FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 Contact: Esten Perez
July 30, 2014                                                               (617) 496-4009                  
                                                              

HARVARD’S INSTITUTE OF POLITICS ANNOUNCES FALL RESIDENT FELLOWS

Cambridge, MA – Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP), at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, today announced the selection of the 2014 IOP Fall Resident Fellows.  The IOP was established in 1966 as a memorial to President Kennedy and aims to inspire undergraduates to consider careers in politics and public service. 

“We look forward to welcoming this accomplished group of Fellows who represent the diversity and dynamism of American politics today.  We are confident they will inspire our students and be energized by them,” said IOP Director and Spring 2005 Resident Fellow Maggie Williams.

Over the course of an academic semester, Resident Fellows interact with students; develop and lead weekly study groups; and are afforded many opportunities to participate in the intellectual life of the Harvard community.

The 2014 Fellows roster reflects expertise in opinion research, state government, health policy and advocacy, national party leadership, campaign management and strategy, journalism and broadcast media and private sector leadership. More information is available here.

The following Resident Fellows will join the Institute for the fall semester:

• Kristen Soltis Anderson, Republican strategist and co-founder of Echelon Insights, an opinion research firm; columnist at The Daily Beast; former vice president, the Winston Group, a GOP polling firm

• Frank Fahrenkopf, co-chairman, Commission on Presidential Debates; former president and CEO, American Gaming Association; chairman, Republican National Committee (1983-89)

• Christine Gregoire, governor of Washington (2005-13); attorney general of Washington (1992-2005); director, Washington State Department of Ecology (1988-92)

• Anton J. Gunn, founder & president of 937 Strategy Group, LLC, a healthcare strategy consulting firm; former director of external affairs, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS); member, South Carolina House of Representatives (2009-11)

• Phil Kent, chief executive officer of Turner Broadcasting System Inc. (2003-13); former president and chief operating officer of CNN News Group

• Valerie Biden Owens, executive vice president, Joe Slade White & Co., a political and media consulting firm; campaign chair, Biden for President (1988, 2008) and the first woman to head a presidential campaign; campaign manager, Biden for Senate (1972, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008)

The Fellows program is central to the Institute’s dual commitment to encourage student interest in public life and to increase interaction between the academic and political communities. 

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Harvard University’s Institute of Politics (IOP), located at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, was established in 1966 as a memorial to President Kennedy.  The IOP’s mission is to unite and engage students, particularly undergraduates, with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers on a non-partisan basis to inspire them to consider careers in politics and public service.  The Institute strives to promote greater understanding and cooperation between the academic world and the world of politics and public affairs.  More information is available online at www.iop.harvard.edu/.