Honoring the Vision and Legacy of Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr.

On behalf of everyone at the Kokkalis Foundation, we wish to express our deepest gratitude and admiration for Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr.—Dean of Harvard Kennedy School when our program was born in 1997—who passed away on May 7, 2025.

Dean Nye’s visionary leadership provided the fertile ground upon which the Kokkalis Program took root. At a moment when Southeastern Europe was emerging from a period of profound upheaval, he recognized the urgent need for an institutional commitment to democratic renewal and good governance. Under his guidance, HKS opened its doors wide to promising public-sector leaders from our region, generously supporting fellowships, executive courses, and conferences that have since empowered hundreds of alumni to shape policy at home.

Beyond administrative acumen, Joe brought a scholar’s curiosity and a teacher’s warmth to every endeavor. His pioneering work on “soft power” reshaped how governments understand influence in the modern world—a concept that resonates deeply with our mission to build bridges of ideas and practice across borders. We will always remember the spark in his eyes when discussing fresh research, the way he made complex theory feel electrifyingly relevant to practitioners, and the genuine personal interest he took in each fellow’s journey.

To his family, friends, colleagues, and the countless students whose lives he enriched: please know that your loss is shared by a community that spans continents. Joseph Nye’s legacy lives on not only in his writings and his many public lectures, but in the policies, projects, and partnerships that trace their lineage back to his deanship.

We will honor his memory by redoubling our efforts to cultivate ethical, creative, and courageous leaders in Southeastern Europe—leaders who, like Joe, believe in the power of dialogue, collaboration, and principled action to transform societies. Thank you, Dean Nye, for championing our program at its inception, for inspiring generations of change-makers, and for showing us what it means to lead with both intellect and heart. You will be profoundly missed, but never forgotten.

With heartfelt appreciation,

The Kokkalis Foundation

May 9, 2025