Visiting Scholars & Fellows

TAUBMAN CENTER FELLOWS & SCHOLARS

The Taubman Center and its affiliates house several research fellows each year, typically academics and experienced practitioners who take a sabbatical to study, write about, and help spread insights and ideas on a variety of subjects. During their time at the Harvard Kennedy School, they engage with other scholars and practitioners, faculty members, staff, and students.  

Robert Gordon

Robert Gordon has spent over three decades serving in key roles at each level and in each branch of government, with a particular focus on improving government performance and advancing economic mobility.

Most recently, Robert served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Mobility at the Domestic Policy Council of the White House, handling education, housing, anti-crime, and anti-poverty initiatives, among others. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leading several efforts to streamline grant and service delivery while saving taxpayers money.

Between 2019 and 2021, Robert was director of the Department of Health & Human Services for the State of Michigan, playing a key role early in the pandemic response. During the Obama-Biden Administration, Robert served as an acting deputy director and executive associate director at the Office of Management & Budget, guiding the Administration's evidence-based policy initiatives. Earlier in his career, Robert served as a senior official at the New York City Department of Education, driving an equity-focused school finance reform, a senior aide on Capitol Hill, and a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Outside government, Robert has worked as a senior vice president for global strategy and finance at the College Board, and, while a Skadden Fellow, as law guardian for children in abuse and neglect proceedings for the Juvenile Rights Division of Legal Aid in the Bronx, New York.

Robert's work has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Politico. He has a J.D. from Yale and a B.A. from Harvard. He is also a Doris Duke Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the McCourt School.

Fagan Harris

Fagan Harris serves as President and CEO of the Abell Foundation. Prior to joining Abell, Fagan served as Governor Wes Moore’s Chief of Staff from his historic inauguration in 2023 through 2025. As Chief of Staff, he managed the Governor’s Offices and oversaw the dayto-day operations of State government. He led the State through historic negotiations to retain the beloved Baltimore Orioles, managed the State’s response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, and guided the development and implementation of the State’s $67b budget. 

He is the co-founder of Baltimore Corps, a national leader in social innovation, where he served as CEO for 10 years. Under his leadership, Baltimore Corps re-imagined recruiting, hiring, and career advancement for underestimated communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baltimore Corps played a central role in the creation and execution of the Baltimore Health Corps, which enlisted hundreds of city residents most impacted by the pandemic in the city’s public health response as full-time contact tracers and care Coordinators. 

Since 2021, Fagan has served on the Board of Directors at AmeriCorps to which he was appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate. Previously, Fagan served on Maryland’s Accountability and Implementation Board, which is charged with overseeing the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. He served on the boards of Johns Hopkins Hospital at Bayview, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Lead for America, the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund, and the Straus Foundation. Fagan also chaired an impact consultancy, the Just Economy Group, which guided start-up companies and industry leaders to integrate environmental, social, and good governance practices into their core strategy and operations. 

Previously, Fagan served as a Director at The Aspen Institute Impact Careers Initiative where he co-led a team of researchers to publish scholarship on talent pipelines in the public and social sectors. He started his career at College Track where he helped build its college success program and served as chief of staff to the CEO. Harris holds a B.A. in Political Science and American Studies from Stanford University where he graduated with Honors and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford where he was a Rhodes scholar. He is a proud graduate of Maryland public schools.

Brandon Tatum

Brandon Tatum serves as Chief Executive Officer of the National Governors Association (NGA). In this role, he leads the nation’s only bipartisan organization representing all 55 U.S. governors, setting strategic direction for policy development, federal engagement, and interstate collaboration on the country’s most consequential challenges. He partners closely with the NGA Chair and Executive Committee to support governors across political lines, strengthen state sovereignty, and elevate governors as the nation’s chief executives. He guides bipartisan policy agendas spanning workforce and economic mobility, public safety, energy, education, and federalism, translating governors’ priorities into coordinated national action. Tatum oversees day-to-day operations, senior staff leadership, budget and fundraising strategy, and external partnerships with federal agencies, foundations, and the private sector, positioning NGA as the premier convener for constructive dialogue, pragmatic problem solving, and results-driven leadership in an increasingly polarized environment.

Prior to NGA, Tatum served as Chief Executive Officer of Oklahoma’s Public Regional University System (RUSO) and as Senior Advisor to Governor J. Kevin Stitt for workforce and education. RUSO comprises six universities, more than 8,200 employees, 42,000 students, and a $480 million annual budget. Under his leadership, the system advanced its mission of providing high-quality, affordable education while strengthening Oklahoma’s workforce and economic competitiveness.

Earlier, Tatum served as Chief of Staff to Governor J. Kevin Stitt, acting as the Governor’s top advisor and strategist. In this role, he was responsible for executing the Governor’s policy agenda, overseeing state agency operations, and managing a 31,000-employee executive branch. He played a central role in shaping education, workforce, and economic development policy, working closely with cabinet officials, legislators, and business leaders to drive innovation, leverage artificial intelligence for efficiency, and strengthen accountability in government.

Before entering public service, Tatum spent fifteen years in education leadership, holding executive roles across both higher education and K–12 systems. He earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Abilene Christian University. Throughout his career, he has been driven by a commitment to public service and expanding opportunity, focused on building systems that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and create durable pathways to economic and social mobility.