12 alumni appointed to Harvard leadership boards

Six alumni have been recently chosen as members of Harvard University’s Board of Overseers, alongside another six joining the board of directors of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). The incoming Overseers will take their positions on May 30, while the HAA directors will commence their terms on July 1. Five of the newly appointed Overseers have been elected for six-year terms, whereas the sixth, Anjali Sud, will occupy the remaining two years of Mark Carney’s unfulfilled term.

New appointees to the Board of Overseers

Mark A. Edwards ’82, cum laude
Co-founder and CEO, Upstream USA; founder and former executive director, Opportunity Nation
Brookline, Massachusetts

Mary Louise Kelly ’93, magna cum laude
M.Phil. ’95, University of Cambridge, with distinction
Journalist and broadcaster, co-host of “All Things Considered,” NPR
Washington, D.C.

Nathaniel Owen Keohane, Ph.D. ’01
B.A. ’93, Yale University, magna cum laude
President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
New York

Michael Rosenblatt, M.D. ’73, magna cum laude
B.A. ’69, summa cum laude, Columbia University
Advisory partner, Ascenta Capital; senior adviser, Bain Capital Life Sciences and Flagship Pioneering; former executive vice president and chief medical officer, Merck & Co.; former dean, Tufts University School of Medicine
Newton, Massachusetts

Anjali Sud, M.B.A. ’11 (filling Carney’s uncompleted term)
B.S. ’05, University of Pennsylvania
CEO, Tubi; previous CEO, Vimeo
New York

Courtney B. Vance ’82
M.F.A. ’86, Yale University
Actor, producer, writer; president and chair, SAG-AFTRA Foundation
La Cañada Flintridge, California

A batch of seven candidates for the Board of Overseers was proposed by an alumni nominating committee consisting of 13 voting members appointed by the Harvard Alumni Association executive committee. An eighth nominee withdrew from the selection process. Holders of Harvard degrees cast a total of 39,725 votes in the election.

The Board of Overseers is one of Harvard’s two governing entities, alongside the President and Fellows, also known as the Corporation. Formally established in 1642, the board plays a vital role in the management of the University, supporting the Corporation’s function as Harvard’s main fiduciary board. As a crucial part of its duties, the board directs the visitation process, the primary method for periodic external evaluation of Harvard’s Schools and departments. Through its various standing committees and approximately 50 visiting committees that report to them, the board examines the quality of Harvard’s programs and ensures that the University remains faithful to its mission as a hub of learning. More broadly, leveraging its members’ diverse experiences and insights, the board provides guidance to the University’s leadership regarding priorities, plans, and strategic initiatives. The board also holds the authority to consent to certain actions, including the election of Corporation members. More information about the board, its members, and its activities can be found on its webpage.

Recently elected HAA directors

Theresa J. Chung ’98, magna cum laude, J.D. ’02
Administrative judge, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
Dallas, Texas

Colin J. Kegler ’97
Senior software engineer, HealthEdge Inc.
Provincetown, Massachusetts

Victoria “Vicky” Wai Ka Leung ’91, cum laude
M.B.A. ’98, New York University
Managing director and consultant, EC M&A
London

Nicholas J. Melvoin ’08
M.A. ’10, Loyola Marymount University; J.D. ’14, New York University
Elected board member, Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles

Angela M. Ruggiero ’02, cum laude, M.B.A. ’14
M.Ed. ’10, University of Minnesota
Co-founder and chair, Sports Innovation Lab
Weston, Massachusetts

Sanjay Seth, M.P.A. ’19, M.U.P. ’19
B.A. ’12, Goldsmiths, University of London
Former chief of staff and senior adviser for climate and equity, U.S. EPA New England
East Boston, Massachusetts

The new directors were elected for three-year terms. They were selected from a pool of nine candidates, nominated by the same HAA committee that puts forward candidates for Overseers. Holders of Harvard degrees cast 41,069 votes in the directors election.

The HAA board, which includes its elected directors, serves as an advisory board that seeks to cultivate a sense of community, engagement, and University citizenship among Harvard alumni globally. Its endeavors are focused on fostering volunteer leadership and enhancing alumni engagement through a variety of initiatives that support alumni communities worldwide. In recent years, the board’s priorities have involved strengthening outreach to recent graduates and those from graduate schools while continuing to build and promote inclusive communities.