Christine Letts

Board Member

Christine Letts lives in Boston with her husband David and their border collie Booker. She is happy to live near her daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons.

Most recently, Chris was the Rita E. Hauser Lecturer of the Harvard Kennedy School teaching and researching nonprofit management and philanthropy from 1992 to 2017. She also served as the Senior Associate Dean for Executive Education for several years. While at the school she had the opportunity to publish a book and articles on the challenge of creating and maintaining organizational capacity in nonprofits and argued for improvements in funding practices. She also started the first online executive programs for nonprofit executives from around the world.

Prior to her tenure at HKS, Chris lived and worked in Indiana. After graduating from the Harvard Business School she joined Cummins Engine Company and served in many manufacturing roles up to Vice President of Columbus engine manufacturing. Her last job at Cummins was Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and President of the Cummins Engine Foundation.

Chris left Cummins to join the Indiana State government under Governor Evan Bayh. She served as Secretary of Transportation and then as Secretary of Family and Social Services before moving to Massachusetts in 1992.

Chris started her career in the New York City government under Mayor Lindsay after graduating from Connecticut College.