Ban Ki-moon MPA 1984, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and a Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) alumnus as an Edward S. Mason Fellow, has been named the Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow at the Kennedy School, it was announced today by HKS Dean Douglas Elmendorf. He will begin his Fellowship this month and will serve through the spring semester.

Ban was the eighth Secretary General of the United Nations, serving from 2007 until 2016, during which time he is credited with implementing significant reforms to the U.N.’s peacekeeping and employment practices, as well as pushing international efforts to address global climate change.  Prior to his tenure as Secretary-General, Ban served many years in the South Korean Foreign Service, where he held many important positions including National Security Advisor to the President, and Ambassador to Austria and Slovenia. He served as the nation’s Foreign Minister from 2004 to 2006.  

“Ban Ki-moon is an accomplished public servant who is widely respected for his passionate and dedicated leadership at the United Nations during which time the international community faced many difficult challenges – from climate change to peacekeeping,” said Elmendorf. “He brings with him a unique set of skills and experience that will inform and inspire Kennedy School students, faculty, staff, and scholars, and I am thrilled he will be returning to Harvard Kennedy School.”

As Angelopoulos Fellow, Ban will become an active participant in the academic and intellectual life of the school, meeting with students, collaborating with scholars and researchers, lecturing, writing and participating in occasional public discussions and forums.

“I look forward to returning to the Kennedy School, where I have very fond memories of my time as a student,” said Ban. “This Fellowship will be a wonderful opportunity for me to reflect upon my years in public service, to connect with scholars and students throughout the Harvard community, and to continue my work on the important public policy issues I remain very passionate about.” 

The Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders program provides opportunities for high-profile leaders who are transitioning out of public office or other leadership positions to spend time in residence at Harvard for teaching, learning and research. Peter Zimmerman, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Program Development, and Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations, serve as faculty chairs of the program. 

“Ban is one of the world’s most accomplished diplomats who has worked tirelessly to confront and in many cases resolve some of the most difficult global challenges of our lifetime,” said Burns. “He is a truly dedicated and committed leader, and I look forward to working with and learning from him during his time here at the Kennedy School.”

The Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders program was established with support from Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, president of the Athens 2004 Olympics, former ambassador of the Greek state, lawyer and former member of Parliament. She is a member of the Kennedy School’s Dean’s Council and of the Advisory Council of the School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. 

“I am very happy that Ban Ki-moon will return to Harvard to serve as Angelopoulos Fellow,” said Angelopoulos. “This fellowship will be a valuable opportunity for him to engage with scholars, students and faculty, to exchange ideas and to share his extraordinary lessons learned with the Harvard community.”

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