William J. Murphy
Director, Labor & Employee Relations
bill_murphy@harvard.edu
617-496-9193

Bill leads the Office of Labor and Employee Relations, oversees all labor-management communications, serves as the University’s chief negotiator with campus unions, and administers all collective bargaining agreements at the University. Since 2003, Bill has successfully led the University’s efforts in four successor collective bargaining negotiations. Prior to joining Harvard in 2002, Bill served as deputy director of labor relations for the City of Boston. Earlier in his career, Bill served as labor counsel at the law firm of Kopelman and Paige and at the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 93 (AFSCME).

Bill holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Susannah P. (“Polly”) Scannell
Deputy Director
susannah_scannell@harvard.edu
617-495-2784

Polly joined the Office of Labor and Employee Relations in 2000 and has been Deputy Director since 2006. Polly’s primary roles include contract negotiation, administration of collective bargaining agreements and employment policies, grievance administration and mediation, participation on University and Joint Labor/Management committees, and conducting supervisory trainings. Before coming to Harvard, Polly was labor counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Social Services and staff attorney in the Massachusetts Community College Counsel’s Office. Polly has also practiced commercial litigation in the law firm of Whitman & Ransom in New York City and Shapiro, Israel & Weiner in Boston.

Polly received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College and her law degree from Fordham University.

Michael Loconto
Associate Director
michael_loconto@harvard.edu
617-496-7455

Mike joined the Office of Labor and Employee Relations in 2006 as an Associate Director. His primary role includes advising and consulting with school and department managers on the interpretation and administration of the University’s employment policies and collective bargaining agreements, including problem solving, grievance administration and mediation to conclusion. In addition, he represents the University in contract negotiations with employee collective bargaining units, participates in University and Joint Labor/Management committees, and conducts supervisory and policy-based training. Prior to joining Harvard, Mike practiced as a labor counsel for the City of Boston’s Office of Labor Relations.

Mike received a Bachelor’s Degree from The Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida and his law degree from the Northeastern University School of Law.

Donna Scally
Associate Director
donna_scally@harvard.edu
617-384-5234

Donna joined the Office of Labor and Employee Relations as Associate Director in 2006. Her responsibilities include overseeing Harvard’s project labor agreement with local trade unions, negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements, advising schools and departments on policies, practices, and contract interpretation, conducting training for managers and supervisors, and participating in labor-related committees. Donna previously served as assistant general counsel/collective bargaining coordinator at the Boston Housing Authority. Donna also has experience working on the union-side of labor and employee relations, previously practicing labor and employment law at the firm of McDonald, Lamond, & Canzoneri where she represented union clients from the public safety and health care industries and private individuals in employment-related matters.

Donna is a graduate of Smith College and Suffolk University Law School. Donna holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.

Lauren Degley
Labor Specialist
lauren_degley@harvard.edu
617-496-2214

Lauren Degley has been in the Office of Labor and Employee Relations since 2000 and served as the point person for the gathering and analysis of labor related data since 2002. In her role as Labor Specialist, she provides key analytical support for Harvard’s collective bargaining negotiations, including costing and benchmarking data for wages, benefits, paid time off and other employee policies. She also supports schools and departments on labor relations issues including the administration of collective bargaining agreements and employment policies, participation on University and Joint Labor/Management committees, and conducting supervisory trainings.

Lauren received her undergraduate degree from Colgate University. She holds a SPHR certification from the Society for Human Resources Management, a certificate in Human Resources Management from the Harvard Extension School and has completed a course of study on Collective Bargaining at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.