• Letter from the Board • From the Field • Leadership Lessons from Julius

From the KSG Alumni Board

Dear Alumni,
The Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy School of Government Alumni Association met during reunion weekend. Prior to joining alumni in celebrating the achievements of the classes of 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, and 1981, the board held its spring 2006 working meeting. I would like to let you know what we have accomplished in 2006 thus far.

The spring 2006 meeting was inspirational, as the board reviewed the projects in place for the alumni community. With the passing of Julius Babbitt MPA 2001, a colleague and friend, our work was difficult but continued in his spirit.

Regional Outreach The KSG Alumni Board has continued to reach out to alumni at regional events. I encourage you to keep the board apprised of events in your region so that we can support your efforts. To help further the growth of our alumni network, members of the board have assumed responsibility for specific geographic areas of the alumni community. On a practical note, we will soon post an open letter to you, the alumni, welcoming you to contact that member on the board dedicated to your region. I encourage you to check the KSG Alumni Board Web site www.ksg.harvard.edu/alum/aec/index.html to find the name of your representative. Not only can you expect to hear from your representative about the work of the board, but we would love to hear from you about what is going on with your region and what you need to continue to build your regional networks.

Mentorship In terms of the student community, the KSG Alumni Board has begun a couple of efforts aimed at building a strong mentorship program. Our goal is to provide a network of alumni available for both PAE and career support to students and alumni. As alumni, we should also be available to the KSG as critical resources for speaking, strategic participation in research centers, and to provide guidance in the skills and knowledge we, as employers, need from alumni. The board is trying to build a strong two-way network between the school and alumni. Your involvement is critical.

Finally, I urge you to participate in this summer’s election of 10 new KSG Alumni Board members. Information about the candidates and an online ballot are located at www.ksg.harvard.edu/alum/aec/index.html. Please continue to be in touch. We look forward to your ideas and to continuing our dynamic work of building the best global network of alumni.

Sincerely,

Gwen K. Young MPP 1993, Chair
Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy School of Government
Alumni Association