Administrative Operations
About Our Team
Administrative Operations has three distinct centers of expertise:
- Administrative Support Services
- Training and Organizational Learning
- Project Management
Administrative Support Services
The Administrative Support Services team operates in a portfolio model where a group of administrators provides day-to-day administrative and department support to multiple affiliated leaders and departments. Administrative managers, senior coordinators, and coordinators provide a continuum of administrative and operational support to leaders and departments, including calendar and inbox management, travel, expenses, meeting logistics, procurement, facilities, onboarding, records, and on-site coordination. More senior roles also provide specialized executive support, coordinate with Finance and HR, manage stakeholder relationships, and serve as strategic partners on departmental priorities.
The team serves the following departments and senior leaders within these departments.
Departments reporting to the FAS Dean:
- FAS Communications & Marketing
- Academic Affairs
- Office of Academic Culture and Community
- Office of the Secretary of the Faculty
Departments reporting to the FAS Dean for Administration and Finance:
- Administrative Operations
- Faculty and Academic Support Services
- FAS Dean for Administration and Finance
- FAS Finance
- FAS Human Resources
- FAS Office of Research Administration
- Office of Physical Resources and Planning
Training and Organizational Learning
Training and Organizational Learning builds the administrative capabilities of the FAS community by providing role-based training, practical resources, and individualized support on key systems, policies, and processes. The team also identifies emerging learning needs and develops consistent learning pathways that strengthen proficiency and standardize ways of working across the FAS. This team is fully operational.
Project Management
Project Management supports the launch of FAS-wide projects and is involved in planning and executing strategic initiatives related to the Dean for Administration and Finance’s priorities. This team is fully operational.
Our Core Services
- Scheduling meetings with FAS Leadership, including leadership in key functional teams like Human Resources, Finance, Communications, or Academic Affairs
- Offering role-based training on FAS administrative systems, policies, and processes
- Creating and maintaining job aids, learning pathways, and administrator resources
- Sitting on university governance, policy and engagement committees
- Convening FAS governance groups
- Maintaining a current project roadmap for FAS projects
- Identifying recurring service issues and opportunities to improve processes or develop additional training
Related Resources
A few common requests fall outside Administrative Operations, but here's where to find help:
- Onboarding staff within academic departments
- Managing local academic department or divisional strategic projects
- University research compliance trainings or lab safety trainings, such as trainings through the Office of Sponsored Programs, EH&S, or Research Compliance
- Divisional Dean’s offices, GSAS, DCE, Athletics, Library or Museums administrative support
- IT Systems training or upskilling (e.g. SharePoint training)
How to Work With Us
Colleagues can reach our team by contacting adminops@fas.harvard.edu, or by reaching out to a specific contact below. For scheduling requests, please contact the administrative coordinator listed below.
The current training schedule or curriculum can be found here.
A library of training resources, including orientations to the new administrative model, can be found here.
Key Contacts & Team Structure
| Name | Title | Coverage Area / Schedules for: |
|---|---|---|
Administrative Manager | Admin Ops, OPRP, A&F Dean, Faculty Support Ops | |
Senior Admin Coordinator | Warren Petrofky, Mary Ann Bradley, Katherine Gates | |
Senior Admin Coordinator | Zak Gingo, other OPRP leaders | |
Coordinator | OPRP Leaders | |
Position to be filled | Administrative Manager | OACC, Communications, Academic Affairs, Office of the Secretary |
Position to be filled | Senior Admin Coordinator | Leaders in Academic Affairs, Office of the Secretary |
Coordinator | Brenda Tindal, Anna Cowenhoven | |
Administrative Manager | Finance, HR, FORA | |
Position to be filled | Senior Admin Coordinator | Leaders in Finance, HR, FORA |
Coordinator | Nicole Breen | |
Coordinator | Julie Joncas | |
Retiree LHT | Finance, HR, FORA |
FAQs
By October 13.
Administrative systems training, covering B2P, Concur, Aurora, PeopleSoft, HART, Chart of Accounts, and GL-PCR Journals, will be available in online/on-demand and classroom-based formats, targeted for September 8 (to be confirmed).
Yes. Starting January 2027, project-based Operational Excellence support will be available to diagnose and develop plans for process and service improvement.