Dear Friends of the Center for African Studies,

I write to announce that Alex Taylor will be stepping down as Executive Director of the Center for African Studies at the end of February. He will be taking on a new role with the Office of Finance in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, where he will support the Division of Social Science (including CAS) in the annual budgeting process and related strategic analysis.

Alex was instrumental in the relaunch of our Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program as well as the launch of the Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa. These initiatives are but two ways that CAS ensures African voices and perspectives inform the scholarship of Harvard University. During his time at CAS, we expanded opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to travel to Africa for research and internships, introduced virtual and hybrid programming to reach wider audiences, and doubled the number of faculty affiliates engaged with the Center’s work.

We wish to thank Alex for all his contributions in supporting the vision and mission of CAS, and to helping us grow the Center’s impact at Harvard University and in Africa. We wish him all the best as he takes on this exciting new role.

Best regards,
Emmanuel Akyeampong