News in Brief
by The Editors on October 1, 2008 in HKS News
MPP student tapped to serve on Obama’s campaign
Noerena Limon (MPP ’09) has joined the presidential campaign of Barack Obama as the deputy communications director of Hispanic media. The California native and Berkeley alumna will take a semester off from HKS to campaign for Obama from his Chicago headquarters. Limon served as the associate director of finance and budgeting for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. and was an active member of HKS for Obama.
Her advice to HKS students?
“No Kennedy School student should be watching the election from the forum,” she said. “It’s too critical of an election, and we need everyone out on the field. Making phone calls. Knocking on doors. We have a swing state around the corner, New Hampshire, and Ohio is not too far off. Too much is at stake.”
HKS hosts first Global Empowerment Conference
More than 50 global leaders from business, government, academia, and the non-profit worlds gathered September 22 and 23 at HKS for the first Global Empowerment Conference. The event focused on extending the reach of financial markets to the global poor and also marked the launch of the The Empowerment Lab, a venture funded by MPower Foundation, at Harvard’s Center for International Development.
Speaking out on the issues
Members of HKS faculty and staff continue to provide expertise and commentary for the media on issues ranging from the U.S. financial crisis to the 2008 elections.
• Steven Goldsmith, the Daniel Paul professor of government at HKS, was interviewed by the Pew Forum last week on how faith-based initiatives would change if John McCain were to be elected president;
• Andy Zellecke, co-director of the Center for Public Leadership, published an op-ed in the Christian Science Monitor on September 23 about the failure of government that contributed to the financial crisis on Wall Street;
• Christine Letts, a lecturer of philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, was quoted in US Daily on the inevitable decline of individual and corporate philanthropy and the new role foundations could play; and
• Martin Malin of the Belfer Center wrote an op-ed for the Washington Times last week on lessening the dangers of nuclear terrorism by partnering with Russia.
Uncertainties in financial markets have yet to hit university pockets
Harvard University has reported its second highest fundraising figures in history, having raised $651 million in the most recent fiscal year. Recently, Harvard also reported that its endowment for that same year grew 8.6 percent, bringing the total value of its endowment to $36.9 billion. Strong returns have allowed several Harvard schools, including Harvard Law School and Harvard Medical School, to increase financial aid to its students.
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