Meet Lanhee Chen
Lanhee J. Chen AB '99, AM '04, JD '07, PhD '09 is a public policy expert, educator, and proud Harvard alumnus. He earned four degrees from three Harvard schools and spent nearly fifteen years as a student, teacher and adviser on campus. Lanhee is currently a fellow at the Hoover Institution and teaches public policy at Stanford University, and also advises business leaders through his work as a Partner and Co-Lead of the U.S. Public Affairs practice at the Brunswick Group. He is a member of the Board of Directors of AMTRAK and El Camino Health and also provides commentary on current events as an NBC News Contributor.
With experience spanning academia, government service, media, and corporate and nonprofit boards, Lanhee brings a proven ability to provide strategic leadership and guidance to organizations and to bridge divides among people with differing points of view. Lanhee is seeking to join the Board of Overseers to help Harvard navigate today's challenges—rising costs, societal polarization, and rapidly evolving technology—while seizing opportunities to ensure the institution remains focused on academic excellence, ensures access for as many students as possible, and elevates a diverse set of perspectives and voices on campus. He believes that Harvard's leaders must model respectful and civil debate and that a truly inclusive academic community depends on the free exchange of ideas.
From Lanhee's time as a student leader to his extensive service to Harvard as an alumnus, Lanhee has remained deeply connected to our alma mater. Now, he seeks to give back by helping guide Harvard into the future—one where excellence, access, and thoughtful debate are not just preserved, but strengthened.
Few places mean more to me than Harvard, and I am fully invested in ensuring its success for generations to come. Lanhee Chen
How to vote
Eligible Harvard degree holders (as of January 1, 2025) can vote in the 2025 Board of Overseers election, either online or by paper ballot. Voting is open now and all ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 20. You should have received an email from Harvard via the Election Services Corporation with a link to vote, and a paper ballot unless you opted out. You may vote for up to five candidates—or just Lanhee, if he's earned your support. Visit https://elections.harvard.edu/frequently-asked-questions for more information on the election process.
If you have not received your ballot, you can call the Election Services Co. help desk at 866-720-4357 or email harvard@electionservicescorp.com with your name, mailing address, degree, and graduation year to request a replacement ballot.
How can I help?
If you are eligible to vote, please do so today! And if you aren't, but know someone who is an alumnus of any Harvard school, please encourage them to vote for Lanhee and share this page with them, or invite them to learn more about Lanhee and connect with him by visiting his LinkedIn page here. Finally, some of Lanhee's friends have also authored an open letter/email in support of his candidacy. You can read and sign onto the letter by clicking here.
What is the Harvard Board of Overseers?
The Harvard Board of Overseers is one of the University's two governing boards and plays a vital role in shaping Harvard's future. Overseers provide strategic guidance, counsel, and oversight on the University's priorities, academic programs, and overall direction. They help ensure Harvard remains a leader in higher education by visiting schools and departments, advising University leadership, and upholding the institution's commitment to excellence, inclusion, and innovation.
Endorsements
- 1636 Forum
- Harvard Alumni for Free Speech (HAFFS)
- Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance (HJAA)
- Lanhee Chen is highly aligned with our objectives and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy. We believe that he will be a strong ally of HJAA. He was very informed about the situation at Harvard and our key concerns. He has witnessed a trend at Harvard to be less inclusive. In his view, diversity should be more holistic. It should bridge socioeconomic backgrounds and different points of view. His view of a research university's mission is academic excellence—academic freedom, a true exchange of diverse points of view expressed civilly and respectfully in an environment that maximizes academic potential.
- Harvard Business School Jewish Alumni Association (HBSJAA)
- Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism's Harvard Alumni+ chapter (FAIR Harvard+)
- Lanhee has expressed a lifelong commitment to finding common ground and encouraging dialogue with those whose views and experiences differ from his own.
- Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization
- "As a scholar, public servant, and principled leader, Lanhee embodies the values we hold dear — integrity, service, and a steadfast commitment to the ideals that made Harvard a beacon of excellence."
