Staff

Setti D. Warren is Director of the Institute of Politics and Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this role, he served as executive director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. He previously served as mayor of Newton...

Zoe joined the Institute of Politics in March 2023. Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Westminster College and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Chatham University. Prior to working at...

Dan Balz is chief correspondent at The Washington Post. He joined The Post in 1978 and has been involved in political coverage as a reporter or editor throughout his career. Before coming to The Post, he worked at National Journal magazine as a reporter and an editor and at the...

Tessa joined the Institute of Politics in January 2024 and currently oversees digital communications at the IOP including its website, newsletters, and social media channels. Previously she spent five years at Harvard Public Affairs and Communications, where she was the Digital...

Kerri first joined the Institute of Politics as a receptionist and staff assistant in October 1999, coming to the Kennedy School with over ten years of experience in hospitality management with Interstate Hotel properties. As finance and administrative coordinator, Kerri works...

John Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, and the author of Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (St. Martin's Press, January 2022). The Washington Post referred to John as one of the world’s...

Aaron joined the IOP in March of 2023, following five years working in communications and student engagement at Harvard College. In this role, he also worked with undergraduate students as a first-year advisor, and faculty advisor for Harvard Yearbook Publications. Previously, he...

Dejanee Miller joined the Institute of Politics in June 2022. Originally from Boston, Dejanee graduated from St. John’s University in May 2022 with a degree in criminal justice. Prior to joining Harvard Kennedy School, Dejanee interned with the New York Civil Liberties Union and...

Brigid joined the IOP in August of 2023. Previously she spent nine years at Harvard Public Affairs and Communications, where she was the Director of Communications and Outreach.  Prior to coming to Harvard, she was the Massachusetts Press Secretary for Senator John Kerry. Before...

Cathey Park joined the Institute of Politics in 2004 and currently manages the Conferences and Special Projects portfolio. She oversees all signature IOP seminars, including Newly Elected Mayors, Newly Elected Members of Congress, and the Presidential Campaign Managers Conference...

Betsy Pearlman joined the Institute of Politics in March 2024. Betsy comes to the IOP with over 7 years of Harvard experience, most recently supporting the Associate Vice President and Executive Director of the Harvard Alumni Association. Betsy also has 11 years of experience in...

Kimberly joined the Institute of Politics as finance manager in August 2021. Kimberly comes to the Kennedy School with over thirteen years of research administration financial background. Prior to this role, she served as senior financial officer at the Computer Science...