Allison Smith Desjardins
About Allison Smith Desjardins
Allison Smith Desjardins serves as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School, a position she has held since 2022. With a background in admissions and program coordination across several educational institutions, she has accumulated extensive experience in higher education administration.
Current Role at Harvard Business School
Allison Smith Desjardins serves as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School. She has held this position since 2022, following her previous role as Assistant Director of MBA Admissions from 2019 to 2022. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing various aspects of the admissions process for the MBA program, contributing to the strategic direction of admissions initiatives.
Previous Experience in MBA Admissions
Prior to her current position, Desjardins worked at Harvard Business School in several capacities within the MBA Admissions team. From 2015 to 2018, she served as Manager of MBA Admissions, where she managed the admissions process and team. Earlier, she was the Program Coordinator for MBA Admissions from 2014 to 2015, providing support for the admissions operations.
Background in Education and Mentoring
Desjardins has a background in education and mentoring, having worked as an Americorps Member at Mass Mentoring Partnership from 2008 to 2010. She also served as the Director of Volunteer Programs at Science Club for Girls from 2011 to 2014, focusing on volunteer management and program development. Additionally, she was a Mentor & Coach Program Coordinator at US FIRST from 2010 to 2011.
Educational Qualifications
Allison Smith Desjardins holds a Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. She also earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Franklin Pierce University. Her educational background supports her expertise in admissions and higher education.
Experience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Desjardins worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the LGO Director of Admissions and Marketing from 2018 to 2019. In this role, she was responsible for the admissions and marketing strategies for the Leaders for Global Operations program, contributing to the recruitment of prospective students.