Ijeoma Akunyili, the first daughter of the late Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has been elected as an alumni board member of the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) in the United Kingdom. Ijeoma, along with eight others elected from different countries, will serve a four-year term, marking a significant milestone in her career.
The Harvard Kennedy School alumni board is composed of 22 volunteer members who work to strengthen connections among HKS alumni worldwide. Currently, the board consists of 16 elected members and six appointed members. These members are part of various working committees focusing on engagement, connections, celebration and recognition, board governance, and communications.
The board’s primary mission is to engage the global alumni community, champion the HKS mission, increase alumni engagement with each other and the school, and advise the dean on alumni perspectives. The board operates closely with the alumni relations office, with support from the director of alumni relations, the dean of Harvard Kennedy School, and other senior administrators.
Ijeoma’s election to the board is a proof of her leadership prowess. She, along with her fellow board members, is expected to commit to a four-year term, attend bi-annual board meetings in Cambridge, MA, and actively participate in board work and assigned committees. Board members are also encouraged to attend HKS alumni events in their regions and lead by example by donating to the HKS fund within their personal capacities.
The school congratulated the newly elected board members and urged them to strengthen alumni engagement and support the institution’s goals. The board members are expected to participate in selecting winners for the annual HKS alumni awards and work on initiatives aligning with the dean’s and alumni relations office priorities.
