At last count, GSAS had more than 34,000 alumni living throughout the world. These talented master’s and PhD graduates are utilizing the experience they gained at Harvard to advance careers in academia, government, the private sector, and more. As dean, I am proud of the education Harvard provides, and I am actively investigating ways to enhance our alumni engagement globally to benefit our students further—focusing on alumni career advice, mentoring, and support.
One of our key engagement events of the year happens during January@GSAS, when the Graduate School Alumni Association Council sponsors several career and professional development–oriented workshops. This January, the workshops focused on strategy consulting, finance, big data, and the experiences of recent graduates. Nearly 20 GSAS alumni returned to campus to discuss the careers they have built outside of academia, providing an excellent opportunity for current students to explore alternative options and seek advice.
Eager to enhance efforts to connect GSAS graduates with current graduate students, the Graduate School Alumni Association Council has taken on the task of determining how to increase alumni engagement. A group of Council members is currently reviewing existing efforts and considering recommendations for further action. I am looking forward to learning their results and implementing their recommendations.
Alumni mentoring and engagement occurs regularly within departments and programs, and I am delighted to support their efforts. Thanks to the great generosity of David Gochman, AM ’90, who established the Gochman Dean’s Fund for Innovation and Development, I have been able to fund many activities that provide professional development opportunities for our students. A recent series spearheaded by the American Studies Program is a great example of how alumni can engage with graduate students to help inform their professional development.
During March and April, students and administrators in American Studies organized a series of professional development events focused on helping students improve their teaching, build an online presence, and prepare for the job market. Several alumni participated and provided insights into building careers in academia, while staff from the Office of Career Services and the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning shared networking and writing tips. Most exciting was the fact that the series was open to ALL graduate students, not just those in American Studies (you can read more about the series on page 26).
Harvard’s global societal contributions and leading roles in higher education depend critically on the excellence of GSAS alumni. These talented graduates forge new paths in a multitude of fields, and they represent a tremendous resource. Enhancing alumni engagement, mentoring, and support will benefit our current students and ensure that they go on to equally successful careers.
—Xiao-Li Meng, Dean of Harvard GSAS
