Steven Oliveira named HLS associate dean and dean for development

Steven Oliveira, an accomplished university advancement professional with more than 23 years of experience, has joined Harvard Law School (HLS) as associate dean and dean for development and alumni relations. Oliveira brings a wide range of relevant experience to his new position, including senior positions at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia, and Brown University. He comes to HLS as the School is completing a five-year campaign to raise $400 million — the most ambitious fundraising drive in the history of legal education.

“I am delighted that we’ve recruited Steve Oliveira to oversee this critically important area of the Law School,” said Dean Elena Kagan. “In addition to bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position, Steve has a proven track record of success in development and alumni relations. As we complete our current campaign, Steve will help sustain our momentum, while also building a development and alumni relations program that will serve the School going forward.”

Oliveira served most recently as associate dean for external affairs at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he led the successful Campaign for Sustained Leadership, raising more than $447 million, at that time the largest business school campaign in history. Previously, as vice president for development and alumni relations at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, he led the Campaign for Darden, exceeding the goal by more than 100 percent and raising the largest gift in the history of business education. At Brown, he served as associate vice president and co-director of development, and played a major role in Brown’s Campaign for the Rising Generation.

In each of these positions Oliveira rebuilt and revitalized advancement programs, provided strategic planning and leadership, led record-breaking fundraising efforts, increased annual giving, and deepened alumni involvement and engagement.

Oliveira completed his undergraduate degree at Brown and went on to earn a J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School. He succeeds Richard Boardman, a longtime Harvard development professional, who has been leading the Law School’s development and alumni relations effort for the past two years. Boardman will remain in his position until the end of the current Setting the Standard campaign.