Come July 1, David Battat '91 will officially take the helm as president of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). Which, if you think about it, is quite a journey for a man who once defended accused criminals and then, for a period, ran a medical device company. His resume reads less like a career path and more like a choose-your-own-adventure novel where every chapter involves helping people.
Battat's background is a delightful mishmash of healthcare CEO, leadership instructor, and first responder. He's also spent more time volunteering for Harvard than most people spend trying to figure out their streaming subscriptions. Will Makris, the outgoing HAA President, clearly approves, noting Battat's knack for listening and bringing diverse voices to the table. Which sounds suspiciously like actual leadership.
The Path Less Expected
Battat describes his Harvard years as a time of "discovery and intellectual exploration," a spirit that apparently stuck around. After graduation, he clerked for then-U.S. District Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor (yes, that Sonia Sotomayor) and delved into criminal defense. Later, while leading a medical device company, he started re-entry programs for former clients at manufacturing plants. Because, why not help people get back on their feet after their sentences, right?
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Start Your News DetoxHis connection to Harvard remained steadfast. He volunteered for the HAA in various capacities and advised the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. He even co-chaired Harvard’s largest undergraduate admissions alumni interviewing committee, which, if nothing else, probably gave him some fantastic stories. He finds volunteering rewarding, offering a peek into faculty research and the sheer, terrifying talent of Harvard applicants.
Then there's the first responder chapter. As a volunteer firefighter, Battat was at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001. That experience led him to co-found the Harvard Alumni Disaster Preparedness and Response Shared Interest Group. Turns out, a surprising number of Harvard alums are also in emergency response. This eventually led to police officers from the Harvard Kennedy School — who knew? — convincing him to teach a leadership course for new NYPD captains. A former criminal defense lawyer teaching culture change to the NYPD. Let that sink in.
Sarah Karmon, executive director of the HAA, is, perhaps unsurprisingly, thrilled. She sees Battat's years of dedicated service as perfect preparation for engaging alumni worldwide.
Dialogue and Disagreement
As HAA president for the 2026-27 academic year, Battat aims to foster constructive dialogue and active participation among alumni. He has a rather optimistic take on disagreements, viewing them as proof of how deeply Harvard has shaped people. It's this shared, sometimes contentious, connection that he believes holds the community together. He'll officially welcome the graduating College Class of 2026 to the alumni community on May 27. Hope they're ready for some spirited conversation.
