April 2025 Update

Wow - what a month the Harvard Club of Naples has had! Since our last briefing, it’s been a whirlwind of fun and activity.

Harvard Student Interviews – A Great Effort from the Team!

We completed our interviews of first-year applicants to Harvard. In alignment with Harvard’s new data reporting policy, we cannot release numbers or statistics. We do want to send heartfelt thanks to Francisco Myslicki, who led our interviewing efforts with energy and dedication. He and his committee’s work connecting students and Harvard continues to make a major impact!

Nonprofit CEO Executive Education at HBS – Transforming Leaders, Strengthening Communities

We had an exceptional group of applicants this year for our Nonprofit CEO Scholarships—and we’re proud to support leaders making a difference every day in our region.

We’re thrilled to announce that we awarded scholarships to two CEOs who will attend the prestigious Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at HBS:

And that’s not all—we also awarded a scholarship to attend Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation course to:

Plus, we’re proudly sponsoring three more incredible nonprofit leaders to attend Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management:

Each of these leaders is doing vital work across Collier and Lee Counties. We are honored to be part of their journeys. To date, the Harvard Club of Naples has sent 23 CEOs and Executive Directors to Harvard’s nonprofit programs—a legacy we’re immensely proud of.

A Magical Evening with Matisse

What a delightful evening the club had at the Matisse event! Sixty members and their guests mixed and mingled over drinks and nibbles on the patio of the Naples Art Institute, overlooking Cambier Park. We were then treated to a private tour of the Matisse Exhibit, led by the always insightful and entertaining Frank Verpoorten, Executive Director of the Naples Art Institute. We learned about Matisse in his later years, including his lesser-known drawings, his free-form use of scissors in creating his art, and illustrations he did for the iconic Jazz portfolio. A shout-out to Karen Schmitt for her superb management of the event!

Exploring the Future of AI with Sheri Cunningham

Over 250 attendees were completely captivated by Sheri Cunningham of Google, who took us on a fascinating journey through the world of AI—from cutting-edge breakthroughs to real-world applications and future possibilities.

A huge thank you to Sheri for her brilliance and to Cara Blazier for planning such a standout evening!

Thank You for Being Part of Our Community

Whether you joined us for an event, shared a conversation, or helped behind the scenes—you are what makes the Harvard Club of Naples so special. We’re always looking for fresh energy and new members, so if you would like to get involved, please reach out!

We can’t wait to see you at our next gathering. Until then—stay curious, stay connected, and stay inspired! And if you have not already, JOIN THE CLUB!

Peggy Lamb
President, Harvard Club of Naples