Kessely Hong

Kessely Hong serves as Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Faculty Chair of the MPA Programs and Mid-Career MPA Summer Program at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University. She teaches negotiation and decision-making across degree programs and executive education initiatives.

Her academic credentials include a PhD in Public Policy and MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, where she earned the Dean's Award for Excellence in Student Teaching, and a BA from Harvard College.

Dr. Hong's research examines negotiation strategies for low-power/low-status actors, with emphasis on human rights, fairness and justice, gender/race identity dynamics, and poverty/inequality frameworks. Her work develops practical tools for advancing partisan legislative negotiations through the Hewlett Foundation Madison Initiative.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• Manuel C. Carballo Award for Excellence in Teaching (2015)
• Holly Taylor Sargent Prize from Women and Public Policy Program (2018)
• Dean's Award for Excellence in Student Teaching

Dr. Hong directs executive education programs including 'Negotiation Strategies: Building Agreement Across Boundaries' (2026), while maintaining active advisory roles with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Flame Bearers, and the Prime Minister's Office of Bahrain. Her Hewlett Foundation collaboration produced teaching materials for legislative negotiation breakthroughs.