The 2020 election presented unprecedented challenges for state and local election officials around the country. Not only did the election take place amidst a global pandemic, numerous officials—most notably President Trump—cast doubts on the legitimacy and security of mail-in ballots. Despite these challenges, U.S. government and academic observers concluded that the election functioned smoothly and effectively.
Fels Public Policy in Practice speaker series ended the fall semester with a conversation with Richard Cordray, the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Richard is also the author of a new book, Watchdog: How Protecting Consumers Can Save Our Families, Our Economy, and Our Democracy.
Fels Public Policy in Practice speaker series recently featured speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz. Sarah served as the senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama in 2009 and 2010, and head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama from 2010-2017. She is also the author of a new book, Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).
Fels was privileged to host Senator Elizabeth Warren for our Public Policy in Practice speaker series on Friday, November 6. Moderated by Distinguished Fellow Elizabeth Vale, the conversation was guided by questions submitted by Fels students. Senator Warren shared her thoughts on the recent presidential election and offered advice for MPA students. Senator Warren praised students for their commitment to public service and counseled them to “dream big, fight hard” in their future careers. Participants were even treated to a guest appearance by Senator Warren’s dog, Bailey.
Lead For America Fellows, alumni, and staff are now eligible for Fels admissions benefits
Fels students were honored to welcome Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dr. Rachel Levine for our Public Policy in Practice speaker series. Dr. Levine shared her experiences as the Secretary of Health and former career as the Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs for the Department of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorder at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center with a group of Fels students and the broader Penn community, moderated by Elizabeth Vale.
Marci Hamilton, the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program Professor of Practice and Fels Institute of Government instructor, considers herself fortunate to have been a clerk for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. With the passing of Justice Ginsberg last week, Hamilton reflected on the first two female Supreme Court Judges, what obstacles they surmounted, and what potential dangers lie ahead with the appointment of a new justice.
Legal scholar, advocate, and Fels Professor of Practice Marci Hamilton has taken on some of the world’s most powerful institutions in her decades-long fight for justice for child victims of abuse.
On Friday, January 24, Fels Institute of Government hosted a day-long conference aimed at providing evidence-based insights from social science that could be put to work to benefit the city. The conference, titled “Bridging Evidence and Policy in Philadelphia,” emerged out of the Philadelphia Behavioral Science Initiative and the Mayor’s GovLabPHL initiative, both designed to strengthen the partnership between the local government and academic researchers working in data evaluation and behavioral science.
The Fels Institute of Government has new faculty leaders, but many traditions are staying put, including the institute’s signature Public Policy in Practice workshops. That’s because the series fits neatly in place with the 82-year-old institute’s focus on providing students with an analytical, personal, and practical program in public administration, says John Lapinski, who co-directs Fels with Matthew Levendusky.
