Cambridge, Mass. — Today, Harvard Kennedy School named Beth Myers and Ned Price interim co-directors of the Institute of Politics (IOP). They will take over leadership of the IOP after the tragic passing of Setti Warren, who had led the center for more than three years.
Beth Myers is a longtime Republican political consultant, campaign advisor, and attorney who served as Mitt Romney’s chief of staff during Romney’s tenure as Governor of Massachusetts, and then was his campaign manager during his 2007-8 presidential campaign. Ned Price is a former diplomat and intelligence official who served in several senior roles in the Obama and Biden administrations, including as spokesperson for the State Department and deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Both of these leaders also have deep experience with the IOP: Myers was an IOP fellow in 2013 and later served as an interim JFK Jr. Forum director, and Price just concluded his tenure as an IOP fellow for the Fall 2025.
The IOP is an integral part of Harvard Kennedy School and the largest student organization for undergraduates at Harvard College. Established in 1966 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, the IOP’s mission is to unite and engage students with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers on a non-partisan basis, with the goal of inspiring students to public service.
"We are thrilled to have Beth Myers and Ned Price leading the IOP as interim co-directors,” said Jeremy Weinstein, Dean of Harvard Kennedy School. “Beth and Ned are longtime public servants who bring invaluable experience to the IOP, as well as a deep and abiding commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. As people who know and love the IOP, they will offer superb leadership to this important institution during a critical moment for our country—and carry on Setti’s legacy of helping students from across the political spectrum become great public leaders.”
“I’m excited to be back at the Institute of Politics,” said Myers. “The IOP students—those who desire a career in public service, want to participate in electoral politics, or are interested in more civic engagement—always make the IOP one of the most lively and interesting places on the Harvard campus. Over the years I’ve watched as these students have gone on to become leaders in their chosen fields and truly make a difference in the world. I’m eager to work with Ned and the excellent IOP team during this transition time to ensure a great spring semester.”
“Assuming this role at the Institute of Politics—an institution that has played a defining role in my own path, first as a student and more recently as a Fellow—is an extraordinary privilege and responsibility I take to heart, especially during this time of somber transition,” said Price. “I welcome the opportunity to continue shaping the next generation, helping students recognize the power of politics and public service to shape society for the better. Principled public leadership has never mattered more, and I look forward to partnering with the Harvard community to build on the IOP’s storied legacy and prepare the Institute for its next chapter.”
“I’m grateful to Beth Myers and Ned Price for stepping up at this pivotal time,” said Michael A. Nutter, Chair of the IOP Senior Advisory Committee and former Mayor of Philadelphia. "As leaders who have dedicated their careers to public service, I couldn’t be more pleased to see Beth and Ned modeling for our students what it means to advance a shared agenda for the benefit of the IOP and our country. I look forward to working with both of them to advance the IOP’s vital mission.”
The IOP offers wide-ranging opportunities for students to practice leadership, engage with a wide variety of perspectives, and develop skills for a future in public service. Students at the IOP are exposed to current leaders in politics through the Fellows and Study Groups program, and they participate in hands-on projects like the Harvard Youth Poll—a nationwide survey project of young adults' political views. They are also offered wide-ranging internship and career opportunities, including 100 paid public-service summer internships around the world. Additionally, the Institute offers conferences for new members of Congress and newly elected mayors, and, after each presidential election, brings together campaign managers and strategists to analyze the race.
The Institute also oversees the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, one of the world's premier arenas for political speech, discussion, and debate from across the political spectrum. The forum is one of the only places in America where students can engage with members of congress from both sides of the aisle, with managers of both presidential campaigns, or with senior advisors to President Biden and President Trump—often in the same day or even the same hour. Through the forum, the IOP supports students across the ideological spectrum, encourages dialogue across differences, and hosts a wide range of guests to debate the most important issues of our time.
Together with Executive Director Kim Peeples, Myers and Price will lead the IOP while Harvard Kennedy School conducts a nationwide search for a permanent director.