Eric Henson

Eric is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and has been affiliated with the Harvard Project for over two decades, beginning as an MPP student. He officially joined the team as the Program Director of the Ittapila Program for Nation Building Education and Outreach Endowment. Translating as “to help one another”, the Ittapila Program was endowed by the Chickasaw Nation last year. While Eric is busy building out programming, some current activities include the development of a Harvard Project Alumni professional association as well as internships for students with tribal nations. Associated with Ittapila, Eric will continue to serve as a lecturer for the Kennedy School to teach the Nation Building 2 (DEV 502) class, which pairs students with an Indigenous nation or organization to address contemporary issues.

Prior to this role, Eric served as an Executive Vice President with Compass Lexecon and provided a range of economic and financial analyses and expert testimony, particularly in the energy industries and in damages analysis. He has a specific expertise in Native American economic development and governance and is frequently called upon to testify in the US Congress on economic development issues in Indian Country.