Press Release
from Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Cambridge, MA – April 02, 2024 — The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School proudly announces several new Senior Fellows joining in Spring 2024, chosen for their outstanding leadership, professional accomplishments, and dedication to shaping future policy leaders.
Gita Wirjawan brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career in public service and business. As Indonesia's former Minister of Trade and Chairman of its Investment Coordinating Board, Wirjawan has worked at the highest levels of international diplomacy and economics. Today his podcast, “Endgame,” reaches millions of listeners around the world. Wirjawan joins as a Fisher Family visiting fellow.
"Gita Wirjawan's multifaceted expertise and global reach will enrich our community, benefit our students, and advance our scholarship on issues ranging from sustainable development to the role of emerging countries in today’s international landscape," remarked Belfer Center Director Meghan L. O'Sullivan.
The Fisher Family Fellowship was created in 2010 by Nicholas Burns, the current U.S. Ambassador to China, while he was Harvard Kennedy School faculty. The fellowship was created through an endowment made possible by Nancy and Richard W. Fisher, AB ’71. The fellowship program has welcomed senior diplomatic leaders from across the world to campus to engage with students, faculty, and fellows and to contribute to the intellectual life of the Harvard Kennedy School.
Moeed W. Yusuf is the Vice Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University and former National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. With a background in policy research, Yusuf has contributed significantly to scholarship and policy debates on security issues in Pakistan and South Asia. He previously worked at several prominent institutions including the U.S. Institute of Peace and Boston University and was a 2008-2009 Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.
"Moeed Yusuf's diverse background in government and academia, and his deep experience in both the United States and Pakistan, will be invaluable in our efforts to address consequential policy questions in the context of a changing international order. His leadership in higher education will also be a great benefit to our students and broader community," noted O'Sullivan.
Wirjawan and Yusuf join former Iraqi President Barham Salih as the 2024 Belfer Center Spring Senior Fellows, contributing to the Center’s community of over 120 resident and non-resident fellows, united in their commitment to driving positive change in the realm of international affairs.
In addition, the Belfer Center welcomes the arrival of Dr. Nadya Hajj as a Visiting Scholar with the Middle East Initiative. Dr. Hajj, an Associate Professor and Director of Peace and Justice Studies at Wellesley College, brings her expertise in conflict transformation and public good provision among marginalized communities, particularly refugees, to enrich the Center's research agenda and outreach efforts.
Jennifer Spence has been appointed as Project Director of the Arctic Initiative. Drawing on her background as Executive Secretary of the Arctic Council's Sustainable Development Working Group and Adjunct Professor with Carleton University's Northern Studies Graduate Program. Spence has been a Senior Fellow with the Arctic Initiative since 2022. Spence will guide the Initiative's endeavors in scholarship, policy engagement, and youth leadership training to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change in the Arctic.
Finally, the White House announced that President Biden has nominated Michael Sulmeyer as the United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy at the Department of Defense. His extensive experience spans various key roles within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and U.S. Cyber Command. Sulmeyer made significant contributions to academia and research as the former Director of the Cybersecurity Project at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.