Anna Cowenhoven serves as the inaugural chief communications strategist for the FAS, leading an integrated communications and engagement organization that advances the strategic vision and priorities of the FAS and its primary units through brand and reputational management, media relations, internal communications, storytelling, and marketing communications across digital, social media, and multimedia platforms.
Prior to returning to Harvard, Cowenhoven served as Vice President for University Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the University’s leadership team, Cowenhoven led the central communications organization responsible for executive communications, issues management, media relations, internal communications, storytelling, digital strategy, and social media. She also oversaw WXPN, Penn’s member-supported radio station.
Before joining the Penn team, Cowenhoven spent more than a decade at Harvard, including seven years as Associate Dean for Communications for the FAS. Prior to her role in the FAS, Cowenhoven served as Director of Development Communications for the Harvard Kennedy School, helping to launch the School’s $500 million capital campaign.
Cowenhoven previously served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs for the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and was part of the Global Corporate Responsibility leadership team. In this role, she managed corporate communications, philanthropic giving, academic partnerships, and signature leadership programs. She has also served in senior media relations and editorial roles for Bank of America. Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the New England Division of the American Cancer Society. Cowenhoven began her career at Lois Paul & Partners, a Boston public relations firm that is now part of FleishmanHillard.
Cowenhoven holds bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University, Bloomington.