News+

New IOP director looks ahead

2 min read

The Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), recently announced Maggie Williams as its new director. The Institute of Politics (IOP) decided to sit down with Williams and learn more about her, what she had planned for the future of the IOP, and what she felt needed to be done to inspire the next generation of leaders to get into politics and change it for the better.

Q: Why did you decide to become the new director of Harvard’s Institute of Politics?

Williams: President Kennedy said that the “future of any nation could be measured by the prospects of its youth.” The Institute of Politics was created to help ensure that our country would continue to flourish, led by generations of smart and caring leaders. I came to the IOP because I wanted to be a part of this community and participate in the work of growing our nation’s leaders.

Q: Did your experiences as a Spring 2005 IOP Fellow and IOP Senior Advisory Committee member change your perception of politics?

Williams: My experience as an IOP Fellow didn’t change my perception of politics, but it reassured me that the future of politics was in good hands.