HKS BAA 2025 Board of Directors Elections

The Harvard Kennedy School Black Alumni Association (HKS BAA) is a non-profit organization incorporated in Massachusetts since 2002 and holds a 501(c)3 federal exemption. The HKS BAA is an officially recognized shared interest group of Black HKS alumni and allies since 2016. The organization was created informally by HKS alumni in the 1980s to achieve the following mission and goals: 

Deepen understanding among Harvard Kennedy School alumni of social, economic, justice, health, and civic issues facing Black communities in the United States, Africa, Caribbean, and around the world and to:

·        Raise awareness of issues, policies, and strategies to educate, motivate, and inspire HKS Black alums and allied community,

·        Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism at HKS and throughout Harvard,

·        Strengthen connections and engagement of members with one another, current students, and HKS for mutual benefit and advancement, and

·        Support and advance the HKS educational and public service mission. 

The Executive Board 

The Executive Board is responsible for advancing the mission and goals of the BAA, including developing programs, providing strategic guidance, setting policies, overseeing the organization’s operations, and financial management.    

The BAA By-laws provide the organization’s membership, governance, the role of Executive Board officers, and election procedures. The six (6) elected officers of the Executive Board include:

1.    President:  Provides overall leadership and chairs BAA Executive Board meetings.

2.    Vice-President: Focus is on internal BAA matters and programming, and chairs Executive Board meetings in absence of the President.

3.    Secretary:  Responsible for meeting minutes, filing annual Massachusetts State Report.

4.    Treasurer:  Oversees BAA bank and funding-related activities.

5.    Communications Director: Responsible for BAA website and social media accounts.

6.    Student Liaison Director: Serves as the primary contact with current HKS students including support of student activities.

The BAA Executive Board currently is comprised of six (6) officers and two (2) appointed directors-at-large. Additional directors-at-large may be appointed.

Nominations and Elections

Officers are elected every two (2) years for a two (2) year term.  An officer may be re-elected to two (2) consecutive terms in a specific office.

Positions to be filled during the upcoming election for the 2025-2027 term are:

·        Vice President

·        Treasurer

·        Communications Director

·        Student Liaison Director

BAA members may run for an Executive Board Officer position by: 

1.      Submitting a self-nomination form to HKS Alumni Relations Office. 

2.      Providing a written statement and/or participating in a Candidate Forum providing their qualifications and reason for running.

The HKS Alumni Relations Office will be responsible for conducting and overseeing the election process and will develop and publish the election schedule. 

Additional Information

Throughout most of the year, the BAA Executive Board meets every other week on Monday evenings.  The Board may meet less frequently during the summer and typically takes the month of August off.