Overseers names 5; HAA Elected Directors names 6

The President of the Harvard Alumni Association announced the results of the annual election of new members of the Harvard Board of Overseers last week. The results were released at the annual meeting of the association following the University’s 350th Commencement. The five newly elected Overseers, in order of their finish, are Harold Hongju Koh, 20,519; Susan Graham Harrison, 19,406; Paul A. Buttenwieser, 18,099; Bruce M. Alberts, 17,941; Deborah C. Wright, 17,913; and the candidate who received the sixth-highest number of votes, 15,913.

In 2001, there were eight candidates nominated by the Harvard Alumni Association. A total of 33,424 alumni and alumnae cast ballots in the election for a 16.5 percent rate of participation among eligible voters.

The primary function of the Board of Overseers is to encourage the University to maintain the highest attainable standards as a place of learning. Overseers carry out this mission by visiting faculties, departments, and other important programs throughout the University so that they can inform themselves about the quality of teaching, research, and administration and then identify problems and offer advice to faculties and University officials.

The six new Elected Directors, in order of their finish, are Gloria Wu, 21,244; Thomas H. Mattox, 18,707; Judith A. Dollenmayer, 17,837; Lisa Quiroz, 17,755; Cheryl McAfee-Mitchell, 17,091; Paul J. Finnegan, 16,782; and the seventh candidate received 16,131 votes.

In 2001, there were nine candidates nominated by the Harvard Alumni Association. A total of 32,425 ballots were received for a 15.5 percent rate of participation from eligible voters.

The aim of the HAA is to keep the University and its alumni linked together in mutually beneficial ways. The Elected Directors serve on the HAA Board for three years and represent the entire graduate constituency. The work of the HAA is carried out by its various standing and ad hoc committees. Elected Directors sit on two committees and usually chair one.