Get to know the new student leadership for the 2016-2017 year at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics! We look forward to seeing all that they'll accomplish at the IOP this year. Join us in welcoming Jesse, Sharon, Hannah, and Dustin to the new executive team! Learn more about the all of the new student leaders here.
What is your biggest goal for the IOP in this upcoming year?
Jesse Shelburne, President: Coming out of this recent election cycle, I think it is vital for the IOP to be accessible and inclusive as we come together and try to reconnect after such a divisive and hard-fought campaign. I want to make the IOP a more open space for people who have even the smallest interest in politics while continuing to build upon opportunities for people who want to spend their lives in public service. In doing so, the IOP can help to bring students together and connect more broadly and more deeply with the rest of the Harvard community.
After your involvement in this year’s election, how do you think young people can best involve themselves in politics and public service now that the election is over?
Sharon Yang, Vice President: It’s more important than ever that young people stay committed to being involved in politics and public service – whether that’s through local advocacy in your community or getting involved in national politics (the 2018 midterms are not that far away!). The important thing to remember is prior experience is not a prerequisite to being able to have an impact in politics – as long as you know what you care about and what your core values are, there will always be opportunities to make change.
What do you hope to do to get the IOP involved on campus in new ways?
Hannah Warntjes, Treasurer: Now more than ever, I think the Harvard community will be looking to the IOP to provide a space in which individuals with a diverse array of backgrounds and opinions can discuss what the future of politics looks like for each of us. It is my hope that through increased collaboration and partnership with a more diverse set of organizations on campus, we can produce these spaces either through forums, workshops, speaker series, study breaks, etc. in order to lay the foundation for a stronger, more inclusive relationship between the IOP and the Harvard community.
What do you think people would be surprised to learn about the IOP?
Dustin Chiang, Communications Director: The IOP is not just for people interested in government and politics! We have a broad variety of programming geared towards all interests and backgrounds, including our STEAM initiative. We also have substantial grant funding available for student groups and are always looking for ways to support the broader Harvard community.
What do you think is the future of politics?
Jesse: I think the future of politics is bright. Despite what older generations will tell you (and despite the rhetoric surrounding the recent election season), I look at my generation and I see people who want to make change and improve people’s lives within their own communities, across the country, and around the world. Our generation is the future of politics, so we need to work together to become the leaders this country needs.
Sharon: I think the future of politics should be focused on our local communities. Politics should be focused on what we can do from the ground up and change should begin at the grassroots in our own communities. That’s where we have the power to truly have an impact. As they say, all politics is local.
Hannah: Don’t trust the polls...This election demonstrated that a lot of people in both parties feel left out of the political conversation. Going forward I think we need to focus on building a political environment which is more receptive, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.
Dustin: The responsibility falls on our generation to stand up for what we believe is right and to make our voices heard. It’s up to us to realize that the government belongs to each and every one of us and we have the power to use it as a vehicle of positive change.