Harvard Kennedy School appoints Dean Fung

Interim successor to departing David Ellwood announced

Archon Fung

President Drew Faust today e-mailed an announcement that Archon Fung, Ford Foundation professor of democracy and citizenship and academic dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, would serve as acting dean beginning July 1. David T. Ellwood, who had been dean since mid 2004, announced last autumn that he would step down at the end of this academic year, June 30. Ellwood has been the University’s longest-serving dean, making this transition an important one for the school. The appointment of an acting dean, rather than a permanent successor, after a search process begun early in the academic year, perhaps comes as a bit of a surprise—but decanal searches proceed on their own schedule.

Faust's message noted that Fung, who was an MIT undergraduate (in physics and philosophy) and doctoral student (in political science), joined the Kennedy School's faculty in 1999 and became a full professor in 2007. She wrote:

Archon has done an outstanding job as the school’s academic dean this past academic year. He is widely admired across the school, the University, and beyond—not only for his scholarship and teaching, but also for his deep commitment to the Kennedy School’s mission, his wide-ranging intellectual curiosity, and the engagingly collaborative and collegial approach he brings to all he does. I am very grateful to him for agreeing to assume this interim role as the search for the next dean of the Harvard Kennedy School progresses.

Updated: Read the Kennedy School announcement here.

Read more articles by John S. Rosenberg

You might also like

The School of Public Health, Facing a Financial Reckoning, Seizes the Chance to Reinvent Itself

Dean Andrea Baccarelli plans for a smaller, more impactful Chan School of 2030.

Harvard Kennedy School Unveils American Service Fellowship

Will fund degrees for 50 public servants and military veterans

John Goldberg named Dean of Harvard Law School

A professor at HLS since 2008, he steps up from the interim role.

Most popular

Is the Constitution Broken?

Harvard legal scholars debate the state of our founding national document.

Harvard Research Funding Will Resume, Government Signals

Notices of grant reinstatements follow a court ruling, but the Trump administration could still appeal. 

What of the Humble Pencil?

Review: At the Harvard Art Museums’ new exhibit, drawing takes center stage

Explore More From Current Issue

Vivian W. Rong sitting on bench outdoors.

Highlighting Harvard Magazine’s Fellows

The 2025-2026 Ledecky and Summer Undergraduate Fellows

Whimsical illustration of students rushing through ornate campus gate from bus marked “Welcome New Students.”

Highlights from Harvard’s Past

The Medical School goes coed, University poet wins Nobel Prize. 

Julie Riew, wearing a white dress, playing guitar and singing into a microphone on stage.

Bringing Korean Stories to Life

Composer Julia Riew writes the musicals she needed to see.