U.S. C.I.O. to Serve Joint Fellowship at Harvard

CAMBRIDGE, MA. -- Vivek Kundra, the U.S. Chief Information Officer at the White House for the past two and a half years, will serve a joint fellowship this fall at Harvard University. Kundra will split his time between the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

In addition to carrying out independent research at the Berkman Center, Kundra will collaborate with the Center in its research activities in the areas of cloud computing, open data, and open government. At the Shorenstein Center, Kundra’s research will focus on the implications of digital media and technology on governance.

“We are excited to welcome Vivek Kundra to Harvard,” said Alex Jones, director of the Shorenstein Center. “His extensive background in information technology, strategy and government operations will provide a valuable new lens through which to examine many of the important issues that the Center is committed to exploring.”

“We are delighted that Vivek Kundra will be joining the Berkman Center community,” said Urs Gasser, executive director of the Berkman Center. “We look forward to working closely with him on cutting edge issues where the complexities of cloud computing intersect with law, institutions, and data.”

Vivek Kundra was appointed as the United States Chief Information Officer by President Obama in March 2009. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Kundra served in Mayor Fenty's cabinet as the CTO for the District of Columbia and Governor Kaine’s cabinet as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has also served in leadership roles in the private sector.

The World Economic Forum selected Kundra as a 2011 Young Global Leader, representing a group of exceptional young leaders who share a commitment to shaping the global future. He has been recognized as the 2009 Chief of the Year by InformationWeek for driving unprecedented change in Federal IT and as the 2008 IT Executive of the Year for his pioneering work to drive transparency, engage citizens and lower the cost of government operations. He has also been recognized by InfoWorld among the top 25 CTO's in the country.

“Our government and its citizens are invariably connected through a vast and complex technology infrastructure rife with opportunities as well as risks,” said Kundra. “The work that I dedicated myself to while serving as the Federal CIO – in cutting waste, strengthening cybersecurity, and building an open and transparent government through technology – will also drive my research interests on both the national and international levels at the Shorenstein Center and the Berkman Center at Harvard.”

The Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy is a Harvard University research center dedicated to exploring and illuminating the intersection of press, politics and public policy in theory and practice. The Center strives to bridge the gap between journalists and scholars, and between them and the public. Read more on the website: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/presspol/index.html

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University is a research program founded to explore cyberspace, share in its study, and help pioneer its development. Founded in 1997, through a generous gift from Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman, the Center is home to an ever-growing community of faculty, fellows, staff, and affiliates working on projects that span the broad range of intersections between cyberspace, technology, and society. More information can be found at http://cyber.harvard.edu.

###