HKS BAA Elections
Learn more about the HKS BAA.
Mission
The Harvard Kennedy School Black Alumni Association (HKS BAA) is a non-profit organization incorporated in Massachusetts since 2002 and 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,
· Raise awareness of potential policies and strategies to make the Black global community more fair, just, and equitable.
· 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.
· 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 over all leadership and chairs BAA Executive Board meetings. Time commitment: (at least 7-10 hours per week)
2. Vice-President: Focus is on internal BAA matters and programming, and chairs Executive Board meetings in absence of the President. Time commitment: (at least 6-8 hours per week)
3. Secretary: Responsible for meeting minutes, filing annual Massachusetts State Report. Time commitment: (4-6 hours per week)
4. Treasurer: Oversees BAA bank and funding-related activities. Time commitment: (4-6 hours per week)
5. Communications Director: Responsible for BAA website and social media accounts. Time commitment: (at least 6-8 hours per week)
6. Student Liaison Director: Serves as the primary contact with current HKS students including support of student activities. Time commitment: (4-6 hours per week)
The BAA Executive Board currently is comprised of six (6) officers and two (2) appointed positions, but may be expanded up to thirteen (13), including at large and/regional directors.
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. The current EB Officers are eligible to run for a second term.
BAA members may run for an EB Officer position by:
Submitting a self-nomination form to HKS Alumni Relations Office.
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.