Senior U.N. official named Goodman Fellow at KSG

The Kennedy School of Government (KSG) has announced that Sir Kieran Prendergast has been named Goodman United Nations Fellow for the 2005-06 academic year. Prendergast will be affiliated with the School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Prendergast has served as UN under-secretary-general for political affairs since 1997. The Department of Political Affairs is the main source of political advice to the secretary-general on matters relating to peace and security. Prior to joining the United Nations, Prendergast served as British ambassador to Turkey (1995-97), British high commissioner to Kenya (1992-95), and British high commissioner to Zimbabwe (1989-92). He joined the British Foreign Service in 1964.

“This fellowship is a wonderful opportunity for me to work with other scholars at Harvard whose interests in international affairs intersect with mine,” said Prendergast. “My primary project will consist of reflecting back on my work at the Department of Political Affairs, and examining in-depth the ways in which the UN can contribute to conflict resolution.”

“The Belfer Center is honored to be hosting Kieran Prendergast in the coming year,” said Graham Allison, director of the center. “His expertise in international affairs and his experience in security issues, diplomacy, and peace-building will provide us all with tremendous insight. We welcome him to the Kennedy School’s intellectual community and look forward to his arrival.”

John Ruggie, director of KSG’s Center for Business and Government and former assistant secretary-general at the United Nations, spoke highly of his former colleague. “Kieran Prendergast has dedicated his career to international public service. He brings a lifetime of diplomatic experience to Harvard, and our faculty and students can look forward to working closely with him on those vital international issues that engage both the UN and the Kennedy School,” he said.

The Goodman UN Fellowship program is named in honor of Roy M. Goodman A.B. ’51, M.B.A. ’53, president and CEO of the U.N. Development Corp., who served for 33 years as New York state senator. Goodman Fellows have the option to take courses, conduct research, and guest lecture or co-teach a class or module depending on the interests and expertise of the particular fellow and the needs of the School.