Study Groups Program Chair Candidacy Statements

Study Groups Program Chair Candidacy Statements Alec Barrett I’m a sophomore in Kirkland House concentrating in Government, and this is my second semester in the IOP. As co-chair of Fellows & Study Groups, I would work to expand the program’s impact on the Harvard community, while looking for new ways to improve the experience of both the liaisons and the fellows. The program regularly struggles to increase undergraduate contact with the fellows, both in and out of study groups. By planning the fellows’ visits to classes and events with student groups early in the semester, liaisons won’t be scrambling to schedule meetings when the semester gets busier and the fellows’ schedules fill up. Finding time for program-wide social events can be challenging, but it’s important for liaisons to socialize with other liaisons outside their own study group. I would use the program’s weekly meeting not just for business, but also for fun bonding activities. Finally, I would encourage more liaison-fellow outings beyond Harvard. As great as dining halls are, I think that fellows should make the most out of their time in Boston by taking advantage of the culture and entertainment that the city has to offer. During the last semester, I’ve seen much of what goes into the publicity and production of study groups. I am prepared to commit all the time and energy required by this job. I love being a part of such a professional, wide-reaching, and important program, and I would be honored to co-chair Fellows and Study Groups for the next year Kenzie Bok I came to Harvard in large part because of an inspiring visit to an IOP study group. Three semesters later, the program has yet to disappoint. Tony Leon, my beloved Fellow, became a good friend. Serving on the Leadership Team and Fellows Selection Committee for the past two semesters, I have had the opportunity to help shape the program both by planning events and by influencing who is chosen to be a Fellow. I’ve observed what sorts of Fellows and events are most successful and I’ve seen how much work goes into making the program run smoothly. As Fellows or Study Groups Chair, my priorities would include: Empowering committed liaisons to take on more responsibility, especially through an increased student role in actively soliciting applicants for the Fellows Program and in finding Visiting Fellows. Forming a more robust undergraduate community around the Fellows Program by creating an email list of past liaisons and regular undergraduate attendees and by inviting them to a few special dinners and activities each semester. This would reaffirm that non-liaisons can be invested in the Fellows Program and would grow undergraduate study group attendance. Encouraging more interaction between liaisons. I will augment events like Pub Trivia, Speed-Dating, and the Quad Dinner with less-structured events like room parties, game nights, and movie viewings. Facilitating interaction between Fellows. Dinners, panels, and social occasions featuring multiple Fellows are some of our best events. I would like to supplement these with informal dinners and outings in which liaison groups combine.

Ashley Fabrizio I’ve participated in this program since my freshman spring, first as a Journals liaison for Bart Peterson and now as your Historian and member of the Fellow Selection Committee. I’m running because I love the program and have concrete ideas for its improvement: More Cohesive Community: I will continue the program’s friendly and fun atmosphere without compromising its more serious aspects, a balance inspired by the current chairs; let’s keep Pub Trivia and have more informal get-togethers on weekend evenings. Members should be able to get to know each other, so we’ll have an initial program dinner to informally meet the semester’s liaisons, leadership team and Fellows before the first business meeting, and hold Speed Dating at the semester’s start. Fellows Dinners: We all completed a competitive selection process for the opportunity to interact with six amazing Fellows, but there are currently not enough chances to do so. There will be six dinners, one with each Fellow, exclusively for program members, giving us time to interact casually not just with the Fellows but with each other. The leadership team will also have its own dinner with the Fellows. More Communication: I will maintain the friendly relationship with the oft-overburdened staff and take more initiative in coordinating Fellows’ calendars and the Visiting Fellows program. I will provide handouts both to Fellows to clarify their liaisons’ roles, and to guests to clarify their role. I will also strongly encourage Fellows to provide more advice about careers, schooling and internships to their liaisons. Taylor Lane After being a liaison twice and working on the leadership team, I am excited to have the opportunity to continue my involvement with the Fellows and Study Groups program. I will never forget the rewarding and energizing experience of my time as a liaison and the integral role this program has played in my Harvard experience. I have learned tremendously from working with the current chairs, Mary and Will, and recognize their transformative efforts to make the program more accessible and cohesive. I hope to build upon their efforts in several key areas: Increasing Program Accessibility • Weekly dinner discussion led by two fellows and open to all students. The informal setting of an upper-classman dining hall will facilitate student engagement with the fellow and will give the liaisons greater opportunity to interact with other fellows. •

Greater cooperation with student groups by having student groups “sponsor” study groups similar to forum events.

Greater Student Involvement • Creating a Visiting Fellows Selection Committee composed of current liaisons. Provides an opportunity for committed liaisons to become more involved in the process of researching, proposing, and organizing visiting fellows collaboratively with staff Eric Andersen. Skills Building Focus • Fellows devote office hours specifically to career-building skills each week. •

Expand the workshop program to become a more institutionalized part of the program.

These ideas are only a starting point and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Feel free to email me at taclane@fas. Cathy Sun Hi, my name is Cathy Sun and I'm a sophomore in Kirkland. I've been involved in the IOP as a member of the Forum Committee, a writer for the HPR, and as a Fellows Program liaison - last spring as Bart Peterson's Student Groups Outreach Liaison and this year as Producer for Dr. Maleeha Lodhi. Last spring, Bart told me that the six guest lectures I had planned for him had inspired him to take a faculty position at a university after leaving the IOP. I'm running for Study Groups Chair because I hope that all liaisons can be empowered and enriched by their participation. My primary goal as Study Groups Chair would be to put fellow-student interaction at the forefront of the program, and to accomplish this through bringing the liaisons closer together as a team. Future full-committee meanings can involve breakouts during which liaisons of different fellows can share best practices and plan events together. For instance, all e-outreach liaisons can get together and talk about what methods they've tried and share what email lists one another has access to. In this way, the publicity strategy for all the study groups can become more effective. I'd also like to have more informal social events for liaisons of different fellows, such as optional dinners at d-halls throughout the semester and group outings into Boston and beyond. Overall, I hope to bring all the liaisons closer as a group and inspire a new kind of energy in the program. Tiffany Wen As a liaison for two semesters, I’ve really enjoyed the unique opportunity that this program offers undergraduates to meet, interact with, and develop relationships with some of the top political practitioners in the nation. I’ve experienced this program from the perspective of a freshman, completely new to the IOP, and from that of a head liaison, managing a team of my peers and overseeing our outreach efforts. I’ve learned from my fellow liaisons' experiences and worked with the chairs and the leadership team to plan events. Therefore, I believe I have a fundamental understanding of the program necessary to further improve it. Along with being familiar with the committee, I’m also genuinely excited about this program in general. Each semester that I’ve served as a liaison has given me a unique learning experience - first, sitting down with big names like Steve Schmidt and Rahm Emanuel, and then, exploring the risks of serious policy issues through mock Presidential Cabinet meetings. I’m always so excited to learn more from each fellow through study groups, office hours, and events, and I’d bring the same level of enthusiasm to the program while serving as chair. As chair, I hope to focus on three specific areas: choosing fellows most relevant to current issues, strengthening within-committee relations, and increasing the program's profile on campus. Please feel free to contact me about the specifics of these ideas and about additional suggestions! I cannot wait to implement these ideas to build upon the Fellows' Program's continuing success.