Atwood named dean for external affairs at KSG

Christine Atwood has been appointed senior associate dean for external affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (KSG), Dean David T. Ellwood recently announced. In her new role, Atwood will lead the School’s development initiatives and oversee alumni programs. She will also serve as a member of the dean’s leadership team, helping to define the School’s strategy moving forward.

“Christine will be a welcome addition to the Kennedy School team. She brings with her strong management skills, sound judgment, and a wealth of experience, including a solid track record in development,” said Ellwood. “I plan to work closely with Christine and the entire external affairs team to advance our programs to the highest levels.”

Most recently, Atwood served as director of development at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., where she completed a $210 million fundraising campaign and enhanced the school’s individual and corporate/foundation giving programs. Prior to her work at Phillips Academy, Atwood was executive director of development and then interim vice president of development at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She has also worked as director of the leadership gift program at Wellesley College; director of development at Wheelock College; and director of the capital campaign at WGBH.

“I welcome the great challenges that await me at the Kennedy School,” said Atwood. “As a team we have the opportunity to develop even greater support structures to further advance the School’s mission of training public leaders and contributing to the solution of public problems in the years ahead.”

Atwood assumed her new duties at the Kennedy School Sept. 6, succeeding Holly Taylor Sargent, recently named Harvard University’s senior associate dean for advancement and senior director for university women’s initiatives.