Spotlight on the HKS BAA
Join the HKS BAA today by completing a membership information form.
The Harvard Kennedy School Black Alumni Association (HKS BAA) is a Kennedy School Shared Interest Group for HKS graduates and partners who are interested in matters impacting Black communities across the United States and around the world. With nearly 500 members and participants, the BAA’s mission is to advance and promote issues affecting Black HKS students, alumni, administration, faculty, and staff in addition to amplifying key challenges facing Black communities.
To achieve this mission, HKS BAA President Rudy Brioché (MPP 2000) and the organization’s 2021-2023 Executive Board have prioritized building an energetic and collaborative alumni network, fostering meaningful connections between current students, alumni, faculty, and administrators, and delivering impactful programming around timely social, economic, and civic topics. These priorities align with the ideal upon which the original organization was founded in the 1980s—that HKS alumni are stronger together and that together, a committed group of talented, graduates can make a positive difference in the HKS community and the world.
Over the past year, the HKS BAA has been busy. The organization hosted and co-hosted a variety of events, including the Inaugural State of Leadership Lecture with Governor Deval Patrick, The Black Agenda with Boston Mayor Kim Janey, and a discussion with HKS Ford Foundation Professor of History, Race, and Public Policy, Khalil Muhammad. Earlier this fall, HKS BAA members enjoyed a robust discussion at the 2022 HKS BAA Annual Meeting with HKS Dean Doug Elmendorf and Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Robbin Chapman. During the 2022 midterm election season, HKS BAA members joined a discussion sponsored by the Ash Center and HKS BAA with former West Virginia Secretary of State and current Institute of Politics fellow Natalie Tennant to explore the challenges of election administration and highlight potential problems at the polls.
In 2023, the HKS BAA will continue prioritizing meaningful connections as it works to incorporate new members and strengthen networking opportunities. About making a difference through the BAA, President Brioché has often said, “HKS is a not only a special place to address vexing policy issues and to develop effective solutions, but it also has a special role to play in the national and global conversation about race. The BAA can serve as one of those places where HKS alumni, students, faculty, staff, and administration can harness their efforts, together, to help HKS fulfill that greater sense of purpose and policy leadership.” See article in HKS Magazine about BAA. Link: (Growing diversity and community | Harvard Kennedy School)
Interested HKS alumni are invited to join the HKS BAA by completing a member information form on the HKS BAA website. Current members should also use the form to update their membership information and share suggestions for future events and activities.
Please contact HKS BAA Communications Director Kia Coleman (MPP 1999) at HKSblackalumni@gmail.com if you have questions.