About
Judith Block McLaughlin is a Senior Lecturer Emerita at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education (HGSE), specializing in higher education leadership and governance. She has advised over 1,700 college presidents through her roles as Educational Chair of the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents and Co-Chair of the HGSE-HKS Crisis Leadership Program. Her career includes founding HGSE’s Higher Education Program and the Online Education Leadership Program, as well as serving as Dean of Student Affairs at two colleges and Executive Director of the National Academy of Education.
Education:
- Ed.D., Administration, Planning, and Social Policy, Harvard University (1983)
- M.A.T., Secondary Social Studies, Harvard University
- A.B. Summa Cum Laude in Sociology, University of North Carolina
Research Interests: McLaughlin’s work focuses on presidential transitions, board-president dynamics, and institutional governance. She emphasizes crisis leadership, leadership development in academia, and the role of nonprofit organizations in shaping educational policies. Her research bridges theory and practice, offering actionable frameworks for academic leadership challenges.
Professional Contributions:
- Recipient of the Allen Splete Award (2022) and New England Excellence Award (2019)
- Endowed HGSE’s President-in-Residence program in her honor (2023)
- Former Chair of Massachusetts Public Education Nominating Council (2007–2014)
Labs/Teams: Her leadership in founding and directing HGSE’s Higher Education Program and Crisis Leadership initiatives underscores her commitment to institutional resilience and effective educational governance.
