Two strategic hires will help shape the future of Berkman Klein Center’s educational programming, outreach, and public messaging.
Joy A. Lo joins BKC as the Director of Communications following a nation-wide search that began last summer. Lo brings expertise in global communications and public affairs from across the public and private sectors. Lance Eaton joins BKC as the Educational Programs Manager, bringing extensive experience in instructional and program design and providing additional capacity for BKC's educational initiatives. Both roles will be instrumental to ongoing and nascent programs at BKC, such as the AI Policy Practice, the Summer Institute, and Assembly.
“Joy and Lance share our goal to maximize the impact and reach of our work and our community to greater serve the public good, and our passion for increasing diversity in our programs and outputs,” says Lis Sylvan, the Managing Director of BKC. “Joy’s experience in interdisciplinary and international contexts brings a fresh perspective to our communications. I look forward to Lance bringing his wealth of knowledge and creativity to the design and facilitation of our educational programs.”
As Director of Communications, Lo will develop BKC’s communications strategy and priorities, and define how BKC tells the stories of its research, education, tools, and global impact. Prior to joining BKC, Lo worked as an independent communications and public affairs consultant, served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Urban Green Council in New York, and was a Senior Communications Manager at Microsoft.
“I could not be more excited to join Berkman Klein. It’s an honor to work with such multitalented people, as well as with the Center’s stellar community, including wonderful students, to advance collective efforts to address the world’s most pressing challenges,” Lo says. “Personally, I am inspired by BKC’s values and its commitment to deep inquiry, new ideas, multidisciplinary approaches, and greater diversity and inclusion.”
Eaton will work in conjunction with Lo and BKC leadership to select, highlight, and implement events and programs across the Center. Eaton will also lead BKC’s new Summer Institute and, in future years, BKC’s highly competitive Internship Program. Eaton previously worked as an Associate Director of Learning Design at Brandeis University.
"Getting to work at the Berkman Klein Center is the proverbial kid in the candy store for me. It's a culmination of my professional and intellectual interests over the last decade, but more importantly, it's an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with the many talented folks who work in and with the Center," Eaton says.
Both Eaton and Lo will work collaboratively across BKC, engaging with leadership, research, and public programming staff and with the Center’s community of staff, fellows, interns, collaborators, partners, and alums.
“Joy and Lance are joining us at a pivotal time for the Center as we launch new educational programs that offer even more opportunities for student involvement, build stronger bridges among different communities nationally and internationally, and adapt our programs for the post-COVID-19 world,” says Urs Gasser, the Executive Director of BKC. “I’m excited to learn from – and with – them as we navigate these unprecedented times, create new modes of public engagement, and experiment with novel ways to share the great contributions by our vibrant community with the world at large.”
In addition to these new hires, BKC also promoted Rebecca Tabasky to Director of Community, a role closely intertwined with communications and events. As a member of the BKC senior management team, Tabasky will lead the Fellows Program, engage in strategic program planning, and spearhead the development of new opportunities for broader community engagement. Her promotion furthers BKC’s commitment to building out people-based programs and strategically growing and working with BKC’s global network.
“Becca’s promotion is a well-deserved recognition of the increased leadership role Becca plays at the Center and the vital contributions she has made over the years in helping to build a diverse and vibrant community at BKC,” Sylvan says.