August 1, 2020
Classmates near and far,
It has been a summer of unexpected struggle, determined hope, and passionate conviction that what unites us will always be greater than what divides us. Wherever you call home now, we hope that you and your loved ones remain safe, healthy, and inspired.
As our 2020-2021 HKS Alumni Board kicks off the year with 11 incredible new members, we are committed to keeping service to HKS Alumni at the heart of all we do. Reflecting on how we can best champion our community at this moment, we have identified our priorities to include:
- Celebrating and recognizing alumni year-round
- Engaging and connecting alumni in original and globally sourced programming
- Developing alumni as leaders on a lifelong journey of engagement with the HKS community
In these opening weeks as we onboard our new team members and realign committees, we have also been able to host a conversation of our global HKS alumni leaders to discuss reflections on racial justice, while also connecting with returning and incoming HKS students from the Classes of 2021 and 2022 who have expressed unprecedented financial and other challenges in starting the academic year. Recognizing that these students are our youngest alumni, we are coordinating across HKS to lead a peer grassroots fundraising campaign to directly impact those affected by the pandemic environment, which you will hear more about shortly this August.
Please take a moment to see who is representing HKS Alumni on our Board this year, and reach out to us at any time with ideas, questions, or concerns, including via the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Facebook page.
We look forward to being in touch throughout this year… ever onward, ever upward.
For HKS,
Jen Tutak MPA 2012
Chair, HKS Alumni Board 2020–2021