Alison is Chief Financial Officer at Harvard Kennedy School, where she leads the financial management and strategic financial planning efforts of the School in support of its teaching, learning and research mission. She has direct responsibility for the operating budget, fiscal policies and procedures, efficiency and effectiveness of the financial systems, and fiscal compliance and control. Alison leads the Office of Financial Services, collaborates with financial managers across centers and departments, and partners closely with center, School, and University leadership to ensure the financial health of the Kennedy School.
Before joining HKS, Alison had leadership roles in Finance and Administration at Northeastern’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences and at Berklee College of Music. Alison also served in senior financial leadership roles at Harvard Library and Harvard College Library. Before pivoting to higher education, Alison worked in the private sector at Fidelity Investments and American Express, where she built high-performing teams, collaborated with business partners to drive improved financial performance, and provided strategic decision support to executive leadership.
Alison holds a BA in Economics from Colgate University and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance and International Management from NYU.