Lightfoot is set to embark on a new chapter in her career, transitioning from the role of Chicago’s former mayor to an esteemed position in education.
The renowned Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has recently announced that Lightfoot will be teaching a course titled “Health Policy and Leadership” starting in the upcoming fall semester.
Following her electoral defeat on May 15, Lightfoot will assume the prestigious role of the Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at the university, commencing on the final day of August.
The Menschel program offers a unique opportunity for individuals who have served in prominent governmental, nonprofit, and journalistic positions to mentor and educate aspiring leaders. During her tenure at Harvard, Lightfoot will dedicate regular office hours to engage with students, faculty, and staff.
As the former mayor of Chicago, Lightfoot championed numerous health initiatives, such as declaring structural racism a public health issue and expanding mental health services in community spaces. She led the city through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as highlighted by Michelle A. Williams, the dean of faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Expressing her excitement, Lightfoot took to Twitter, sharing her passion for teaching and the opportunity to reflect on her experiences as a leader during one of America’s most trying periods in history.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that previous Menschel fellows have included distinguished figures like former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Boston Mayor Kim Janey.
Highlighting Lightfoot’s accomplishments, the Harvard release acknowledged her instrumental role in leading a comprehensive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, uniting government, business, and community organizations to prioritize public health while mitigating the economic impact.
While Lightfoot’s leadership received praise for these efforts, some of her decisions during the pandemic, such as getting a haircut during strict lockdown measures and placing unvaccinated police officers on unpaid leave, faced criticism.