James J. “Jim” Husson has been appointed vice president for alumni affairs and development, the University’s senior fundraising official, effective April 1. He succeeds Brian K. Lee, who came to the position in 2018 and will remain on duty through the end of March, consistent with his plan, announced last July, to retire.
According to the University’s announcement, President Alan M. Garber, who made the appointment, called Husson “An accomplished and admired leader in the field of advancement, [who] has devoted his career to strengthening institutions through both philanthropy and engagement.” He currently does so at the University of Pennsylvania, as vice president for development and alumni relations. Earlier in his career, he led development and alumni relations at Boston College; during his two decades there, BC conducted its Light of the World campaign, raising $1.6 billion. Husson has also served at Brown, and began his development work as director of annual giving at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in 1989. He was subsequently director of major gifts in the University Development Office (UDO) during the $2.6-billion capital campaign conducted under President Neil L. Rudenstine.
In the announcement, Husson said, “I’m thrilled to be returning to Harvard, a place that was my professional home for much of my early career and that continues to inspire me. Harvard’s role in higher education has never been more important, and its extraordinary alumni community—through their commitment, engagement, and generosity—will be essential partners in advancing the University’s academic and societal mission.” In his new capacity, he will assume leadership of the UDO, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Development organization, and the Harvard Alumni Association.
According to the announcement, Husson is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts. He graduated from the University of Rochester. He and his wife, Laurie Smith, parents of two adult children, have been longtime residents of Arlington, Massachusetts, immediately adjacent to Cambridge.
He arrives at an interesting time. In the normal course of academic fundraising, given the conclusion of the Harvard Campaign in 2018, Harvard would be well along in planning its next capital campaign. But the abrupt termination of Claudine Gay’s presidency after just six months, and Garber’s appointment on an interim basis, through the end of the 2026-2027 academic year, will necessarily affect that planning, which will have to reflect the priorities of Garber’s successor—the person who will be responsible for effecting a multibillion-dollar fund drive, pointing toward Harvard’s four-hundredth anniversary, in 2036. Given interim, pressing needs—for example, the urgency of raising funds to restore the competitiveness of the College and Medical School financial-aid programs—perhaps Husson will limber up by organizing some nearer-term, focused development initiatives.
