Press Release
Westley Cineus Named Director of Finance for Belfer Center
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School is pleased to announce Westley Cineus as its new Director of Finance.
Cambridge, MA – January 23, 2025 – The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School is pleased to announce Westley Cineus as its new Director of Finance.
With over a decade of experience in financial management and research administration within Harvard University and beyond, Cineus has a proven track record of managing complex financial portfolios in academia, as well as partnerships with major foundations and government entities.
Cineus joins the Belfer Center from Opportunity Insights at Harvard, where he served as Assistant Director of Research Administration. In this role, he oversaw financial operations, ensuring the seamless management of research funding and compliance. Previously, he worked as a Senior Research Officer at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, managing a complex portfolio of sponsored research across multiple institutions, including Harvard Medical School and Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
“West’s depth of expertise in financial management and research administration will be invaluable as we advance the Belfer Center’s mission of addressing the world’s most critical challenges,” said Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Director of the Belfer Center. “Throughout his career, West has built and managed relationships with a wide array of financial players and funders, demonstrating his ability to be a trusted partner."
“West’s leadership, dedication to operational excellence, and experience partnering with diverse faculty and scholars, will ensure the Center’s continued success and its ability to foster cutting-edge research and innovation,” said Executive Director Natalie Colbert. "We are thrilled for West to join the Belfer community."
“I’m excited to join the Belfer Center and deeply honored to work under Meghan O’Sullivan’s visionary leadership," said Cineus. “It’s a privilege to contribute administratively to the Center’s mission and its important work on global challenges. Having already met some incredible people here, I’m eager to jump in and begin collaborating with this extraordinary team."
Cineus holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Cambridge College and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. His academic background, combined with his hands-on expertise, positions him as a dynamic leader for the Center’s financial strategy and operations.
About the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School addresses the world’s most consequential challenges at the intersection of science, technology, and international affairs. Bringing together scholars, practitioners, and students, the Belfer Center delivers cutting-edge research and forward-looking policy solutions. Benefiting from Harvard University’s dynamic academic community and broad range of perspectives, the Belfer Center bridges the gap between scholarship and real-world solutions while empowering the next generation of leaders to tackle complex global challenges.