Transition Term is one of Harvard Kennedy School's most popular experiential learning opportunities that challenges students to put their skills and passion for government to work while supporting newly elected mayors, county executives, and governors from across the country as they shift from campaigning to governing.
Launched in 2018, Transition Term is a nonpartisan program that matches newly elected leaders with teams of HKS students who join them full-time for two weeks during the Kennedy School’s January Term. Students are selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants and help accelerate projects based on each host administration’s priorities and rapidly evolving needs that arise during the intense early weeks of governing.
By participating in Transition Term, administrations benefit from the skills, talent, and dedication of HKS students who are passionate about state and local government work. In return, students gain real-world experience accelerating key priorities during the frenetic early days of governing and learning about career paths in state and local governments.
Where Transition Term Students Have Served
Since launching in 2018, Transition Term has placed 235 students in the offices of 83 newly elected mayors, county executives, and governors spanning the country. See our Transition Term placements below and here.
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Allegheny County, PA
- Cuyahoga County, OH
- Dane Country, WI
- Erie County, PA
- Macon-Bibb County, GA
- Miami-Dade County, FL
- Rockdale County, GA
- San Diego County, CA Taxpayer Association
- Akron, OH
- Alexandria, VA
- Anaheim, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Bend, OR
- Bloomington, IN
- Boston, MA
- Braintree, MA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbia, SC
- Des Moines, IA
- Durham, NC
- Eugene, OR
- Gainesville, FL
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Honolulu, HI
- Huntington, WV
- Knoxville, TN
- Lawrence, MA
- Long Beach, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Manchester, NH
- Memphis, TN
- Missoula, MT
- Montgomery, AL
- New Haven, CT
- Newport News, VA
- Oakland, CA
- Ogden, UT
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Raleigh, NC
- Revere, MA
- Richmond, VA
- Rochester, NY
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Francisco, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Scranton, PA
- Somerville, MA
- South Bend, IN
- Stamford, CT
- Stockton, CA
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Terre Haute, IN
- Topeka, KS
- Tulsa, OK
- Tuscon, AZ
- Wilmington, DE
For Newly Elected State and Local Leaders
Transition Term provides new mayors, county executives, and governors with support at a time when these administrations are most in need of extra capacity. If you are interested in getting transition support from HKS students through Transition Term, please contact Taubman Center Director of Government Engagement Amy Mahler at amymahler@hks.harvard.edu. The Taubman Center typically matches teams of HKS students with new administrations participating in Transition Term each November following state and local elections.