical Python course at sign-up!”

Ilusion Farias MC/MPA writes, “I joined an organization in the Philippines, HOPE. I oversee all the nonprofit community programs in my capacity as managing director of Friends of Hope, a nonprofit that invests in education, environment, and agriculture initiatives. Our newest initiative is the Plastic Credit Exchange, a nonprofit organization that partners with sustainability-conscious businesses around the globe to responsibly offset their plastic footprint, and reduce the flow of plastic waste into our landfills and oceans. I serve as impact director. Our flagship program is a waste-to-cash program, to provide women with dignified work.”

Alnoor Maherali MC/MPA, inspired by the Advanced Workshop in Multiparty Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, launched Venn Mediation LLC in New York City. Venn is a full-service mediation provider, handling divorce and family disputes, commercial, and workplace dispute resolution. From disputes that are in their initial stages to those already in the legal process, Venn assists their clients to find settlement terms and deals that work for them. The company writes regularly about conflict resolution, has an active social media following, and has been published on mediate.com and by the Federal Bar Association. Visit it at vennmediation.com.

Stefan Norgaard MPP is now a PhD student in urban planning at Columbia University (degree expected 2024). He is interested in good urban governance and participatory democratic practice and, in particular, how cities’ public/private arrangements affect equitable development outcomes. Stefan’s empirical and written work engages urban and planning theory and mixed-methods research focused on South Africa and the U.S.-Mexico border region. Stefan is now living in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights with his fiancee, Bianca Chavez, who is studying at Columbia Law School.

David Richter MC/MPA won the Republican primary with 61 percent of the vote to represent New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. [Editor’s note: David lost to freshman Congressman Andy Kim in the general election in November.]

Maria Soledad Rueda Garcia MC/MPA writes, “Deeply transformative, following the advice I went back quietly, reminding myself to stay graceful, grateful, and trustworthy. Days at ����vlog���� were a gift, a lifetime gift. After graduation, I traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), returning to my work with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), this time as Ebola & COVID-19 coordinator. Now, I am writing from Ethiopia where I am starting a new mission-life chapter, working as ICRC head of operations. Here, I keep seeing the silver lines amidst COVID-19 and other crises, asking more questions and reflecting on how to build more sustainable, solidary, and equitable societies.”

Friederike Strub MPP, a year after graduation, is putting her ����vlog���� experience into practice working at an international development consulting firm on projects that promote women’s economic empowerment in Rwanda, Kenya, Central Asia, and other countries. She is also a consultant for the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law project, where she analyzes the legal framework for working women across the world. The combination of deep policy analysis with hands-on practice orientation of the MPP are key skills for her in both roles, and her PAE on women’s economic empowerment now serves as an important foundation for her work championing gender equality.

Andy Swab MPP is a management consultant based out of Washington, D.C., where he works on cybersecurity and risk management projects for the U.S. government. He currently splits his time between D.C. and New Hampshire.

2020
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Diksha Bijlani MPP writes, “Regardless of my incessant rant about it all of spring, the PAE proved to be one of the most meaningful uses of my time at ����vlog����. My PAE was on solar lighting adoption in off-grid Ethiopia, with the World Bank as client, and after graduation I got asked to support its implementation. So I am currently working with the World Bank, witnessing my PAE come to life, and also supporting the scaling of similar work I did in Ethiopia to other sub-Saharan African countries. And even though I am new at the job itself, I can already take ownership of this project (and call it ‘my baby’) because thanks to ����vlog���� I’ve been working (long nights) on it for a year!”

Tahsin Mashroof Hossain MPA writes, “I went back to Bangladesh, joined my previous workplace, and am currently working as the deputy director (academic) of Police Staff College, the apex training institution of Bangladesh Police. I am trying to instill what I have learned at ����vlog���� in my organization and help the Bangladeshi Law Enforcement agencies to cultivate the idea of research-based policymaking. I have also got a PhD offer from Johns Hopkins University, which I deferred and plan to join in next fall.”

Yinan Li MPP writes, “Post-graduation, I joined as the chief of staff to the CTO at REX Homes, a tech-enabled residential real estate startup in Silicon Valley. My responsibilities range from product development, product management, corporate and IP strategies, and many other initiatives with different teams across the company. Working with engineers, sales, and many others with specializations I’m not familiar with on a daily basis reminds me how grateful I am for my learnings at ����vlog����, especially those from soft skills classes, including negotiation and leadership. They enabled me to more effectively communicate with and learn from my colleagues and get my ideas across.”

Aldo Martinez MC/MPA co-founded Lumiere Health International, Inc., an international non-governmental organization focused on healthcare and legal assistance to forced migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and other underrepresented minorities in the USA and abroad. The organization’s mission is to address long-term determinants of health, lower healthcare costs, and provide legal representation by conducting evidence-based psychosocial assessments to build compelling legal defenses. Through their strategic partnerships, Lumiere Health International contributes to an approximately 90 percent-plus success rate for court decisions in favor of their clients (e.g., immigrations or asylum status granted, decreased severity of convictions).

Amanda Patarino MPP moved to Denver last March and began working as an associate at McKinsey & Company in September.

Naomi Senbet MPA writes, “After nearly a decade away, I’m excited to share that I’ve moved back to my hometown of Washington, D.C.! Additionally, since graduation, I joined Guidehouse as a managing consultant in our state and local government advisory practice, where I’m honored to solve challenging problems and build trust in society. The paradigm shift known as the COVID-19 pandemic has only reinforced my ardent belief in the critical role of well-functioning governing bodies for enabling long-term prosperity for all. In that vein, we are approaching an inflection point in the valiant march towards D.C. statehood. Support our campaign for representation! Our hashtag is #51stState.”

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Photos by Martha Stewart