Leslie Kirwan

Leslie A. Kirwan (born April 1, 1957)[1] is an American government official and college administrator who currently serves as the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean for Administration and Finance at Harvard University.

Leslie Kirwan
Secretary of Administration and Finance of Massachusetts
In office
2007–2009
GovernorDeval Patrick
Preceded byThomas Trimarco
Succeeded byJay Gonzalez
Personal details
Born (1957-04-01) April 1, 1957
ResidenceArlington, Massachusetts
EducationHarvard-Radcliffe (AB)
John F. Kennedy School of Government (MPP)

Early life

A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts,[2] Kirwan earned an A.B. from Harvard-Radcliffe in 1979 and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1984.[3][4]

Department of Revenue

In 1985, Kirwan joined the Massachusetts Department of Revenue as a manager in the Division of Local Services. In this role she oversaw the management of local budgets, the distribution of local aid, and coordinated state response to local financial emergencies.[3] From 1991 to 1995 she was the Department's deputy commissioner, succeeding her mentor Edward J. Collins, Jr.[4][5]

Undersecretary Administration and Finance

In 1995, Kirwan moved to the Office of Administration and Finance, where she was the undersecretary/chief of staff to Charlie Baker[4] In this position she served as the Office's second in command and assisted Baker in a wide variety of issues, which included coordinating the state's revenue optimization effort and leading the Office's relations with local government.[3]

Massport

From 1997 to 2004, Kirwan was the Director of Administration and Finance at the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). As Director of Administration and Finance, she served as Massport's Chief Financial Officer, leading an 80-person department responsible for all of the Authority's financial duties.[4] She also led Massport's financial recovery following the September 11 attacks.[3]

Secretary Administration and Finance
Kirwan speaking in 2007

On December 6, 2006, Governor-elect Deval Patrick announced that Kirwan would be his Secretary of Administration and Finance.[6] She was the first person to be named to Patrick's cabinet and the first woman to serve as Secretary of Administration and Finance.[7] As Secretary of Administration and Finance, Kirwan managed over 2,500 state employees and was responsible for preparing the governor's budget recommendation, developing and analyzing fiscal policy, developing the Commonwealth's capital budget, and monitoring and managing the state government's budgetary activities. She also oversaw the activities of agencies and divisions ranging from the Department of Revenue to the Divisions of Human Resources and Information Technology.[4]

Salvatore DiMasi trial

Kirwan was a witness for the prosecution in the corruption trial of former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. She testified that DiMasi had an unusually persistent interest in the Commonwealth's acquisition of a data-collection software package from Cognos. Kirwan stated that she believed that it was not right time for the government to purchase such as package and that the $15 million asking price was too much, but eventually purchased the software for a reduced price of $13 million in an effort to appease DiMasi.[2]

Harvard University

On September 25, 2009, Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael D. Smith announced that Kirwan was to become the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean for Administration and Finance, effective November 2, 2009.[4]

References
  1. Morton, Paradise, Kenneth G., Papalinka (December 2007). The Massachusetts Political Almanac 2007. Center For Leadership Studies. ISBN 9780926766341.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Sweet, Laurel J. (May 25, 2011). "Ex-Patrick budget boss: Heat was on to pass DiMasi deal". Boston Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  3. "Secretary Leslie A. Kirwan". The Official Website of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  4. "Leslie Kirwan '79, M.P.P. '84, appointed FAS dean for administration and finance". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  5. Wangsness, Lisa (February 26, 2007). "Cuts run deep for Kirwan". Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  6. "Patrick picks ex-Weld official to be his budget chief". Telegram & Gazette. December 7, 2006.
  7. Ross, Casey (December 7, 2006). "Kirwan Gets Post; Patrick promotes Massport CFO". Boston Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
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