Founding president of Voto Latino and an Emmy-nominated analyst for MSNBC, Maria Teresa Kumar is dedicated to expanding participation in the democratic process. 

The country’s largest Latino voter registration organization, Voto Latino pioneered the use of technology, social media, and celebrities to effectively register voters. For this work, Fast Company named Kumar one of its most creative minds.

“I’m most passionate about a just, equitable, and enfranchised country. And I believe education is our best means to achieve greater equity, inclusion, and self-determination.”

She’s been named one of the 10 most influential women in D.C. by Elle and received the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Leadership Award for advancing democracy.

Kumar is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, National Task Force on Election Crises, the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders, and the board of Emily’s List. She previously served as a board member of Planned Parenthood and co-chair of the Aspen Institute’s Task Force for Learning and the Internet.

She helped revamp the Harvard Hispanic Journal as a student and serves on the universal voting working group at Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, we face a rare opportunity to reimagine how we deliver education and provide a robust roadmap for other institutions to follow. My expertise working with younger Americans and their families, and my own experience as a first-generation immigrant college student, can help Harvard lead in determining the future of educational access and addressing inclusion in a meaningful way.”