Meet the BOARD
The HKS New England Alumni Association fosters a community of its alumni to continue the school's public service mission through programming that inspires graduates to expand their knowledge, network, and impact on the world. Our Board Members support this mission through a variety of activities over the course of the year as guided through our By-Laws.
Executive Committee
Yingjing deng
MC/MPA 2018 , President
Yingjing Deng works as the senior program manager at MIT and previously worked as project manager at Harvard Chinese Art Media Lab. She has over ten years’ experience in communications, media, and project management. She is a storyteller, a news/ documentary/ visual art producer, and an author. Before studying and working at Harvard, she served as the correspondent/chief editor/chief producer for two leading media groups (Phoenix and Sina) in China. She is passionate about uncovering the truth, giving the voiceless a voice through the power of storytelling, as well as empowering refugees, immigrants and children worldwide. Since 2015, She has initiated several non-profit projects to support the education of orphans in Cambodia and Syrian refugee children and youths in Lebanon. She holds an MC/MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Lisa Salerno
MC/MPA 2017, Vice President
Salerno began her career in the Washington office of Congressman James P. McGovern focusing on healthcare, economic development, and other issues. Following her time in D.C., she worked for the Massachusetts Medicaid plan Network Health, the healthcare media relations at Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, and the public affairs firm Benchmark Strategies.
John Griffin
MPP 2022, Clerk
John A. Griffin is a public policy analyst and political consultant with experience in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. He currently serves as an advisor to Danielle Allen, a former candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, and to Priorities for Progress, an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing innovation and good governance in Massachusetts. Previously, he served as the Massachusetts Policy Director at Democrats for Education Reform and worked in the Executive Office at the Center for European Policy Analysis. He has also advised multiple campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. John graduated from the Kennedy School with an MPP in 2022 and holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Literature from Harvard College.
Rob Werner
HKSEE 2010/2017, Treasurer
Rob Werner is the New Hampshire State Director for the League of Conservation Voters, a national advocacy organization that works to turn environmental values into national, state, and local priorities. Rob formerly served as the National Field Director of Americans for Campaign Reform. As a public policy analyst and advocate, Rob has organized successful advocacy and legislative campaigns for the American Heart Association, Smoke-Free NH Alliance, and the American Cancer Society. Rob has extensive experience in the health care sector, working in the private, government, and non-profit areas.
BOARD MEMBERS
Michael colanti
MC/MPA 2021
Mike has spent his career working for the City of Boston in the fields of public health, public safety, and emergency management. He has worked across levels of government to develop plans and draft policies that have brought together partners from the public, private, and social service sectors. He authored the official health and medical after action report for the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, and is an active member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ national incident management team.
He received his MPA from HKS on a Zuckerman Fellowship, holds on MBA from Boston University, and received his BA from Stonehill College. He lives in West Roxbury with his wife and two daughters.
Kate Mullally
MC/MPA
Kate is a lawyer and former nurse with over 30 years experience, both nationally and internationally, in healthcare and the environment, corporate law and business development in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. In addition to an MC/MPA from the HKS, Kate has a JD from Villanova University, a BA from Middlebury College and a BS from Columbia University.
Eric Fenn Elbot
MC/MPA 1982
After graduating from the MC-MPA in 1982, Eric served Harvard in various capacities including as a Program Director (HKSSPPA) and Assoc. Director of Degree Programs. He has served three Presidents: Carter, Clinton & Obama, and directed a classified national security think-tank. As C.E.O. of the Veritas Scientific Corporations, Eric develops neuro technologies for national security. He taught at Emerson College for a decade and "Comparative Foreign Policy" at Webster University on Joint Base Andrews. Eric's greatest joys are learning from his three off-springs and trekking through much of the world.
Bill Seymour
MC/MPA
Bill was a newspaper journalist prior to becoming a state government official in communications, policy analysis, and program operations. He is now a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and adjunct professor. Bill is a member of the Connecticut Public Television and Radio Community Advisory Board and is lead on the Digital Media Committee and also serves on the Volunteer Coordination Committee.
Alki Iliopoulou
MC/MPA 2017
Alkistis Iliopoulou is the Director of the Harvard Decision Science Lab. Her background is a weave of public and private sector work, having run startups and advised a broad spectrum of organizations - from Toyota to the U.S. Department of Commerce. She holds an an M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School and an M.B.A in Global Strategy and an M.S. in Global Marketing from Thunderbird.
Betsy Neptune
MC/MPA 2018
Betsy Neptune is the Regional Executive Director of BUILD Boston, an organization dedicated to teaching entrepreneurship to public high school students in Greater Boston. Prior to this work, she led regional and municipal economic development initiatives in Boston and Latin America, with a focus on small business development and other strategies to address economic inequality. She provides coaching and consulting to emerging and existing entrepreneurs and launched a network for entrepreneurs of faith in Boston. Betsy holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Trinity College, and certificates in Non-Profit Management and Corporate Social Responsibility from la Universidad de Chile and Universidad Alberto Hurtado respectively. She is active in the Boston community, where she lives with her husband and son.
Rob DiAdamo
MC/MPA 2022
Rob has served in various roles in state government in his career, including as General Counsel to the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction, the Chief of Staff and Deputy General Manager of the MBTA and, most recently as the Executive Director of Commuter Rail for the MBTA. He currently is a Senior Advisor at WSP working with transit agencies on organizational and funding strategies. He also teaches Local Government Law at Boston University School of Law. Rob is married with three children and lives in Brookline. In addition to graduating from the MC/MPA program in 2022, Rob received a JD from Boston University School of Law and a BA from the University of Virginia.
Sarat Pothuri
MPA 2010
Sarat Pothuri is a general management consultant with experience in business strategy, marketing, and entrepreneurship, advising global enterprises and early-stage technology companies. She volunteers for the Community Consulting Team in Boston, advising non-profits that are creating a positive impact in local communities. Sarat is a parent advisory council member of Pediatric Practices in MA, helping to improve the quality of life and experiences of pediatric patients and families. Sarat received her joint degree in MBA from The Wharton School and MPA from Harvard Kennedy School.
Joe Caiazzo
Joe Caiazzo is a Partner at The JCN Group, a Boston based public affairs firm. He is a veteran of several presidential, senate, and congressional campaigns. Joe has offered commentary in various media publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, Fox News, and The Times of London. He lives in Danvers, MA with his wife, two daughters, and pug.
Apefa Ashiagbor
MC/MPA 2018
Apefa is the Chief Enterprise Applications Officer at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, where she has held a variety of positions since 2010. She joined State government as Chief Information Officer for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance in 2007 after several years consulting to state and local government organizations. Apefa serves on the board of Boston’s Whittier Street Health Center and enjoys theater and live music in her spare time.
Zheni Valcheva
MC/MPA 2022
Zheni is an associate director of major gifts at Harvard Law School, where she is raising support for a range of school-wide priorities and programs. Zheni has dedicated her career and volunteerism to community building, connecting talent with resources, and empowering people through education. She has spearheaded multiple successful student and class-based fundraising campaigns and managed hundreds of volunteers. Zheni received a Master of Laws from Sofia University in her native Bulgaria, and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard.