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Awards Ceremony Program

Introduction and Welcome

Vivian Pham MC/MPA 2024

Samriddhi Vij MPP 2024

 Sue Williamson Spirit Award

For a Harvard Kennedy School staff member who significantly enhances the student experience, as nominated by the graduating class. Presented by the Class Marshals.

• James Kane, Senior Associate Director, Student Support Services

• Sarah Olia, Associate Director, MPA/ID Program

• Nicole Carter Quinn, Executive Director, Women and Public Policy Program

• Alessandra Seiter, Community Engagement Librarian, Library & Research Services

 Ellen S. Raphael MPP 1982 Award

For a Master in Public Policy student who exemplifies academic achievement and public service. Presented by Cate Lagueux, Director, MPP Program.

David Dam MPP 2024

Prize for Outstanding Policy Analysis Exercise

Presented by John Donahue, Raymond Vernon Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Faculty Chair, MPP Program and Cate Lagueux, Director, MPP Program.

Hugh Grant-Chapman MPP 2024 and Tom McGee MPP 2024 | "Japan's Chip Challenge: Semiconductor Policy for the Data Center Era"

 Carr Center Prize for Human Rights

For outstanding Policy Analysis Exercises or Second Year Policy Analyses in Human Rights. Presented by Mathias Risse, Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights, Global Affairs, and Philosophy and Faculty Director of the .

Neha Bahtia MPP 2024 | “Reaching for Remedy: Improving Remediation Under the U.S. Forced Labor Import Ban"

 Barbara Jordan Award for Women’s Leadership

For a graduating student at Harvard Kennedy School for her/his/their commitment to build community and serve as a role model for women aspiring to be leaders. Presented by Iris Bohnet, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government and the co-director of the .

Safira Putri MPP 2024

 Jane Mansbridge Research Award

For an outstanding research paper—Policy Analysis Exercise, Second Year Policy Analysis, or others—whose analysis of an organization or topic is focused on women or gender. Presented by Iris Bohnet, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government and the co-director of the .

Aditi Kothari MPP 2024 | "Cooling the Divide: Building Gender-Inclusive Urban Heat Resilience"

 Holly Taylor Sargent Award for Women’s Advancement

For a member of the Harvard Kennedy School community (faculty, staff, or student) who has done the most to advance the opportunities, situation, and status of women within the ����vlog���� community. Presented by Iris Bohnet, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government and the co-director of the .

Tram T. Nguyen MC/MPA 2024

 Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Award for Excellence in Service

For Harvard Kennedy School community members who exemplify outstanding leadership and commitment to increasing ����vlog���� diversity, inclusion, and belonging through scholarship, initiatives, programs, and community building. Presented by Dr. Robbin Chapman, Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

• Osundolu Atanda MC/MPA 2024

• Cynthia Yue MPP 2024

Manuel C. Carballo Memorial Prize

For exemplary articulation of ideas related to the implementation, management, and evaluation of programs to serve disadvantaged populations in the United States. Presented by Julie Boatright Wilson, Harry S. Kahn Senior Lecturer in Social Policy.

Benjamin Daly MPP 2024 and Emily Orenstein MPP 2024 | "Balancing Act: Optimizing Massachusetts' Subsidized Housing Waitlist"

Frederick Fischer Memorial Prize

For an outstanding paper related to a topic on: criminal justice, the criminal legal system, inequality, economic and social mobility, workforce development, labor, poverty, education, immigration, social services, and other social policy issues. Presented by Julie Boatright Wilson, Harry S. Kahn Senior Lecturer in Social Policy.

Ilai Levin MPP 2024, Lucy McSweeney MPP 2024, and Mannat Singh MPP 2024 | "From Displacement to Learning: Overcoming Educational Barriers for Ukrainian Refugees in Italy"

Susan C. Eaton Memorial Prize

For an outstanding paper related to a topic on: human resources management, health care management, health care quality, union leadership, fair wage policy, health care disparities, work/family policy, gender equity, elder care and aging, and topics related to disability. Presented by Julie Boatright Wilson, Harry S. Kahn Senior Lecturer in Social Policy.

Noam Alon MPP 2024 | "Building Trust through Healthcare Equity"

William Julius Wilson Award 

For an outstanding research paper written on a topic that William Julius Wilson’s academic research addressed, including race relations, urban poverty and joblessness, segregation, perhaps with particular attention to macro-level factors driving social phenomena. Presented by Julie Boatright Wilson, Harry S. Kahn Senior Lecturer in Social Policy.

Valeria Silva Gomez MPP 2024 | "Racial Inequality in Britain: Spotlight Occupational Segregation"

Taubman Center Urban Prize

For an outstanding paper on a topic related to state or local urban issues. Presented by Jeffrey Liebman, Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government, Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, and .

co-winners:

• Maya Alper MPP 2024 | "Digital Service Delivery for Stronger Communities"

• Sarah Ballinger MPP 2024 | "Designing a Compensation Philosophy for the City of Boston"

 Prize for Outstanding Second Year Policy Analysis

The Second Year Policy Analysis is an important part of the MPA/ID Program, a capstone project, in which students choose a real-world policy problem to address through a final paper. Presented by Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy and Faculty Chair, MPA/ID Program and Carol Finney, Director, MPA/ID Program.

• Amitha Ablud Jayaram MPA/ID 2024 | "Mitigation of Groundwater Depletion in India"

• Maria Andreina Cantele Sáenz MPA/ID 2024 and Catalina Reyes Villegas MPA/ID 2024 | "Teacher Shortage in Venezuela: Leveraging Positive Deviance in a Humanitarian Setting"

• Rushabh Sanghvi MPA/ID 2024 and Leandro Urbano MPA/ID 2024 | "Charging Ahead: A Supply Chain and Capability Perspective on India's EV Industrial Policy"

 Raymond Vernon Award for Commitment to International Development

For a graduating MPA/ID student who best personifies the values of the program, namely dedication to international development, good citizenship, academic excellence, and strong potential to lead and contribute to the field. Presented by Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy and Faculty Chair, MPA/ID Program and Carol Finney, Director, MPA/ID Program.

• Miguel Molina MPA/ID 2024

• Yuji Sano MPA/ID 2024

2024 Class Gift

For future students who need financial support to make their Harvard Kennedy School education possible. Total dollars and donors from the campaign will be announced.

Presented to Douglas W. Elmendorf, Dean and Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy by the Class of 2024 Gift Committee and Matching Gift Committee.

2024 Graduating Class Campaign Committee
Jeffrey Arnold MC/MPA
Niklas Krakau MPA 
Jennifer Lee MC/MPA
Hans Liang MC/MPA
Mimi Nzuzi MC/MPA
Ripsime Paronikyan MC/MPA
Sal Parsa MC/MPA
Tejasvi Sharma MC/MPA
Betsy Viani MC/MPA

Matching Gift Committee
Kristy Chen MC/MPA
Renee Ko MC/MPA
Hans Liang MC/MPA 
Dino Ying MC/MPA

 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Student Teaching

For outstanding teaching fellows, course coaches, and course assistants, as nominated by the student body. Presented by Douglas W. Elmendorf, Dean and Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy.

• David Dam MPP 2024

• Jacob Jameson, PhD Candidate in Health Policy 

• Nolan Kavanagh, PhD Candidate in Health Policy

• Nicolás Parra-Herrera, Harvard Law school

Donald K. Price Award

For MPA students who embody the strengths of the program—through academic excellence, community-building, or demonstrations of leadership within the class.

Presented by Kessley Hong, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Faculty Chair of MPA Programs and the Mid-Career MPA Summer Program, and Emma Heffern, Director, MPA Programs.

• Rohan Manish Chandra MPA 2024

• Kelsey Baer Hayes MPA 2024

• Mrinalini Mrinalini MPA 2024

• Alexandros Dave Pamnani MPA 2024

   

 Lucius N. Littauer Award

For MC/MPA students who embody the strengths of the program—through academic excellence, community-building, or demonstrations of leadership within the class.

Presented by Kessley Hong, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Faculty Chair of MPA Programs and the Mid-Career MPA Summer Program, and Emma Heffern, Director, MPA Programs.

• Saidzhan Abdullaev MC/MPA 2024

• Sara Bin Mahfooz MC/MPA 2024

• Jennifer Mindy Sue-Yun Lee MC/MPA 2024

• Aparajita Mridha MC/MPA 2024

• Mireille Pakisa Nzuzi MC/MPA 2024

• Vivian Hien Pham MC/MPA 2024

Advisor of the Year Award

For a faculty or staff member who made a substantial impact on the student experience through formal or informal advice, as nominated by the graduating class. Presented by Melissa Wojciechowski St. John, Senior Director of Student Services.

Carmen Reinhart, Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System

Manuel C. Carballo Award for Excellence in Teaching

For an instructor who best exemplifies, demonstrates, and inspires excellence through teaching, as nominated by the graduating class. Presented by the Class Marshals.

• Alex Keyssar, Matthew W. Stirling Jr. Professor of History and Social Policy

• Dan Levy, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Robert F. Kennedy Award for Excellence in Public Service

For a graduating student whose commitment, activities, and contributions to public service are extraordinary. Presented by Debbie Isaacson, Senior Associate Dean for Degree Programs and Student Affairs.

• Pallavi Deshpande MPP 2024

• Omer Rafiq MC/MPA 2024

Closing Remarks

Melissa Wojciechowski St. John, Senior Director of Student Services and Class Marshals

Additional Awards

Mason Certificate Ceremony

Tuesday, May 21 | John F. Kennedy Memorial Park

The Mason Certificate Ceremony was a joyful celebration to recognize the achievements of the ����vlog���� Class of 2024 MC/MPA Mason Fellows. Many graduating students and their families and friends wore traditional dress from their home countries or regions.

Josephine S. Vernon Award

For an outstanding MC/MPA Mason Fellow who embodies the spirit and mission of the Edward S. Mason Program at Harvard Kennedy School.

Shan Sherwan Hussein MC/MPA 2024

Raymond & Josephine Vernon Award

For academic distinction and distinguished contribution to the Edward S. Mason Program and Harvard Kennedy School.

• Patrycja Anna Horodyska MC/MPA 2024

• Aparajita Mridha MC/MPA 2024

• Rafael Virgilio Monge Vargas MC/MPA 2024

Eric Yankah Award

For distinguished contribution to the Edward S. Mason Program and Harvard Kennedy School.

• Sara Bin Mahfooz MC/MPA 2024

• Khaled Emam MC/MPA 2024

• Mireille Pakisa Nzuzi MC/MPA 2024

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