Jennifer Downing joined Harvard Athletics in January of 2013, and currently serves as Associate Director of Athletics Development, Athletics, a post she has held since August 2020. She was previously the Assistant Director of Athletics Development, Alumni Relations and Stewardship.
Downing oversees all aspects of stewardship for Athletics and has been involved in numerous capital projects including the Harvard Polo and Equestrian Center, Bright-Landry Hockey Rink, Wrestling Facility, Mignone Rugby Field, Berylson Family Field Hockey Field, Blodgett Pool scoreboard, Lavietes Basketball Pavilion, Kaplan Family Indoor Hitting Facility, Weld and Newell Boathouses, Jordan Lacrosse/Soccer Field, and the seasonal bubble in Harvard Stadium. During her tenure, Harvard Athletics has secured 15 head coach endowments along with numerous endowment funds supporting 42 varsity programs and additional club teams.
Prior to her time in Athletics, Downing spent five years as Assistant Director of Development for the Harvard China Fund. In that role, she managed their Advisory Committee and developed individualized fundraising plans and engagement strategies resulting in $14.4 million dollars in pledges.
Downing began her Harvard career in 2001, first supporting International Initiatives within the University Development Office, and later joining the Harvard Alumni Association as an International Project Manager assisting with their Global Series Conferences.
A graduate of Wellesley College with a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies, Downing was a four-year Academic All-America swimmer and senior captain, serving two years as a member of the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and working special events for the Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics. She spent nine years after graduation on the Friends of Wellesley College Athletics National Committee—including four years as chair—and is closing in on 15 years as a member of Swim Across America’s Boston Planning Committee. Additionally, Downing volunteers her time as Team Coordinator for the New England Masters Swim Club and as Open Water Sanctions Chair for the New England Local Masters Swimming Committee.
Downing, who resides in Somerville, Mass., earned her master’s in education policy and management from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education in 2006.
