Director's Bio

Bill Purcell, Director of the Institute of Politics

Bill Purcell is the Director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Purcell came to the IOP on September 1, 2008 from Tennessee State University where he served as the founding dean of the College of Public Service and Urban Affairs.

As IOP Director, Purcell sets strategic and budgetary priorities for the long-term direction and affairs of the Institute and oversees a myriad of programming including: events occurring in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, Harvard’s premier venue for political speech, discussion and debate; a resident Fellows program for individuals from politics and public service; internships, research awards and special projects; special educational conferences for elected officials; conferences bringing together academic, political and governmental leaders; and a biannual youth voter survey and other research initiatives aiming to enhance understanding of young people and politics. Purcell also maintains Institute relationships with its advisory committees, Fellows, students, staff, and the Harvard community and cultivates strong connections between Harvard Kennedy School and the larger world of politics both domestically and abroad. The Institute was established in 1966 as a memorial to President Kennedy.

Before serving as IOP Director, Purcell first came to the Institute in the fall of 2007 as a Resident Fellow after spending more than 30 years in public service, law and higher education. During his eight-year tenure as mayor of Nashville (1999-2007) the city saw unprecedented economic expansion, earning the city back-to-back designations as the hottest city for corporate expansion and relocation in 2005 and 2006. Purcell also worked to increase Metro school funding more than 50 percent over his eight years in office and created a city Office of Affordable Housing spurring the development and preservation of more than 26,000 affordable housing units. Purcell’s accomplishments as a civic leader earned him “Public Official of the Year” honors in 2006 by Governing Magazine as well as a Public Leadership in the Arts award from Americans in the Arts in 2005. As mayor, Purcell also served as a trustee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors (2002-2007) and was active in the National League of Cities’ Council on Youth, Education and Families.

Purcell served as the founder and director of the Child and Family Policy Center at Vanderbilt University (1996-99) which aims to foster a bridge between academic research, politics and best practices benefiting children and their families. Purcell served five terms as a legislator in the Tennessee House of Representatives (1986-96), including three terms as Majority Leader (1990-96) and Chair of the Select Joint Committee on Children and Youth (1989-1996). Purcell also worked as a senior assistant public defender in the Nashville Metro Public Defender’s Office (1981-85), a staff attorney with West Tennessee Legal Services (1979-1981) and as executive director of the Vanderbilt Legal Aid Society (1978-1979).

Purcell earned his bachelor’s degree at Hamilton College and his law degree at Vanderbilt University School of Law, where he has been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus.