Kennedy School dean to step down, remain on faculty
Douglas W. Elmendorf will step down as dean of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in June but will remain on the faculty at the institution, the school said Thursday.
Elmendorf, an economist who became dean in 2016, will leave his post at the end of the academic year but will continue to “engage in teaching and research,” the school said in a statement.
“Being dean of Harvard Kennedy School has been even more enlightening, challenging, and rewarding than I imagined when I accepted the position in June 2015,” he wrote in a message to the school community. “But I decided during the summer that it will soon be time for the next chapter for the Kennedy School and for me. I plan to step down as dean in June 2024, after which I look forward to playing a different role here — that of a faculty member — and to having much more time to learn and teach about economic policy.”
Elmendorf declined further comment Thursday through a spokesperson.
Harvard president Claudine Gay praised Elmendorf for his “boundless grace, good humor, and an unwavering commitment to rigorous scholarship for the betterment of society.”
“Drawing on his own impressive record of public service, he has been a champion for principled, effective public policy and leadership in the face of considerable challenges to those ideals,” Gay said. “Under his guidance, HKS has expanded its engagement across Harvard and beyond, helping researchers and practitioners translate knowledge into policy and impact.”
Gay and Alan M. Garber, the university’s provost, will “share information” in the coming weeks about the search for Elmendorf’s successor, officials said.
The school said highlights of Elmendorf ’s tenure include the launching of the Bloomberg Center for Cities, backed by a $150 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2021. The center, based at the Kennedy School, brings together experts to train leaders and produce relevant policy research, the university said.
Financial aid has also been a top priority for Elmendorf, a former Congressional Budget Office director, the university said.
“Doug has worked tirelessly to ensure that HKS will be a force for more effective public leadership and public policy in
Douglas W. Elmendorf will leave the dean’s post in 2024. the U.S. and abroad,” Garber said in the statement.