Mark Gearan

Director of the Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School

Mark Gearan is the 19th director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School. Mark has served in a variety of roles in American politics, government, and education including the 14th Director of the Peace Corps and White House Communications Director and Deputy Chief of Staff, as well as the longest-serving President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) and President-in-residence at Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE).

He is Vice Chair for National and Public Service of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, and sits on the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Standing Committee for Public Service. He has given many lectures in which he urges the audience to consider careers in public service in order to give back to their nation, much like Theodore Roosevelt.

Mark earned a B.A. in government cum laude at Harvard University, a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, and is recipient of 13 honorary degrees.