Dear Members of the HMS and HSDM Community:
I am pleased to announce that I have named Matt Durno dean for alumni affairs and development (AAD). Matt has been a strong, able, and consistent leader in AAD for more than 15 years, most recently serving as interim dean. This permanent position reflects our community’s — and my own personal — deep respect for Matt and our confidence in him to guide our fundraising and alumni engagement efforts during this unprecedented time.
Matt came to HMS in 2009 as director of donor relations after serving in development roles at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and at the Federation Employment & Guidance Service (FEGS) health and human services system. Since then, he has held increasingly prominent positions in AAD as a senior director and then executive director leading institutional giving, strategic partnerships, and principal and major gifts and grants before being named interim dean in June 2024, following Lisa Boudreau’s departure.
Matt has built solid, enduring relationships with generous individuals, foundations, and corporations who over his tenure have given hundreds of millions of dollars to support and advance HMS’ education, research, and service missions. Matt continues to learn from and form lasting partnerships with individuals across every segment of the Harvard and HMS community, helping align funding opportunities with philanthropists’ passions and goals. He is a strong manager, clear communicator, and humble colleague who is driven by our mission and work.
Matt believes that philanthropy can elevate the excellence of our labs and classrooms and serve as the fuel for new discoveries and possibilities. I couldn’t agree more. As we stand ready to apply the brilliance of our community to science and medicine, at a time of unprecedented uncertainty in our prospects for federal funding, there’s no one better suited to lead our alumni and donor engagement efforts and help realize our vision.
Please join me in congratulating Matt on his well-deserved, permanent new role.
Sincerely,
George Q. Daley
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University