Harvard Kennedy School

Harvard Kennedy School. The John F. Kennedy School of Government is the public policy school of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded as the Graduate School of Public Administration in 1936, it was renamed in 1966 to honor the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. The school's mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. It educates leaders from around the world in government, business, and civil society through its degree programs, executive education, and influential research.

History

The school's origins trace to a 1936 gift from Lucius N. Littauer, a former Congressman, which established the Graduate School of Public Administration. Its early deans, like John H. Williams and Don K. Price, shaped its focus on economics and the practical arts of governance. The school was formally renamed in 1966 following a major fundraising campaign supported by the Kennedy family and friends, including a pivotal donation from the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. Under the long deanship of Graham T. Allison (1977–1989), the school significantly expanded its faculty, degree programs, and physical campus. Key milestones include the founding of the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum in 1978 and the school's integration with the research of the Harvard Institute of Politics, established in 1966 as a living memorial to President Kennedy.

Academics

The school offers a range of degree programs, including the Master in Public Policy (MPP), Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID), and the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA). It also confers the Master in Public Administration (MPA) for more experienced professionals and several joint degrees with other Harvard schools, such as the Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. The core curriculum emphasizes analytical skills in economics, quantitative analysis, and political philosophy, alongside leadership and management. Executive Education programs train senior public officials, including leaders from the U.S. Department of Defense and the United Nations. Doctoral programs are offered in partnership with the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, preparing scholars for careers in academia and research institutions like the World Bank.

Research centers and institutes

A network of research centers drives the school's intellectual agenda. The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, co-founded by Graham T. Allison, focuses on security, diplomacy, and technology policy. The Taubman Center for State and Local Government studies governance in the United States. The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy examines the intersection of news media and democratic institutions. Other major institutes include the Center for International Development, which works on global poverty, and the Institute of Politics, which encourages student engagement in public service. These centers often collaborate with entities like the National Bureau of Economic Research and host fellows from organizations such as the CIA and the European Commission.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty includes prominent scholars and practitioners such as economist Lawrence Summers, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; political scientist Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone; and former World Health Organization Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland. Distinguished alumni in government include former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, and former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón. In the United States, notable graduates are former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, and former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick. Alumni also lead major international organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and serve in senior roles in the U.S. Congress and the White House.

Campus and facilities

The school's main campus is located on John F. Kennedy Street in Harvard Square, adjacent to Harvard Yard. The central building is the Littauer Center, named for the school's founder, which houses classrooms and administrative offices. The modern Taubman Building, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, provides additional teaching space and the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, a major venue for speeches and debates. Other key facilities include the Belfer Center library and the David T. Ellwood Democracy Lab. The school's buildings are near other Harvard institutions like the Harvard Law School and the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across the university.

Category:Harvard University Category:Public policy schools in the United States