Values-Based Leadership with a Focus on Justice & Compassion
What I’ve Done
Executive Director, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy (current)
Managing a human rights center at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Facilitated development of strategic vision and priorities in collaboration with key stakeholders, including faculty, donors, and other stakeholders. Manage programs, events, communications, fundraising, and fellows’ program. Host talk series and podcast.
Contributor, Foreign Policy Magazine (current)
Contribute articles to Foreign Policy magazine: https://foreignpolicy.com/author/sushma-raman/
Board Member (current) and former Judge, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Board member at RFK Human Rights and former Judge for their prestigious International Human Rights Award
Program Officer, Ford and Open Society Foundations
Launched and managed multi-million dollar portfolios focused on immigrant and refugee rights, social justice, building civil society, and philanthropy at the Ford and Open Society Foundations
Lecturer, Harvard, Tufts Fletcher School, UCLA, and USC
Taught graduate public policy courses in communications, leadership, and strategy. Currently co-teaching a graduate course on Economic Justice: Theory and Practice at Harvard Kennedy School and teaching a graduate course on Negotiation at Tufts Fletcher School.
What People Are Saying
“Sushma encourages and challenges me in my work, and her commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights comes through in all she does. Sushma demonstrates effective leadership within the Carr Center and among Harvard faculty, government officials, and human rights defenders. She fosters an exciting environment, engaging bright minds on pressing human rights issues. She naturally builds community and brings people together in a spirit of collaboration.”
— Matthew Smith, Co-Founder & CEO, Fortify Rights, award winning human rights organization working in South and Southeast Asia
“Sushma is an insightful thinker, professional, and activist with a deep and complex understanding of the conditions of human powerlessness and how to address them. Her passion for justice is without parallel. Her fund of knowledge is global, She is a delight to work with.”
— Makau Mutua, Professor, SUNY Buffalo Law School
“I have known Sushma for more than a decade and have long been impressed by her deep commitment to human rights and her leadership of human rights organizations.”
— John Shattuck, former President of Central European University
“Sushma is a superb leader and careful, logical, and visionary planner, always grasping the nuances of issues and respecting the diversity of agendas and personalities. I am honored to recommend her work.”