Institute of Politics announces fall fellows

Two former world leaders, a prominent health care policy-maker, and the national campaign manager for John McCain’s presidential bid are among the fellowship selections at the Institute of Politics (IOP) this fall.

The Institute of Politics was established in 1966 with an endowment from the John F. Kennedy Library Corp. to inspire undergraduate students to enter careers in politics and public service. The Institute offers a wide-ranging program for students including internships, Forum speakers, visiting and resident fellows, study groups, and conferences intended to provide opportunities for interaction with the men and women who shape politics and public policy.

“This is a very distinguished group of public servants who will share their energy and enthusiasm with the students here,” said IOP Director David Pryor. “We’re very excited to have such a diversity of experience represented in one fellows’ class, and we know they will make a rich contribution to the Harvard community.”

The IOP Fellows are listed below:

• Esko Aho served as Finland’s prime minister from 1991 until 1995. He has been a member of Parliament since 1983 and the leader of the Centre Party since 1990. As the youngest prime minister in Finland’s history at age 36, Aho responded to his country’s recession by implementing strong economic reforms and bringing Finland into the European Union. In his recent bid for Finland’s presidency, Aho lost by a narrow margin to Finland’s first woman president. As an IOP Fellow, Aho will lead a weekly study group on the European Union and its political and economic implications for global relations.
• Richard H. Davis is the managing partner in Davis Manafort, a political consulting firm dealing in national and international politics. Most recently, Davis served as national campaign manager for Sen. John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign. He was deputy campaign manager for Sen. Bob Dole’s presidential campaign in 1996, and has served in numerous other Republican election bids. As an IOP Fellow, Davis will lead a weekly study group on the media and political campaigns, with a particular focus on presidential campaigns.
• Jamil Mahuad was president of Ecuador from 1998 to 2000. Pledging to bring fiscal discipline and political stability to the nation, Mahuad instituted economic reform policies focusing on reducing government spending and improving tax collection mechanisms. Before becoming president, Mahuad served as mayor of Quito for six years. As an IOP Fellow, Mahuad will lead a weekly study group on Latin American politics, leadership, and the effects of a global economy.
• Nancy-Ann DeParle served as the administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1997 to 2000. HCFA is the nation’s largest health insurance program, providing services to 74 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. DeParle is a joint IOP Fellow with the Harvard University Health Care Policy Forum. She will lead a weekly study group on health care, the uninsured, and reforming Medicare.
• Robert F. Drinan is a Jesuit priest and a former congressman from Massachusetts (1971-1981). Drinan is a professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., and has lectured around the country, particularly on human rights issues. He has published numerous articles and written several books, including “The Mobilization of Shame: A Global View of Human Rights,” due out this fall. As a visiting fellow, Drinan will lead a weekly study group on religion and politics.
• Ted Conover has received rave reviews for his recent nonfiction book, “Newjack,” about his year as a corrections officer in Sing Sing prison in New York. Conover’s other books include “Whiteout” and “Coyote.” He has written for The New Yorker and is a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine. As a visiting fellow, Conover will lead a weekly study group on United States’ prisons.