Harvard Elections
The 2026 Harvard Overseer and HAA Elected Director Elections
Candidates
Harvard degree holders selected seven fellow alumni to join the University’s Board of Overseers and six to join the board of directors of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). The new Overseers will assume their roles on May 29, while the HAA directors will begin their terms on July 1.
Two additional Overseers were elected to finish the terms left by Sylvia Mathews Burwell ’87 and Vikas Sukhatme, M.D. ’79.
Candidates appear in ballot order below, as determined by lot. Click on each candidate's name to learn more.
New Overseers
Arti Garg PhD ’08
AB & BS ’99, MS ’01, Stanford University; MS ’02, University of Washington
Hayward, California
Occupation:
- Executive Vice President and Chief Technologist, AVEVA
Previous Work Experience:
- Deputy Global Chief Technology Officer for Data & AI and Senior Distinguished Technologist, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Program Examiner, White House Office of Management and Budget
- Legislative Science Fellow, House Foreign Affairs Committee
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences External Generative AI Advisory Group
Achievements and Honors:
- Founder and Board Chair, Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally
- American Physical Society Congressional Fellow
- American Astronomical Society Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Graduate Student Award
Personal Statement:
My experience across artificial intelligence, public policy, scientific research, and nonprofit governance has prepared me well to serve as an Overseer. As Harvard grapples with how AI is reshaping education and the nature of expertise, I bring an understanding of both the technology and the ethical stakes to help Harvard strategically integrate AI into its programming while preserving intellectual rigor and academic integrity. Earlier in my career, I served in the White House Office of Management and Budget, which gave me an intimate understanding of how federal funding and policy impact university research and academic programs. Harvard’s leadership within the American university system makes it a pillar of our democratic system and an engine of innovation for societal benefit. Because research, AI, and institutional independence sit at the center of the challenges Harvard now faces, I believe I have both a responsibility and a valuable perspective to contribute.
Teresa Hillary Clarke AB ’84 cum laude, JD ’89, MBA ’89
Miami, Florida
Occupation:
- Chair and Executive Editor, Africa.com; Former Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
Previous Work Experience:
- Managing Director, Abt Associates
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Former Board Member, Harvard Business School Alumni Association
- Former Board Member, Harvard Club of New York City
- Advisory Council, Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard
- Former Board Chair, Episcopal Chaplaincy of Harvard
Achievements and Honors:
- Harvard Black Alumni Society Award of Appreciation (2015)
- International Women’s Society Humanitarian Award (2011)
- Government of South Africa Freedom Day Award (2008)
- Council on Foreign Relations
Personal Statement:
Harvard’s mission statement is summarized succinctly in one word found on its shield: veritas (truth). If elected to the Board of Overseers, my priorities would be veritas—interpreted to mean academic excellence, grounded in open inquiry and long-term institutional resilience. In addition, I would look to position Harvard to lead confidently in a global, AI-shaped future. I know from my experience that effective stewardship demands thoughtfulness, preparation, and continuity. Harvard’s scale and complexity require Overseers who are willing to engage deeply—reading carefully, listening closely, and weighing decisions with a commitment to long-term academic quality and institutional integrity.
Nadine Burke Harris MPH ’02
BA ’96, University of California, Berkeley; MD ’01, University of California, Davis
Sebastopol, California
Occupation:
- Pediatrician
- Chief Impact Officer, ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Resource Network
Previous Work Experience:
- Surgeon General, State of California
- Founder and CEO, Center for Youth Wellness
- Founder and Medical Director, Bayview Child Health Center
Harvard-Related Activities:
- National Institutes of Health Community Research Training Grant
Achievements and Honors:
- David G. Nichols Health Equity Award, American Pediatric Society and the American Board of Pediatrics (2023)
- Heinz Award for the Human Condition, Heinz Family Foundation (2016)
- Woman of the Year, California State Assembly (2019)
- Author, The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity
Personal Statement:
I have always gravitated towards roles that call for intention, purpose, and service. From my first job out of residency founding a clinic for the underserved in San Francisco, to my tenure as California surgeon general during the greatest public health emergency in a century, to my experience chairing the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, I have learned deep listening skills, how to build consensus, and how to synthesize both scientific information and public sentiment. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and support the University to maintain the quality and integrity of its academic programming. My personal experience at Harvard Chan School had a transformative impact on my view of health and health care and changed my professional trajectory. It would be my honor to be of service to the University at this time.
Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena LLM ’98
LLB ’95, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Mexico City, Mexico
Occupation:
- Former Justice, Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (Mexico)
Previous Work Experience:
- Commissioner, Tax Administration Service, Government of Mexico
- Attorney, Covington & Burling LLP; Ortiz, Sainz y Tron S.C.; Holland & Knight-Gallastegui y Lozano S.C.; White & Case S.C.
- Henry J. Steiner Lecturer in Human Rights, Harvard Law School
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Traphagen Distinguished Alumni Speakers Series, Harvard Law School
Achievements and Honors:
- 2010 World Customs Organization Yolanda Benítez Award (for combating piracy and counterfeiting)
- Goodwill Ambassador for Environmental Justice in the Americas, Organization of American States
- Board Member, Global Judicial Institute on the Environment
- Board Member, National Autonomous University of Mexico Foundation
Personal Statement:
Harvard has transformed how I understand law, institutions, and the responsibilities that come with privilege. Returning as a lecturer reminded me how much places like this still matter—where people take ideas seriously, disagree in good faith, and hold institutions to high standards. My career has been about stewarding institutions under stress: modernizing a national tax administration, serving on a constitutional court during a period of democratic strain, and working on environmental justice across the Americas. My experience as a Supreme Court justice in Mexico taught me to separate principle from personality, explain decisions plainly, and take the long view under pressure. My goal is to help Harvard do its work with excellence, fairness, and durability, and protect the conditions for inquiry and belonging that let universities serve generations.
Philip L. Harrison AB ’86 magna cum laude, MArch ’93 with distinction
Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation:
- Architect and Chief Executive Officer, Perkins&Will
- Director, Sidara Collaborative
- President, Sidara U.S.
Previous Work Experience:
- President, Perkins&Will
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Co-Chair, Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) Grounded Visionaries Campaign
- Member, GSD Dean’s Council
- Member, GSD Master of Real Estate Advisory Board
- Alumni Interviewer
Achievements and Honors:
- Hoopes Prize (1986)
- George Peabody Gardner Traveling Fellowship (1986)
- AIA Henry Adams Medal, GSD (1993)
- Fellow, American Institute of Architects
Personal Statement:
I have a lifelong connection to Harvard and a deep belief in the power of higher education to shape society. Liberal arts education and interdisciplinary thinking are essential for developing leaders who can wrestle with complexity, exercise judgment, and bring humanity to the hardest problems we face. My confidence in leading through adversity and organizational transformation would be directly relevant to Harvard’s current circumstances. I have specific expertise in the built environment and its impact on human performance and well-being—topics central to Harvard’s expanding campus, postpandemic education, and the imperative to maximize real estate’s strategic impact while minimizing costs. Advancing creativity is central to my personal life and professional experience, and I would love to help Harvard become an even stronger wellspring of visionary creative leadership.
Clive Chang MBA ’11
BMus ’07 with honors, BCom ’07, McGill University; MFA ’09, New York University
Miami, Florida
Occupation:
- President and CEO, YoungArts: The National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists
- Independent Composer, Arranger, Music Director, and Pianist
Previous Work Experience:
- Executive Vice President, Chief Advancement and Innovation Officer, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
- Adjunct Professor, Graduate Program in Arts Administration, Columbia University
- Director, Strategy and Business Development, Disney Theatrical Group, The Walt Disney Company
Harvard-Related Activities:
- HBS Alumni Mentor, Pride Mentor, and Social Enterprise Initiative Mentor
- HBS Alumni Chat Volunteer
Achievements and Honors:
- Board Director, U.S. Presidential Scholars Foundation
- Board Director, Music Academy of the West
- Advisory Board Member, NYU Center for Black Visual Culture
Personal Statement:
Harvard played an important role in my development as a leader. While I spend significant time mentoring Harvard students and recent alumni one-on-one, serving as an Overseer would allow me to give back in a deeper and more comprehensive way. I am a self-proclaimed multihyphenate, proud first-generation immigrant, and fierce advocate of artists and the vital role they play in society. My professional background has moved fluidly between the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds. I am excited to bring all of these dimensions to bear in serving on the Board of Overseers. As academic freedom comes under attack, so too does the potential for future generations to imagine, create, and innovate to benefit humanity. To the extent that I can help move the needle, I will contribute my full heart and mind.
Salvo Arena LLM ’00
JD ’93 summa cum laude, PhD ’99, University of Catania, Italy
New York, New York
Occupation:
- Managing Partner NY, Co-Head of the Private Equity Practice, and Head of the International Practice at Chiomenti, Milan, Italy
Previous Work Experience:
- Assistant Professor in Corporations, University of Catania
- Associate in Mergers & Acquisitions, Shearman & Sterling
- Investor in Start-Ups in Europe and the U.S.
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Past President, Harvard Law School Association (HLSA)
- President, HLSA of New York
- Member of the Honorary Committee for the Celebration of Black Alumni
- Governor and Past President, HLSA of Europe
- Chair, HLSA Hedge Fund & Private Equity Network
- Appointed Director for Harvard Law School, Harvard Alumni Association (HAA)
Achievements and Honors:
- John P. Reardon Jr. Alumni Award (2019)
- Harvard Law School Association Award (2025)
Personal Statement:
I grew up in a marginalized area in Sicily with parents who never attended school at all. Harvard is more than an institution for me. In the past few years, I have served as a global connector between Harvard and its international students and alumni, promoting engagement, inclusion, and belonging. At a time of geopolitical fragmentation, Harvard is a bridge across cultures and nations that produces leaders who have an impact on a global scale. I hope my international legal and business background and over 20 years of service with the Harvard alumni community can help the Board of Overseers advance Harvard’s priorities.
New HAA Elected Directors
Allison Charney Epstein AB ’89 magna cum laude with highest honors
MM ’91, AD ’94, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
New York, New York
Occupation:
- Grammy-Nominated Soprano and Classical Music Producer
Harvard-Related Activities:
- President, Harvard Club of New York Foundation
- Citywide Co-Chair, Harvard Club of New York Schools Committee
- Board Member, Harvard Club of New York
- Participation Chair for Class of 1989 Reunions
- Alumni Interviewer
- Advisory Board Member, Harvard Office for the Arts
Achievements and Honors:
- 2026 Grammy Nomination for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album, ALIKE - My Mother’s Dream
- Performed at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, and Alice Tully Hall
- Albums on the Billboard, iTunes, and Amazon Classical Charts
Personal Statement:
In my Harvard volunteer roles, I’ve championed programs that focus on both student and alumni engagement. I’m proud of the programs I’ve established that fund summer internships in NYC and provide skills-building workshops during the J-term that prepare students to enter the workforce. As an alumni interviewer for 35 years and NYC Schools Committee Chair, I’ve helped first-generation students and those from underresourced schools understand Harvard’s financial aid initiative. At HCNY, I’ve spearheaded a popular fireside chat series mirroring the intellectual vitality programs on campus. My work and volunteer commitments are aligned by a desire to create meaningful connections through community, build bridges across differences, and be true to the pursuit of veritas. Whether bringing audiences together through music, connecting undergraduates with mentors, guiding alumni through the interviewing process, or helping students secure public service internships, I’m motivated by work that strengthens relationships, expands access, and creates mutual value.
Mia Esther Alpert AB ’99
Los Angeles, California
Occupation:
- Founder, Board Member, and President Emerita, Harvardwood
Previous Work Experience:
- Actor, Writer, and Producer
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Founder, Harvardwood Artist Launch Fellowship
- Founding Member, Harvard College Fund Women’s Philanthropy Initiative
- Director’s Alumni Council, Office for the Arts at Harvard
- Gift Committee, Program Committee, and Chief Marshal Selection Committee, Class of 1999 25th Reunion
- LA Leadership Committee, PBHA Alumni Association
- Alumni Interviewer
Achievements and Honors:
- HAA Outstanding Club & SIG Contribution Award (2019)
- HAA Clubs Committee Award (2007)
- UCLA Lab School Board of Advisors, Chair Emerita
- CAPE Best New Writer Award
- Best Narrative Feature, Tribeca Film Festival
- Audience Award and Best Screenplay, Outfest
Personal Statement:
Through Harvardwood, the nonprofit and HAA Shared Interest Group that I cofounded, I have spent over 25 years building programs that create more equitable access to resources and careers in the arts, media, and entertainment industry. In this and other Harvard volunteer roles, I continue to develop meaningful connections with alumni from all generations who inspire me intellectually, professionally, spiritually, and otherwise. I have greatly enjoyed advising many SIGs on best practices based on my experience building Harvardwood into a global community encompassing alumni on six continents. I believe that my experiences with nonprofit governance and organizational leadership, combined with deep engagement across multiple Harvard communities, will enable me to advocate effectively for initiatives that meaningfully strengthen alumni connection and bolster Harvard’s commitment to advancing knowledge, educating leaders, and serving society.
Jeffrey H. Tignor AB ’96 cum laude
JD ’99, Duke University
Washington, D.C.
Occupation:
- Attorney-Advisor, Federal Communications Commission
- Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke Law School
Previous Work Experience:
- Acting Director, Office of Communications Business Opportunities, Federal Communications Commission
- Research Fellow, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Past President and Schools Committee Co-Chair, Harvard Club of Washington, D.C.
- Past Vice President, Harvard Black Alumni Society of Washington, D.C.
- Alumni Interviewer
Achievements and Honors:
- Hamden Education Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award
- Kirkland House Service Award
Personal Statement:
I want to ensure that each generation of alumni has a lifelong connection to the University. My experience as president of the Harvard Club of Washington, D.C., during the pandemic has prepared me well. We met people where they were with a variety of in-person and virtual events—some designed just for conversation and others for learning. Our membership grew to the highest level in recent history, at a time when our local alumni community needed us. As a lawyer, I’m accustomed to evaluating and synthesizing a variety of different perspectives. I look forward to listening and developing initiatives grounded in the many things we have in common as Harvard alumni. We have an opportunity to support current students and fellow alumni, listening with experienced ears to their challenges and triumphs.
Jimmy Biblarz AB ’14 magna cum laude, JD ’21 cum laude, PhD ’23
Los Angeles, California
Occupation:
- Attorney, Hueston Hennigan; Lecturer in Law, UCLA School of Law
Previous Work Experience:
- Attorney, Munger, Tolles & Olson
- Legislative Director, LA City Council
- Candidate, LA City Council District 5
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Board Member, Harvard Club of Southern California
- Alumni Interviewer
- Former Board Member, Harvard Gender & Sexuality Alumni Caucus
- Resident LGBTQ+ and Prelaw Tutor, Eliot House
Achievements and Honors:
- Brian Hennigan Award for Most Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono Service
- Top “40 Under 40” LGBTQ Lawyers (awarded by LGBTQ Bar Association)
- Marquand Award for Most Outstanding Harvard Graduate Advisor
- Tom Dingman Award for Most Outstanding Harvard Undergraduate Advisor
- Charles William Eliot Prize for Contribution to Eliot House
Personal Statement:
As it did for so many of us, Harvard changed the course of my life, opening doors I did not know existed and giving me a community of friends I remain deeply grateful for. At a moment when the value of higher education is under intense scrutiny, Harvard stands at the vanguard of defending knowledge, research, science, and the global community. I bring a deep sense of stewardship rooted in seven years as a resident tutor in Eliot House. My academic training and teaching experience sharpened my understanding of how high-level decisions are felt by students and faculty, while my work in politics strengthened my ability to build coalitions across difference. My litigation experience adds fluency in governance, risk management, and accountability. I would be honored to serve the University as an elected director at one of the most consequential moments in its history.
Medha Gargeya AB ’14 magna cum laude, JD ’19
Washington, D.C.
Occupation:
- Senior Associate, WilmerHale
- Captain, U.S. Air Force Reserves
- Lecturer on Government Practice, Ethics, and Oversight, Harvard Law School
Previous Work Experience:
- Counsel, Office of the Attorney General for the Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice
- Associate Counsel to the Vice President, White House
- Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- Adjunct Professor, University of South Dakota School of Law
- Law Fellow, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Secretary and Board Member, Harvard Club of Washington, D.C.
- 10th Reunion Co-Chair and City Captain for San Francisco and Washington, D.C., Harvard College Class of 2014
- 5th Reunion Speaker, Harvard Law School Class of 2019
- Member, Committee for the Happy Observance of Commencement
- Senior Common Room Member and Former Resident Tutor, Adams House
- Alumni Interviewer
Achievements and Honors:
- Rising Star, South Asian Bar Association of Washington, D.C.
- Mock Trial Committee Co-Chair, Shakespeare Theatre Company
- Charity Runner, Boston Marathon
Personal Statement:
As a constitutional lawyer who has worked across three branches of government, the military, academia, nonprofits, and the corporate sector, I have counseled high-level stakeholders, incorporated myriad groups’ perspectives, and strategized in complex political and social situations. I hope to apply these experiences and my expertise in institutional governance, ethics, and oversight to build on my roles representing different classes, regions, and interests of the alumni community to foster engagement and transparency across HAA. Over the past 12 years, I feel privileged to have undertaken several leadership roles and been involved with the HAA in Boston, San Francisco, North Carolina, South Dakota, and D.C. Our alumni community is diverse, but our shared willingness to engage in meaningful conversations is the hallmark of civil society. Representing and serving this group would be the honor of a lifetime.
David G. Lefer AB ’93
MS ’95, Columbia University
New York, New York
Occupation:
- Industry Associate Professor, Director of the Innovation and Technology Forum, and Co-Director of the Institute for the Convergence of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Previous Work Experience:
- COO and Chief Growth Officer, Scigus
- Television Producer
- Newspaper Reporter and Author
Harvard-Related Activities:
- Alumni Interviewer and Former Chair, Harvard Club of New York Interviewing Committee
- Berta Greenwald Ledecky Fellow, Harvard Magazine
Achievements and Honors:
- Richard T. Flood ’27 Award for Reunion Gift Performance
Personal Statement:
As a newspaper reporter and TV producer, listening to and learning from others was my full-time job. As a startup founder and professor of entrepreneurship, I teach my students the vital importance of talking to potential customers to understand their needs. I’ve also authored two books on U.S. history, and the hours I’ve spent in archives and libraries have honed my research skills. In short, I’ve spent my life trying to get the real story, and it would be an honor to talk to fellow alumni about their concerns. Many have voiced grave worries about the University’s direction. Most understand no institution is perfect, but all agree Harvard is worth fighting for. To persuade people to invest in Harvard’s future, they first need to feel invested in it. Our alumni have an unparalleled wealth of perspectives that can help Harvard navigate these rough times. Offering them in a clear, practicable way may be the greatest gift we can give.
Harvard Board of Overseers
The Board of Overseers is one of Harvard’s two governing boards, the other being the President and Fellows, also known as the Corporation.
HAA Board of Directors
The HAA Board of Directors empowers volunteers to strengthen the Harvard alumni community.
