CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School is pleased to announce that Congressional Institute President Mark Strand with be a 2017 Fellow. Catalyzing ideas on how to reform Congress so that it works effectively and opens up the legislative process to more lawmakers will be the focus of Strand’s discussions with students during the 2017 academic semester.
“Mark Strand’s deep, first-hand experience in our legislative process will provide insight into Congressional operations and offer avenues for our students to become active participants in improving government at all levels,” said IOP Acting Director Bill Delahunt.
After 24 years on both the House and the Senate staffs, Strand became president of the Congressional Institute in 2007. The not-for-profit corporation works to assist Members of Congress to better serve their constituents and helps the American public better understand the operations of the national legislature.
“Millennials tend to be problem solvers by nature,” said Strand. “Working with some of the brightest students in the country to find fresh ways to make government work again is an exciting prospect. I look forward to working with them to develop ideas for how Congress can do a better job representing all of the citizens of our great country.”
The Fellows program is central to the IOP’s dual commitment to encourage student interest in public life and to increase interaction between the academic and political communities. Over the course of an academic semester, Fellows interact with students, develop and lead study groups and participate in the intellectual life of the Harvard community
In addition to his Congressional Institute work, Strand is also an adjunct professor of legislative affairs at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, coauthor of the book Surviving Inside Congress, and author of a blog, The Sausage Factory, that provides an inside look at legislative strategies and procedures.
“I love the educational process. And the IOP is the kind of institution that supports a highly practical approach to engaging young people in civic and government service,” said Strand. “I look forward to having the opportunity to help mentor a core group of people dedicated to making government work again.”
Read Strand’s full biography at http://bit.ly/2017FallFellows.
The Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School was established in 1966 as a memorial to President Kennedy. The IOP’s mission is to unite and engage students, particularly undergraduates, with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers on a non-partisan basis to inspire them to consider careers in politics and public service. The Institute strives to promote greater understanding and cooperation between the academic world and the world of politics and public affairs. More information is available online at http://www.iop.harvard.edu.
SOURCE The Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School