The Senior Leadership Fellows Program provides a bridge from the world of decision-making to the world of academia.

This program offers a unique opportunity for those who have recently served in high-level positions in government, multilateral institutions, nonprofit organizations, and journalism to spend time at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to share reflections of their own career and leadership expertise with the next generation of world leaders.

Senior Leadership Fellows mentor students who aspire to similar roles and collaborate with renowned academic colleagues, exploring important issues pertaining to strategic decision-making and leadership development in public health.


Senior Leadership Fellows

Spring 2023: Rochelle Walensky, former CDC Director

Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH ’01, is a Harvard Chan School alum who served as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021-23), professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School (2012-2021), and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital (2017-2021). Her research has focused on infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS policy, including cost-effective strategies for HIV screening, treatment, and prevention, both in the U.S. and around the globe. While at the CDC, Walensky led the nation through unprecedented times, navigating the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and facing the largest density of infectious threats likely ever seen in this country.

She will lead a not-for-credit discussion series for students titled, “Public Health, Policy, and Politics: A Dialogue with Dr. Rochelle Walensky,” which will run from Feb. 7 to April 17. Students can register in advance for the sessions they would like to attend.

Office Hours

Dr. Rochelle Walensky will also be offering office hours before her sessions on February 14, March 6, April 7, and April 17. There are three slots available for each date, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Click hereto book your slot.

Note: Slots will become available every Friday at 12 PM.

Pr. Awa Marie Coll-Seck

Spring 2 2023: Awa Marie Coll-Seck, former senior minister to the president of the Republic of Senegal

Awa Coll Seck, MD, PhD, is a former senior minister to the president of the Republic of Senegal and has twice served as minister of health, from 2001-2003 and from 2012-2017. She was named “Best Minister in the World” in February 2017 at the World Government Summit. A specialist in infectious diseases, she sits on the boards of Resolve to Save Lives; AFRIVAC; GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance; Grand Challenges Canada; Exemplars in Global Health; and UNU International Institute for Global Health. She is chair of AFRIVAC, chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Senegal, and co-chair of the Lancet Commission on the Future of Health and Economic Resiliency in Africa. She also serves as president of the Scientific Committee of the Galien Forum Africa. Coll Seck previously served as executive director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (2004-2012) and as director of the Department of Policy, Strategy and Research of UNAIDS (1996-2001).

Coll Seck will teach GHP 552, “Leadership Development in Global Health,” during the Spring 2 term.

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot Thank You Message

Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently completed a successful fellowship at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, during the Fall 1 term, where she led a course called “Operationalizing Equity in the Delivery of Public Health in a Terrain Fraught with Challenges.” This course delved into the complexities of providing equitable public health services amidst skepticism and numerous obstacles. She took her students behind the curtain and exposed them to myriad challenges of real-world public health leadership.

Throughout her fellowship, Mayor Lightfoot engaged with numerous Harvard Chan students and faculty.  The mayor also engaged with student groups and affiliates from other Harvard Schools, including Harvard College, The Harvard Kennedy School, and The Harvard Graduate School of Design. Mayor Lightfoot exemplified what the Menschel Fellowship is designed for. We are grateful for her service to the Chan School and indeed, the university.  In this video, Mayor Lightfoot expresses her gratitude to the Harvard community for the enriching experience.

Recent Fellows

Recent Menschel Senior Leadership fellows: former Boston Mayor Kim Janey, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Costa Rican Ambassador Roman Macaya.

List of Past Fellows

The Menschel Senior Leadership fellows Program kicked off in 2012 and welcomed a list of distinguished leaders from the U.S. and all around the world. View list of all past fellows of the program

Student Resources - Get Involved

Senior Leadership Fellows spend time teaching and mentoring students. They offer guidance and personal stories exploring leadership challenges in public health.