IOP Senior Advisor Named JFK Library CEO

Heather P. Campion, a member of the Institute of Politics' Senior Advisory Committee and former director of the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, was named the first female CEO of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Tuesday. Campion, who has been serving on the Kennedy Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2003, will assume the new position March 3.

In her new post, Campion will spearhead the drive to digitize the library’s archives and modernize the exhibits in the library by making it more hands-on and high-tech, according to a press release from the library. With these projects, the J.F.K. Library is hoping to engage with a wider audience and encourage more people to explore the Kennedy era. She also plans on continuing the Kennedy Foundation’s mission to promote the legacy of President Kennedy and connect his visions to current problems.

The IOP and the Kennedy Foundation have a history of working closely on many projects, including a joint creation of the New Frontier Awards in 2004 to honor young Americans with commitment to public service. The IOP plans on building upon its close connection with the Kennedy Foundation with Campion in charge.

“I'm really excited about working with her in this new capacity,” IOP Director C. M. Trey Grayson '94 wrote in an email. “She will be an outstanding leader of the Library Foundation.”

Since joining the Harvard Kennedy School in 1981, Campion helped build the School’s Center for Business and Government and held positions including Director of the Public Liaison office and Associate Director of the IOP, in addition to Forum Director.

Outside of the Kennedy School, Campion was an executive at Citizens Financial Group, Inc. from 1998 to 2007 and most recently served as Chief Administrative Officer of Northeast Bancorp from 2010 to 2013. Before that, Campion was a member of the White House staff in the Speechwriting Office and the Office of Public Liaison during the Carter Administration and worked on presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988.

Colleagues of Campion described her as a dedicated and enthusiastic worker.

“Heather has more energy than anybody you will meet,” said Catherine McLaughlin, Executive Director of the IOP.

Grayson, who was a student at the College when Campion directed the Forum, credits Campion for helping interest him in the IOP as a career.

“Probably safe to say that without her efforts, I probably wouldn't have been as involved with the IOP,” Grayson said. “She encouraged student involvement in all aspects of the Forum.”

—Staff writer Emma C. Cobb can be reached at emma.cobb@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Forrest K. Lewis can be reached at forrest.lewis@thecrimson.com.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: Jan. 30, 2013

An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified where current IOP Director C.M. Trey Grayson ’94 was a student when he first interacted with Campion in her capacity as director of the Forum. In fact, Grayson was a student at the College, not at the Kennedy School of Government at the time.