Sylvia Mathews Burwell
A.B. ’87 cum laude
B.A. ’90, University of Oxford
Washington, DC
B.A. ’90, University of Oxford
Washington, DC
Sylvia Mathews Burwell has served since 2017 as president of American University, where she has led efforts to more than double research funding, reinvent the student experience, and build inclusive excellence.
Her career has spanned higher education, government, and the nonprofit world. Earlier, she served as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services—where she both managed a trillion-dollar department that included the National Institutes of Health and oversaw implementation of the Affordable Care Act—and as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Her previous government roles include deputy chief of staff to the president.
Burwell has also held leadership positions at two of the world’s largest foundations: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as chief operating officer and president of the global development program, and the Walmart Foundation, as president and leader of global efforts on women’s economic empowerment.
Her service has been honored by the World Affairs Council, the National Academy of Public Administration, and the Harvard Club of Washington, D.C. She serves on the boards of the American Council on Education and the Aspen Institute.
A native of West Virginia, she attended Harvard College, then Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
“My roles in higher education, government, and foundations are rooted in a passion to help make the world a better place. Harvard helped make that passion a reality. I hope I can now contribute to Harvard and its next generation of students to help solve the most pressing problems of our time.”
Her career has spanned higher education, government, and the nonprofit world. Earlier, she served as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services—where she both managed a trillion-dollar department that included the National Institutes of Health and oversaw implementation of the Affordable Care Act—and as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Her previous government roles include deputy chief of staff to the president.
Burwell has also held leadership positions at two of the world’s largest foundations: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as chief operating officer and president of the global development program, and the Walmart Foundation, as president and leader of global efforts on women’s economic empowerment.
Her service has been honored by the World Affairs Council, the National Academy of Public Administration, and the Harvard Club of Washington, D.C. She serves on the boards of the American Council on Education and the Aspen Institute.
A native of West Virginia, she attended Harvard College, then Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
“My roles in higher education, government, and foundations are rooted in a passion to help make the world a better place. Harvard helped make that passion a reality. I hope I can now contribute to Harvard and its next generation of students to help solve the most pressing problems of our time.”