DECEMBER 4, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (Eastern)
Budgets are never just about money; they are how a department signals what matters. This working session brings Harvard economist Bridget Long, a leading scholar of higher education finance, back to FAN to guide faculty leaders on steering scarce resources (dollars, but also lines, time, and effort) toward a unit’s priorities, on making the case for support, and on doing as much as possible with limited discretionary funds. Expect a case study, small-group discussion with other Ivy+ faculty, and practical tools for leadership of your own department.
This virtual inquiry will be led by Bridget Long, Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor and Saris Professor of Education and Economics in the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Long's research as an economist brings to Ivy+ FAN a scholarly perspective on higher education finance; her practical expertise on the subject has been earned as dean of HGSE (2018-24), board member and advisor to numerous organizations, and experience working with governmental bodies.
INQUIRY Leader
BRIDGET TERRY LONG
Bridget Long, Ph.D. is the Saris Professor of Education and Economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Long is an economist whose work focuses on postsecondary access and success. A member of the HGSE faculty since 2000, Long served as dean from 2018 to 2024, leading the school through a major academic redesign, the COVID pandemic, and the creation of its first online degree. She is a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Ivy+ FAN Virtual Colloquium:
Policy & Finance
Dialogues for Ivy+ faculty who want to understand how their universities work and the roles faculty can play in helping them work better.