Final ballot prepared for Overseer and HAA director elections

Qualified Harvard alumni will once again have the opportunity to engage in the elections for new members of the Harvard Board of Overseers and the chosen directors of the Harvard Alumni Association this spring.

Voting commences on April 1, with all completed ballots due by 5 p.m. on May 20. Alumni will be able to cast their votes online or through physical ballots for five anticipated openings on the Board of Overseers and six accessible seats among the elected directors of the HAA.

Eligible voters comprise all Harvard degree holders as of Jan. 1, excluding the university’s instructional staff and administration, alongside members of the Harvard Corporation, for the Overseer roles. For the HAA elected directors, all degree holders as of Jan. 1 are invited to vote.

The candidates listed below have been designated by the nominating committee appointed by the volunteer leadership of the Harvard Alumni Association. The candidates’ names are presented below in ballot order, as established by a draw.

Overseer candidates

Michael Rosenblatt
M.D. ’73, magna cum laude
B.A. ’69, summa cum laude, Columbia University
Newton, Massachusetts

Anjali Sud
M.B.A. ’11
B.S. ’05, University of Pennsylvania
New York

Lanhee J. Chen 
A.B. ’99, magna cum laude, A.M. ’04, J.D. ’07, cum laude, Ph.D. ’09
Mountain View, California

Mark A. Edwards 
A.B. ’82, cum laude
Brookline, Massachusetts     

Mary Louise Kelly 
A.B. ’93, magna cum laude
M.Phil. ’95, University of Cambridge, with distinction
Washington, D.C.

Nathaniel Owen Keohane
Ph.D. ’01
B.A. ’93, Yale University, magna cum laude
New York

Courtney B. Vance 
A.B. ’82
M.F.A. ’86, Yale University
La Cañada Flintridge, California

A previously declared candidate, Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. ’87, president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine and a Georgia Institute of Technology alumna (B.S. ’83), has opted to withdraw her candidacy for the Board of Overseers. “Harvard occupies a unique position in my heart, and while I appreciate the nomination, my ongoing responsibilities require my full focus,” said Montgomery Rice. “I value the support and remain devoted to Harvard’s mission in other capacities.”

HAA elected director candidates

Angela M. Ruggiero 
A.B. ’02, cum laude, M.B.A. ’14
M.Ed. ’10, University of Minnesota
Weston, Massachusetts

Allison Lee Pillinger Choi 
A.B. ’06
Bedford, New York

Sanjay Seth
M.P.A. ’19, M.U.P. ’19
B.A. ’12, Goldsmiths, University of London
East Boston, Massachusetts

Nicholas J. Melvoin 
A.B. ’08
M.A. ’10, Loyola Marymount University; J.D. ’14, New York University
Los Angeles

Theresa J. Chung 
A.B. ’98, magna cum laude, J.D. ’02
Dallas, Texas

Daniel H. Ahn 
A.B. ’90, magna cum laude, M.B.A. ’97
Burlingame, California

Colin J. Kegler 
A.B. ’97
Provincetown, Massachusetts

Victoria “Vicky” Wai Ka Leung 
A.B. ’91, cum laude
M.B.A. ’98, New York University
London

Pavlos P. Photiades 
A.B. ’88, magna cum laude
Nicosia, Cyprus

The nominating committee comprises 13 alumni from diverse backgrounds and includes three current or recent Overseers who provide insights into the operations and requirements of the board. The committee welcomes and considers suggestions about potential candidates from the entire alumni community and assesses information on hundreds of prospective candidates as part of thorough discussions throughout the fall semester.

The committee aims to create a group of Overseer candidates that reflects the board’s existing composition and aligns with the University’s future demands. It takes into consideration experience and achievements in academic or professional fields significant to the University; passion for and dedication to higher education and Harvard as a whole; commitment to enhancing the quality and continuous advancement of Harvard’s educational and research initiatives; readiness to devote the necessary time and energy for meaningful participation; comprehension of intricate organizations, and proficiency in leadership and consensus-building.

The Board of Overseers is one of Harvard’s two governing entities, alongside the President and Fellows, also referred to as the Corporation. Formally instituted in 1642, the board plays a vital role in overseeing the governance of the University, complementing the Corporation’s functions as Harvard’s main fiduciary body. A key aspect of its responsibilities includes directing the visitation process, the primary method for periodic external evaluation of Harvard’s Schools and departments. Through its range of standing committees and approximately 50 visiting committees that report to them, the board examines the caliber of Harvard’s programs and ensures that the University adheres to its founding principles as a center of learning. More broadly, leveraging its members’ varied experiences and expertise, the board provides guidance to the University’s leadership regarding priorities, plans, and strategic directions. Furthermore, the board possesses the authority to give consent on certain actions, such as the election of Corporation members. The current composition of the board is outlined here.

The HAA board, which includes its elected directors, functions as an advisory body aimed at fostering community, engagement, and university citizenship among Harvard alumni globally. Its efforts center on cultivating volunteer leadership and enhancing alumni engagement through a variety of programs that support alumni networks around the world. In recent times, the board’s focus has been on strengthening outreach to recent graduates and alumni from graduate schools, while also building and promoting inclusive communities.