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Polis Distinguished Fellows

The Polis Distinguished Fellows Program brings accomplished political practitioners, public servants, and organizers to campus to engage with our community and to dedicate some portion of their time to a project that promises an innovative solution to a problem of contemporary politics and that involves students in the process.

The program honors extraordinary leadership in politics and public service. Fellows are prominent figures who bring expertise and experience from their roles as practitioners in politics and governance, campaigns, activism, journalism, media, etc.

FELLOWS

Huma Abedin

AY22-23 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Huma Abedin

Top Aide & Longtime Advisor to Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Richard Burr

AY24-25 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Richard Burr

Principal Policy Advisor, DLA Piper LLP & Former North Carolina State Senator

John Harwood

AY23-24 Polis Distinguished Fellow

John Harwood

Veteran Journalist

John Hillen

Polis Distinguished Fellow & AY25-28 Civil Discourse Project Resident Fellow

John Hillen

Former US Assistant Secretary of State

Reggie Love

AY22-23 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Reggie Love

Senior Advisor, Apollo Global Management & Former Personal Aide to President Barack Obama

Minh-Thu Pham

AY22-23 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Minh-Thu Pham

Co-Founder of New American Voices & Former Director of Global Policy, United Nations Foundation

David Price

Polis Distinguished Fellow & Professor Emeritus in the Sanford School of Public Policy

David Price

Former U.S. Representative for North Carolina District 4

Michael Regan

AY25-26 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Michael Regan

16th Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Miriam Sapiro

AY21-22 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Miriam Sapiro

Former Acting & Deputy U.S. Trade Representative

Danny Werfel

AY25-26 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Danny Werfel

Former Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

EVENTS

Bridging the Divide: A Discussion on Bipartisanship with Danny Werfel & Mark Everson

Sanford School of Public Policy, Polis: Center for Politics

Bridging the Divide: A Discussion on Bipartisanship with Danny Werfel & Mark Everson

April 9, 2026 | 5:45 pm

Focus Group & Lunch with Danny Werfel: Advancing Civics Literacy Through Storytelling

The Lemur Magazine, Polis: Center for Politics

Focus Group & Lunch with Danny Werfel: Advancing Civics Literacy Through Storytelling

November 19, 2025 | 12:45 pm

Why Public Service?: A Conversation Featuring Polis Distinguished Fellows John Hillen, Michael Regan, and Danny Werfel

Polis: Center for Politics

Why Public Service?: A Conversation Featuring Polis Distinguished Fellows John Hillen, Michael Regan, and Danny Werfel

November 19, 2025 | 6:30 pm

PUBLICATIONS & NEWS

What Makes Creating Policy in a Democracy Challenging?

David Price | Duke Sanford School of Public Policy | January 26, 2026

Strong Differences, Stronger Respect: Former EPA Administrators Wheeler and Regan Bridge the Divide

Michael Regan | Polis: Center for Politics | January 26, 2026

December & January Faculty Press List

Duke Faculty | Various | January 3, 2026

Polis Recap: Why Public Service?: A Conversation Featuring Polis Distinguished Fellows John Hillen, Michael Regan, and Danny Werfel

John Hillen, Jenni Owen, Michael Regan, Danny Werfel | Polis: Center for Politics | December 2, 2025

November 2025 Faculty Press Highlights

Duke Faculty | Various | November 30, 2025