Moira Whelan to lead Belfer’s Communications Team

Moira Whelan, who most recently served on the Homeland Security Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives as communications director for the minority, has joined Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs as the director of communications and outreach. Whelan will coordinate the center’s outreach to the media and Capitol Hill.

“We are excited to have Moira on board,” said Graham Allison, director of the center. “The scholars at the Belfer Center are producing great work and Moira will help us put it at the forefront of the policy debate.”

Prior to joining government, Whelan was the director for congressional affairs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. She also served as the managing editor for The Washington Quarterly. Whelan holds a B.A. from Regis University in Denver, and is completing an M.A. in international studies from Old Dominion University.

“I am very excited to be here. The Belfer Center has some of the most innovative thinkers on issues critical to the country’s future. I am grateful to Graham Allison for this opportunity to promote Belfer’s cutting-edge work in security and energy policy.”

John Neffinger, who has been serving as director of communications and outreach since 2003, will be leaving to join the private sector. “John has made a great contribution to the center and he will be missed. We wish him luck in his endeavors,” said Juliette Kayyem, Belfer Center executive director.

Communications officer Sharon Wilke will remain on staff at the Belfer Center.