Hoping to learn more about the Institute of Politics?
By Brigid O'Rourke, Director of Communications for the Institute of Politics
Founded in 1966 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, the Institute of Politics (IOP) works to inspire passion for public service and civic engagement, and to prepare students to provide effective political leadership in the United States and around the world. We know that dynamic, thriving societies require active, engaged citizens, and as such, are committed to welcoming guests with diverse perspectives and expertise to campus to engage with students on a range of issues.
Though housed at the Harvard Kennedy School, the IOP is the largest undergraduate organization on campus. However, we also offer programming and engagement opportunities for HKS students, as well as other faculty, staff, and students from across the University.
Events
We host hundreds of events in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at HKS, featuring guests with diverse backgrounds and expertise, who cover an array of timely topics. Over the past few semesters, students heard from guests such as Holocaust survivor Magda Bader, former Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Senator and former Governor of Florida Rick Scott, former Secretary of State John Kerry, American broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Riamondo, former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Congressman Jim Clyburn, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and more.
Fellows
Every semester we also welcome exciting cohorts of both resident and visiting fellows. Not only do fellows mentor a cohort of undergraduate students, but they hold office hours, and lead an eight-week, not-for-credit study group based on their experience and expertise—all of which are open to HKS students. This semester we’re excited to welcome former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg; 55th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy; former Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rohit Chopra; former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada and Economic Advisor to President Zelenskyy Chrystia Freeland; former Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia Aimee Rogstad Guidera; former Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri Tishaura Jones; former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Christopher Liddell; and Chief Political Correspondent of the Washington Examiner & Fox News Contributor Byron York.
Past fellows have included Chief White House correspondent for The New York Times covering President Trump and his administration Peter Baker; Staff Writer at The New Yorker Susan Glasser; former Governor of Indiana Eric Holcomb; former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Pat Toomey; former Governor of Arkansas and 2024 Presidential Candidate Asa Hutchinson; former Director of U.S. Domestic Policy Council, former U.S. National Security Adviser, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice; former Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeff Rosen; former Presidential Candidate and U.S. Representative from Texas Will Hurd; and former Senior Advisor to President Biden and Chief Strategist for the Biden 2020/24 Presidential Campaigns Mike Donilon.
Fellows themselves also welcome diverse guests to campus. Recent fellows have brought guests such as former President Joe Biden, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, World Bank President Ajay Banga, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Other special events
Every presidential election year we host the Campaign Decision Makers discussion, where we hear from representatives from many of the presidential campaigns. Every two years we also welcome members of the newly elected freshman class of Congress where they hear from returning members, Harvard faculty, and other experts on a variety of critical issues.
Come see what we’re doing—our calendars are always packed, and our doors are always open! We urge you to join us for one—or more—events.
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