Von Gimborn Arrives at Harvard Neighbors

By Alvin Powell

Contributing Writer

Harvard Neighbors, the organization whose objective is to make spouses of Harvard faculty and top administrators feel welcome at the University, is starting the academic year by doing some welcoming within its own ranks.

Harvard Neighbors has a new coordinator, Jacoba von Gimborn, who will oversee activities within the largely volunteer organization.

Von Gimborn comes to Harvard Neighbors from the School of Public Health's François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, where she handled special projects such as setting up meetings and conferences, preparing publications, and serving as assistant editor of the journal Health and Human Rights.

"She was the outstanding candidate for us because she has the perfect combination of an outgoing personality and the experience needed for this demanding one-person operation," said AnnaMaria Abernathy, chair of the Harvard Neighbors board of directors and a member of the search committee for the program's new coordinator.

Von Gimborn replaces Judy Fox, who served as coordinator for 13 years.

"She really expanded this organization and put her stamp on it," Abernathy said.

Fox is now director of the Harvard-Radcliffe Parents Association and coordinator of transfer and visiting student programs.

Harvard Neighbors is a volunteer organization that has been in existence for more than 100 years. Its goal is to create a sense of community at Harvard. Membership is open to current and retired officers and their spouses. Harvard officers include faculty and some administrative and professional staff.

Members help new arrivals meet people and feel welcome. New members are contacted by volunteers in their neighborhood. In addition to social events, the organization has 22 Interest Groups through which members can share skills and knowledge of subjects ranging from art to quilting to tennis to child care.

Von Gimborn has her work cut out for her. She is stepping into her new role at a critical time: as Harvard Neighbors welcomes new arrivals on campus.

The organization's first event is a tea planned for Oct. 7 in Loeb House. The tea is important because it gives new and old members a chance to meet and organize the interest groups that are the core of the organization.

Von Gimborn herself is looking forward to the challenge. She enjoyed working at the Bagnoud Center, which examines the link between health problems and human rights, but said the Harvard Neighbors coordinator's job combines the varied skills she's acquired.

"I enjoy dealing with people. I like doing special events. I like working with volunteers," Von Gimborn said. "I was very excited when I saw this job opening."

Von Gimborn was born in Germany and came to the United States to attend Smith College. She received a bachelor's degree in theater in 1986. She attended graduate school at Boston University and obtained a master's degree in communication in 1988.

After Boston University, she worked for the Historic Neighborhoods Foundation in Boston and for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society before coming to the Bagnoud Center in 1994.

Von Gimborn said her challenge now is to manage the coming year's schedule of events. In the future, she hopes to increase the outreach across the university and to help keep Harvard Neighbors' membership growing.