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Date and Location
Jamel McMullin
Join Taubman Center State and Local Government Fellows Brandon Tatum and Fagan Harris for a discussion on why state government matters and how to build a career in it. The conversation will focus on the role states play in shaping policy and services, the kinds of issues that are often decided at the state level, and how this work differs from federal and local government.
The event will also address practical questions about pursuing state government jobs, including how to identify opportunities, understand hiring processes, and think about early career steps.
Taubman Fellows:
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 day-to-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.
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. 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.
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.