News & Updates
The People Lab Joins the Taubman Center for State and Local Government
The Lab, led by Professor Elizabeth Linos, focuses on producing research that solves challenges with and for public servants — where the Taubman Center has deep experience and connections.
Executive Orders, New Leaders, and a Big Move: Transition Term 2026
Students teams on the ground in Kansas City, KS; Hialeah, FL; and Jersey City, NJ reflect on their experience and share what they accomplished during the most recent Transition Term.
The Taubman Center Welcomes New Visiting Fellows Fagan Harris and Brandon Tatum
Fagan Harris and Brandon Tatum, are former governors’ chiefs of staff, Fagan to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Brandon to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R).
Alumni in State and Local Government: Francesca Ioffreda MBA/MPP 2017
With a career weaving through public and private sector work, nonprofits, and consulting, Ioffreda has always been driven by the goal of creating economic opportunity for others.
Developing the next generation of state & local leaders
State, county, city, and town governments need talented young leaders who are passionate about finding solutions to policy challenges. Through experiential learning opportunities, fellowships, and career mentorship and connections, the Taubman Center helps connect students who are dedicated to state and local public service with governments that need their support.
Transition Term
Transition Term embeds HKS students in the offices of newly-elected mayors, governors, and county officials during January Term to help these officials accelerate key initiatives as they shift from campaigning to governing.
Economic Development Seminar
This monthly non-credit seminar for HKS students convenes leading economic development thinkers and doers from around the country to engage on state, county, and city best practices and shared challenges.
Urban and Rural Leadership Trek
Student-led, Taubman Center supported treks allow HKS students to meet state and local leaders in cities and towns across the country and explore how these communities approach policymaking.
The Taubman Center Urban Prize
We connect state and local governments with students as part of a Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE), the capstone experience for HKS's MPP curriculum. PAE students are also eligible for the Taubman Urban Prize.
Generating big ideas & solutions to state & local challenges
The Taubman Center supports an intellectual community where faculty, fellows, students, and research staff can productively deliver urban and rural research and teaching, as well as interact with each other to stimulate, support, and critique these endeavors. Explore recent research highlights below.
Funding the Growth Machine: The Effects of Municipal Campaign Contributions on Housing Policy Outcomes
Justin de Benedictis-Kessner
Helping state & local government implement & scale solutions
The Taubman Center seeks to support and improve state, county, city, and town government by spreading and implementing ideas and solutions through our communities of practice, technical assistance, and HKS executive education.
Innovations in 911 Response
A Government Performance Lab case study series shares lessons learned from Durham, NC’s Community Safety Department, which dispatches specially trained, unarmed professionals to handle low-risk 91
Affordable Housing Finance
Cities across the country face an affordable housing crisis. A new webinar hosted by the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston explores innovative financing solutions for affordable housing with local housing experts.
Including Risk in Your AI Assessment
How can municipalities assess the potential benefits and risk of deploying AI to support governmental services? A new working paper co-authored by Lecturer Mark Fagan outlines a "thinking slow" strategy to enumerate the risks and opportunities of AI.
Miro Weinberger grew up with a keen interest in public service, thanks to nightly conversations around the dinner table. "I just had the sense that government mattered and that it was a way to improve the world and help your neighbors and your community," he shares. After navigating the Great Recession as a nonprofit housing developer, Miro felt ready to run for office himself and went on to serve 12 years as the Mayor of Burlington, VT.
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