Changes in Alumni Relations

In the Alumni Relations Office, it's a time for beginnings and endings. In December, after more than seven years working at the Ed School, including three as director of the alumni office, Bev Witten said goodbye to Harvard and moved back with her family to South Africa, where she was born and raised.

"I am back in South Africa and hope to make a significant contribution to my country using the expertise and skills I acquired during my time working in the States," she says, "and from the master's degree I was able to earn at Harvard while I was here."

Before joining the alumni office, where she also worked for a year as the assistant director, Witten worked in the school's Office of Student Affairs, at the Harvard Family Research Project, and with the Askwith Forums. Although she is happy to be back in her country (especially with the warm weather!), she says she will deeply miss Harvard.

"My time here has been wonderful," she says. "I am proud of what we've accomplished during the past few years, in particular reframing the alumni council, building the SAMI Program, and improving student engagement opportunities. We've also really increased engagement with alumni over the past three years -- that is something I am especially proud of."

After Witten's departure, the alumni relations and annual giving teams were merged and are now overseen by Denise Tioseco, Ed.M.'02. A graduate of the Administration, Planning, and Social Policy Program, Tioseco returned to the school in December 2008 as the HGSE fund director. She has worked in higher education for more than 10 years in various capacities including outreach, admissions, student affairs, and development, most recently at the MIT Sloan School of Management, overseeing class and reunion giving.