Dear Members of the Harvard Community,
We are very pleased to announce that the Harvard Corporation will welcome two new Fellows on July 1, Sylvia Mathews Burwell ’87 and Michael S. Chae ’90.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, a 1987 graduate of Harvard College, is a charismatic leader who has managed large, complex organizations with distinction at the highest levels of education, government, and philanthropy. Her experience includes service as the 15th president of American University, the 22nd secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the director of the Office of Management and Budget. She has also held senior leadership roles at major philanthropic organizations, including the Gates Foundation and the Walmart Foundation. Sylvia is known for her integrity, thoughtfulness, and data-informed decision-making, as well as her ability to engage constructively with stakeholders across political and ideological lines. A dedicated alumna with deep knowledge of the University, Sylvia has shown herself to be a collegial and collaborative leader in her service as president of the Board of Overseers this academic year. She will join the Corporation at the conclusion of her term in that role.
Michael S. Chae, a 1990 graduate of Harvard College, is currently vice chairman and chief financial officer of Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset management firm, which he joined in 1997. A deeply devoted alumnus, he has supported undergraduate financial aid and the work of the economics and government departments, as well as other significant university initiatives. He is a dedicated member of the board of the Harvard Management Company, contributing his experience in long-term investment and institutional stewardship to the management of Harvard’s endowment. He is also a committed member of the advisory council for the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and has co-chaired his class reunion committee. An expert in the management of complex financial institutions with deep knowledge of corporate governance, Michael is widely respected for his collegiality, humility, and rigor.
As we look forward to welcoming Sylvia and Michael, we express our deepest appreciation to Ken Chenault, Biddy Martin, and Karen Mills, who are concluding their service and whose pragmatic and principled counsel have helped to guide the University during an extraordinarily tumultuous period. We are grateful to them—and to our colleagues past and present—for all of their work to ensure that Harvard continues to thrive.
Sincerely,
Alan M. Garber, President
Penny Pritzker, Senior Fellow, Harvard Corporation
P.S. A related Harvard Gazette article appears here.
