HJAA 2026 ENDORSEMENTS FOR HARVARD BOARD OF OVERSEERS AND HAA ELECTED DIRECTORS
Below are our endorsements for the Harvard Board of Overseers and HAA Elected Directors. Voting is open now and closes on May 19, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
Our Process
A Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance committee invited all candidates to meet with us. Each candidate who chose to meet with us was provided five pages of pre-reading and a written brief on antisemitism at Harvard.
We met with six candidates for the Board of Overseers and nine candidates running for Elected Director for the HAA. We only recommend candidates who meet with us. Our recommendations are based on our conversation with each candidate, their commitment to Harvard’s mission, their understanding of antisemitism at Harvard, and our assessment of their willingness and effectiveness to act on HJAA areas of concern.
While you may vote for up to 6 candidates for Board of Overseers and for up to 6 candidates for Elected HAA Director, we recommend you vote ONLY for the endorsed candidates so your votes are not diluted.
Board of Overseers – Our Recommendations
Trey Grayson (A.B. ’94)
Recognizes the severity of antisemitism at Harvard more clearly than most candidates and offers concrete solutions to change the culture. Supports holding faculty, staff and students accountable for one-sided, un-factual narratives. Pragmatic and willing to engage directly on these issues. Understands the law and is committed to applying it.
Alfredo Gutierrez Ortiz Mena (LL.M. ’98)
Prepared, thoughtful, precise, and well informed. Supports academic freedom in conjunction with academic rigor, consistently applied discipline, and measurable compliance with the settlement agreements. Understands the law and is committed to applying it.
Philip L. Harrison (A.B. ’86, M.Arch. ’93)
Understands that Harvard is falling short on constructive debate and campus climate that causes students not to want to fully engage in honest discussion. Committed to improving civil discourse. Is an active listener who is open to hearing all sides and adjusting ideas with new information.
Nisha Kumar Behringer (A.B. ’91, M.B.A. ’95)
Understands outward manifestations of antisemitism and that Harvard should be a positive place for everyone to exist. Understands that faculty should not make un-factual statements and that curriculum and programming need oversight.
Salvo Arena (LL.M. ’00)
Against double standards and indoctrination. Desire for everyone to be included. Supports equal enforcement of Harvard’s rules.
HAA Elected Directors – Our Recommendations
Mia Esther Alpert (’99)
Engaged and supportive of Jewish concerns at Harvard. Willing to elevate and advocate for these issues.
James P. “Jimmy” Biblarz (’14, J.D. ’21, Ph.D. ’23)
Deep institutional knowledge of Harvard. Emphasis on academic rigor, not ideology.
Allison Charney Epstein (’89)
Aligned with HJAA concerns and motivated to act. Interested in engaging meaningfully on these issues.
Medha Gargeya (’14, J.D. ’19)
Creative suggestions for how to improve HAA. Deeply concerned about treatment of Jewish students. Supports removing identity politics from HAA governance and nominations. Excellent comprehension of legal issues.
Jakob Haesler (M.P.A. ’99)
Strong understanding of antisemitism and Harvard’s failures. Believes the HAA must become more active and less complacent. Concerned about declining Jewish enrollment and admissions integrity.
David G. Lefer (’93)
Deep familiarity with current issues and antisemitism generally. Opposes ideology in academics and expansion of programs with such components.
Voting Information
On April 1st, you should have received an email from harvard@mg.electionservicescorp.com containing a link to your online ballot and the information you need to vote.
Ballots must be received by 5 p.m. ET on May 19, 2026. If you prefer to vote by paper ballot, use the materials recently mailed to the address HAA has on file for you.
For more help, contact the Election Services Co. (ESC) help desk at harvard@electionservicescorp.com or by calling 1-866-720-4357 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm ET) or 1-516-688-7013 (international). If you email ESC for help, include your name, mailing address, degree, and graduation year.