Administrative Fellowship Program

AFP Partnership with the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery (H&LS) Initiative

We are excited to share that for the 2026–2027 academic year, AFP is partnering for the first time with the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery (H&LS) Initiative. Established in 2022, the H&LS Initiative seeks to understand and cast light on Harvard’s legacies of slavery, addressing its enduring consequences through purposeful change.

The H&LS Initiative is currently focused on three priority areas, including developing partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In alignment with this effort, the H&LS Initiative will sponsor two Visiting Fellows from HBCUs, who will participate fully in the AFP cohort. This partnership represents an important expansion of AFP’s reach and reinforces Harvard’s commitment to building and sustaining meaningful relationships with HBCUs. To learn more about the H&LS Initiative and their work focused on HBCU partnerships, please visit the H&LS Initiative website.

One of the cornerstones of Harvard University's diversity, inclusion, and EEO efforts, the Administrative Fellowship Program (AFP) promotes leadership opportunities and careers in higher education for persons who support these principles. Launched in 1989, the AFP continues to offer a transformative leadership experience, enhanced by a specialized professional development program. The University encourages applications from talented, mid-career professionals who will contribute to Harvard's leadership through their demonstrated personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging values. Note that the program is values-driven and eligibility is not limited to persons of any particular background or demographic(s).

The program is structured to provide fellows with:

Exposure to and engagement with senior leadership in higher education
Reflection and self-assessment, career growth and development
Multiple professional networking opportunities
Unique and valuable experience working in the Harvard University environment

For the 2026-2027 academic year, AFP will be offering Resident Fellowships. Due to current budget constraints, AFP will not be seeking additional Visiting Fellow sponsors for FY27 beyond the two H&LS-sponsored Visiting Fellows. We look forward to re-engaging Schools and Units around future Visiting Fellow opportunities as resources allow.

Resident Fellows (current Harvard exempt staff)

Resident Fellow Application deadline has been extended to Friday, June 5, 2026

Resident Fellows are current Harvard exempt employees who are mid-career administrators (see requirements below) and have demonstrated a personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging values. Resident Fellows are highly motivated to pursue career and leadership development at Harvard.

In addition to carrying out their position duties, all fellows participate in seminars, workshops, lectures, formal discussions, and learn through case studies. As a complement to the learning series, fellows receive a career coach and participate in mentoring circles. The program provides participants with opportunities to increase their knowledge, become familiar with day-to-day systems and operations, and to develop University-wide networks.

AFP Program Content & Design

During the fellowship, visiting and resident fellows participate in:

Program Orientation
Educational and Professional Development Seminars
Coaching and Mentoring
Networking
Check-Ins and Evaluations
Closing Ceremony

Application Process for Resident Fellows – 2026-2027 Program

Resident fellows are current full-time exempt-level Harvard mid-career professionals who are highly motivated to pursue career growth and leadership at Harvard. The intense interest in the program, the number of applications, and the optimum size of the cohort make the selection process highly competitive. The process and timeline are as follows:

The employee submits an application, which is vetted for eligibility. Ineligible applicants will be notified and encouraged to reapply in the future.
AFP obtains references from the applicants’ immediate supervisor and Harvard Human Resources representative.
The AFP Selection Committee (comprised of Harvard Human Resources staff and former AFP Fellows) select the 2026-2027 Resident Fellows based on the strength of the application and interview.
The final selected Resident Fellows will be announced in August 2026.
The program begins September 2026.

Minimum Requirements to be considered as a Resident Fellow. Employee must:

Be currently employed at Harvard in an exempt, full-time, benefits eligible role, Salary Grade 57 and above
Have a minimum of five years of professional work experience
Have completed a minimum of two years of administrative experience in their current position as of the start of the program
BA Degree or equivalent work experience
Be in good HR standing
Be able to commit 90-100 hours for active participation in the program

We strongly encourage Resident Fellow applicants to speak with their supervisors about their interest in the AFP prior to applying. Supervisors will be asked to submit a reference form.

Application and Selection Timeline for Resident Fellows:

Please complete the application form here.

Selection Timeline/Resident Fellows:
June 5, 2026: Application deadline for Resident Fellows
June-August 2026: Interviews and Selection Process for Resident Fellows
August 2026: Selection decisions for 2025-2026 AFP Resident Fellows announced
September 2026: AFP Program Orientation (all participants are required to attend)

A fully-completed online application is due by June 5, 2026. The University-wide AFP Selection Committee, comprised of Human Resources staff and former AFP Fellows, will select the 2026-2027 Resident Fellows based on preliminary evaluations and interviews. Final selections will be announced in August and program participation will begin in September 2026.