The year 2025 marks 21 years since the inception of the “From Harvard Square to the Oval Office" political training program (Oval Office). To date, Oval Office has trained over 900 Harvard graduate students and affiliates to run for political office. The Oval Office program is the flagship tool of the Women and Public Policy Program’s mission to advance nontraditional candidates for political office.

A total of 75 alums from the Oval Office program are known to hold or have previously held elected or appointed positions across the world, representing 25 countries and territories including Argentina, Australia, Benin, Bhutan, Croatia, The Czech Republic, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Israel, Japan, Liberia, the Navajo Nation, Nepal, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Oval Office Alumni Currently Serving in Government

Headshot of Agniola Ahouanmenou

Agniola Ahouanmenou

Oval Office 2023
Ambassador of Benin to the United States (2025–Present)

Headshot of Sharon Clarke

Sharon Clarke

Oval Office 2012
Judge, New York City Civil Court Kings County (2014–2024); Judge, New York Supreme Court 2nd Judicial District (2024–Present)

Headshot of Shaniece Criss

Shaniece Criss

Oval Office 2013
City Council Member, City of Travelers Rest (2018–Present)

Headshot of Meredith Davis Tavera

Meredith Davis Tavera

Oval Office 2018
Foreign Service Officer, US Department of State (2018–Present)

Headshot of Amelie de Montchalin

Amelie de Montchalin

Oval Office 2014
Representative, National Assembly 6th Constituency of Essonne, France (2017–2019); Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the OECD (2022–Present)

Headshot of Marjorie Decker

Marjorie Decker

Oval Office 2006
25th Middlesex District Representative, Massachusetts House of Representatives (2013–Present)

Headshot of Tania Del Rio

Tania Del Rio

Oval Office 2015
Executive Director, Boston Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement (2018–2021); Director, Coordinated Response Team (2022–2024); Commissioner of Inspectional Services (2024–Present)

Headshot of Alexandra Dublanche Goujon

Alexandra Dublanche (Goujon)

Oval Office 2011
Deputy-Mayor, Ville de Sartrouville, France (2014–Present)

Headshot of Ann-Margaret Ferrante

Ann-Margaret Ferrante (In Memoriam)

Oval Office 2017
5th Essex District Representative, Massachusetts House of Representatives (2009–Deceased 2025)

Headshot of Orit Farkash-Hacohen

Orit Farkash-Hacohen

Oval Office 2007
Chairperson of The Israeli Public Utilities Authority (2011–2015); Minister of Strategic Affairs, Tourism, and Science (2020–2022); Member of the Knesset National Legislature (2021–Present)

Headshot of Emma Greenman

Emma Greenman

Oval Office 2006
District 63B Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives (2021–Present)

Headshot of Kami Hart

Kami Hart

Oval Office 2007
Children's Court Judge, Gila River Indian Community, State of Arizona (2008–Present)

Headshot of Rachel Jacoby

Rachel Jacoby

Oval Office 2022
Moraine Township Trustee, Lake County, Illinois (2025–Present)

Headshot of Therese Kayikwamba Wagner

Therese Kayikwamba Wagner

Oval Office 2023
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo (2024–Present)

Headshot of Gali Levi

Gali Levi

Oval Office 2016
Chief Prosecutor, Ministry of Economy, Israel (2010–Present)

Photo of Halla Hrund Logadóttir

Halla Hrund Logadóttir

Oval Office 2017
Member of Althingi (Parliament) for the South Constituency of Iceland (2024–Present)

Headshot of Jun Mukoyama

Jun Mukoyama

Oval Office 2019
Representative for the Hokkaido 8th District, House of Representatives of Japan (2024–Present)

Headshot of Clare O'Neil

Clare O'Neil

Oval Office 2008
Parliament of Australia Member for Hotham (2013–Present), Minister of Home Affairs and Minister for Cybersecurity (2022–Present) 

Headshot of Joanna Penn

Joanna Penn

Oval Office 2015
Member of Parliament, United Kingdom House of Lords (2019–Present)

Headshot of Sapana Pradhan Malla

Sapana Pradhan Malla

Oval Office 2014
Justice, Supreme Court of Nepal (2016–Present)

Headshot of Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Oval Office 2018
Member, Vermont House of Representatives (2009–2016); Vermont State Senator (2021–Present)

Headshot of Tazneen Shahabuddin

Tazneen Shahabuddin

Oval Office 2011
Assistant U.S. Attorney (2016–2023), Prosecutor at the War Crimes Tribunal (2023–Present)

Headshot of Ivana Vukov

Ivana Vukov

Oval Office 2012
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Croatia (2017–Present)

Headshot of Kosi Yankey

Kosi Yankey

Oval Office 2016
Executive Director, Ghana Enterprises Agency (National Board for Small Scale Industries) (2017–Present)

Headshot of Michelle Wu

Michelle Wu

Oval Office 2011
City Councilor At-Large, City of Boston (2014–2021); Mayor of Boston (2021–Present)

  • Jessica Altman, Oval Office 2014; Insurance Commissioner, State of Pennsylvania (2018–2022)

  • Andress Appolon, Oval Office 2007; Senior Counselor to Haiti, Boards of the Inter-American Development Bank (2014–2016)

  • Ethel Branch, Oval Office 2006; Attorney General, Navajo Nation (2015–2019)

  • Natalie Black, Oval Office 2010; Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Department for International Trade, Singapore (2018–2023)

  • Lhakpa Bhuti, Oval Office 2013; Joint Commissioner, Department of Revenue & Customs, Ministry of Finance, Thimphu, Bhutan (2015–Unknown)

  • Al Anood Bin Kalli, Oval Office 2014; Strategic Division Advisor, Public Diplomacy Office; Director of Strategy and Policies, Prime Minister’s Office, UAE (2016–2025)

  • Jennifer Benson, Oval Office 2015; Representative, 37th Middlesex District, Massachusetts House of Representatives (2009–2020)

  • Stefani Carter, Oval Office 2005; Representative, District 102, Texas House of Representatives (2011–2015)

  • Cielo V. Castro, Oval Office 2010; Deputy, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (2015)

  • Nancy Chaires Espinoza, Oval Office 2006; Trustee Area 6 Representative, Elk Grove Unified Board of Education (2015–2024)

  • Tamar Chugoshvili, Oval Office 2015; First Deputy Chairperson, Parliament of Georgia (2016–2020)

  • Maura Corby Sullivan, Oval Office 2007; Assistant Secretary for Public and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2014–2016); Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (2014–2016)

  • Lori Ehrlich, Oval Office 2005; Representative, 8th Essex District, Massachusetts House of Representatives (2008–2022); FEMA Regional Administrator, Region 1 (2022–2024)

  • Meredith Fascett, Oval Office 2005; Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, ANC 6D07, Washington, D.C. (2014–2018)

  • Michelle Fay, Oval Office 2011; Representative, Caledonia-3 District, Vermont House of Representatives (2012–2015)

  • Sara Greenberg, Oval Office 2013; Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel for World Communities (2018–2019)

  • Tahra Goraya, Oval Office 2019; Town Meeting Member, Town of Milton (2019–2022)

  • Heather Hamilton, Oval Office 2016; Select Board Member, Town of Brookline (2017–2023)

  • September Hargrove, Oval Office 2010; Appointed Board Member, Michigan Strategic Fund, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (2019–2021)

  • Lynsey Heffernan, Oval Office 2009; Member and Former Chair, Shrewsbury School Committee (2019–2025)

  • Jewel James, Oval Office 2007; Special Assistant to President Barack Obama and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs (2011–2013); Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement (2013–2014)

  • Sonay Kanber, Oval Office 2016; Senior Expert on European Union Affairs, Ministry for European Union Affairs, Turkey (2016–2018)

  • Decontee King-Sackie, Oval Office 2014; Deputy Commissioner General for Technical Services, Liberia Revenue Authority (2014–2022)

  • Lise King, Oval Office 2013; Selectwoman, Town of Provincetown, Massachusetts (2018–2022)

  • Ellen Kwame-Corkrum, Oval Office 2012; Managing Director, Liberia Airports Authority (2017)

  • Sharon Lai, Oval Office 2023; Appointed Board Member, Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors (2017–2020); Appointed Member, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (2020–2022)

  • Jane Lee, Oval Office 2009; Deputy Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (2014–2017); Senior Advisor to the Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (2021–2024)

  • Mary (Mamie) Marcuss, Oval Office 2006; Attorney, Washington State Attorney General’s Office (2013–2016)

  • Laura Marquez, Oval Office 2007; White House Liaison, U.S. Department of the Interior (2013–2014)

  • Michelle Monsegur, Oval Office 2013; Assistant Town Administrator, Town of Hingham, Massachusetts (2018–2025)

  • Nelly Nieblas, Oval Office 2007; Governor-Appointed Legislative Manager and Public Information Officer, California (2015–2016)

  • Maggie O’Grady, Oval Office 2009; Special Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts (2017)

  • Sophia Pappas, Oval Office 2009; Chief Executive Officer, Division of Early Childhood Education, New York City (2011–2017)

  • Brune Poirson, Oval Office 2017; Representative for Vaucluse, French National Assembly (2017, 2020–2021)

  • Katherine Randall, Oval Office 2008; Senior Strategy Advisor, U.K. Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit (2008–2010); Deputy Director, Strategic Directorate, Department of Energy and Climate Change (2010–2012)

  • Carlyn Reichel, Oval Office 2008; Foreign Policy Speechwriter, Office of the Vice President of the United States (2015–2017)

  • Abiola Seriki, Oval Office 2009; Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Government, Nigeria (2019–2023)

  • Katie Selenski, Oval Office 2006; First Executive Director, Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, State of California (2017–2023)

  • Christina Sharkey, Oval Office 2017; Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Embassy Prague, Czech Republic (2018–2022)

  • Shashank Shukla, Oval Office 2015; Joint Secretary, Indian National Congress (2019–2020)

  • Maria Syms, Oval Office 2014; Representative, District 28, Arizona House of Representatives (2017–2019)

  • Nairi Tashjian, Oval Office 2007; Budget Lead, Department of Transportation Agency Review Team, Biden-Harris Transition Team (2020–2021)

  • Ajita Talwalker, Oval Office 2008; Special Assistant to the President for Higher Education Policy, White House Domestic Policy Council, United States (2013–2017)

  • Raina Thiele, Oval Office 2009; Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Alaska Affairs & Strategic Priorities, U.S. Department of the Interior (2021–2025)

  • Paige Wallace, Oval Office 2008; Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Office of the New York State Attorney General (2017–2021)

  • Varina Winder, Oval Office 2011; Senior Political Appointee, Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State (2021–2024)

  • Havatzelet Yahel, Oval Office 2007; Deputy to the Southern District Attorney for Civil Matters, Ministry of Justice, Israel (2007–2014)

  • Hilda Zacarias, Oval Office 2006; City Councilor, Santa Maria, California (2006–2010)

  • Jimena Zuniga, Oval Office 2005; Advisor to the Minister of Economics, Argentina (2019)