Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Accepts New Teaching Position At Harvard After Leaving Office

Less than a month after leaving office as Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot has accepted a new position as a teacher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The University announced that Lightfoot will be teaching a “Health Policy and Leadership” course this fall.

Starting in August, Lightfoot will work at the school as the Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow.

According to the school, The Menschel program “offers a rare opportunity for those who have recently served in top-level positions in government, multilateral institutions, nonprofit organizations, and journalism to spend time at the school mentoring and teaching students who aspire to similar roles. Lightfoot will hold regular office hours to meet with students, faculty, and staff during her time on campus.”

“As mayor, she showed strong leadership in advocating for health, equity, and dignity for every resident of Chicago, from her declaration of structural racism as a public health crisis to her innovative initiative to bring mental health services to libraries and shelters. And of course, she led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Michelle A. Williams, dean of faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

On Twitter, Lightfoot celebrated the news, writing, “I’ve always loved teaching, and the opportunity to get back to it is something I am excited about. Looking forward to sharing the experiences and perceptions I learned governing through one of the most challenging times in American history with the @HarvardChanSPH community!”