Staff Spotlight: Guy Keeley

Impactful programs require good budgets, and good budgets require a good finance director. We’re fortunate to have the great Guy Keeley managing the funds that fuel the Center’s research.

Keeley, who is quick to credit his colleague Lovita Strain for the team’s success, brings nearly a quarter century of experience at Harvard to the job. Such depth is critical to managing the financial operations of the largest research center at Harvard Kennedy School. 

“I have the unique opportunity to help a broad range of researchers think more strategically about their projects and make the most of their funding,” says Keeley. “That makes life interesting.”

When he’s not deep in Excel files, the Liverpool, England native might be doing analytics on the Center’s own recreational soccer team. “Coach Keeley” has bravely molded a motley crew of players into a unit worthy of the Belfer FC jerseys they wear.

On weekends, Keeley likes to browse local used record stores. Blending old school and new school, he uses an app called Discogs to determine if that vintage Pink Floyd LP is already in his copious collection. And yes, he not only owns a first pressing of London Calling, but saw The Clash perform live many times starting in 1977.

Each December, Keeley organizes a staff quiz based on knowledge of holiday-themed movies. Newcomers quickly learn there are no easy questions about The Grinch or A Charlie Brown Christmas.

One of the most memorable community gatherings at the Center took place a few years ago to honor Keeley taking his oath of U.S. citizenship at Boston’s famous Faneuil Hall. “The only way I can participate in this democracy is to embrace becoming a citizen, so I took the opportunity to do it,” Keeley says. “It shows the importance I place on what it means to act and participate as a citizen.”