Chidi Blyden Appointed Executive Director of Harvard Center for African Studies

August 31, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cambridge, Mass. —The Harvard University Center for African Studies (CAS) has appointed Chidi Blyden as the new Executive Director, bringing to the Center a deeply impactful career in public service and private consulting.  

She has held leadership positions at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Pentagon, where she oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, US investments, and collaborated with governments, corporations, and NGOs on U.S.-Africa economic development,  and security issues; and, through her private-sector work as the principal of Culturally Bound Consulting, she launched African and Diasporic initiatives for strengthening cultural power and cross-regional relationships to further Africa’s ties with the global African diaspora. 

“We are excited to learn from her myriad experiences, to draw on her rich networks, and to benefit from her energetic and creative passion for continuing to strengthen CAS and our Harvard-Africa strategy,” said Dr. Zoe Marks, Oppenheimer Faculty Director of the Harvard Center for African Studies. “She brings incredible administrative acumen, superb people skills, and a deeply informed expertise on Africa. We are excited to welcome her leadership and shared commitment to strengthening knowledge, teaching, and transformative impact between Harvard and Africa.” 

Blyden began her career in defense and foreign policy at the National Defense University’s Africa Center for Strategic Studies as an Academic Research Associate focused on security sector reform. She served across four administrations, and as the Senior Advisor for Peacekeeping at the Pentagon to the African Union and United Nations. In the Biden-Harris administration, she served as the Deputy CEO of MCC and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, managing the Department of Defense’s relationships with 53 African nations. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member and guest lecturer on Africa’s human security issues. Drawing on her Sierra Leonean and diasporan heritage, her work has focused on the impact of culture in developing policy and community-centric approaches while underscoring the role of women and youth in peace and security.  

“Harvard’s role is to be a catalyst for educating the world about Africa today, not Africa of the past. CAS is central to this as Africa continues to shape global conversations and contribute its many strategic resources to the world, particularly its human capital, talent, and intellect,” said Chidi Blyden, Executive Director of the Harvard Center for African Studies. “I’m glad to be here to share my network and experience in the public and private sector, and I look forward to joining a distinguished and seasoned team of colleagues focused on promoting Africa’s vast rise in prominence at this dynamic time in history.” 

Beyond her governmental roles, Blyden is a passionate mentor and advocate for women and young leaders, particularly in fields where they have been traditionally underrepresented. Her appointment comes at a dynamic moment for Africa and a prominent point for Harvard as it strengthens its commitment to collaboration, research, and teaching across the continent.

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About the Harvard University Center for African Studies:  
 The Center for African Studies (CAS) is an interdisciplinary, university-wide center that broadens knowledge about Africa and brings African perspectives to bear on the scholarship of the Harvard community and beyond. Visit africa.harvard.edu to learn more about the Center and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for continuous programming.