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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

Polis Distinguished Fellow Huma Abedin

AY22-23 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow Huma Abedin

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

Polis Distinguished Fellow Richard Burr

AY24-25 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow Richard Burr

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

Polis Distinguished Fellow John Harwood

AY23-24 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow John Harwood

Veteran Journalist

Polis Distinguished Fellow John Hillen

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

Polis Distinguished Fellow John Hillen

Former US Assistant Secretary of State

Polis Distinguished Fellow Reggie Love

AY22-23 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow Reggie Love

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

Polis Distinguished Fellow Minh-Thu Pham

AY22-23 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow Minh-Thu Pham

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

Polis Distinguished Fellow David Price

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

Polis Distinguished Fellow David Price

Former U.S. Representative for North Carolina District 4

Polis Distinguished Fellow Michael Regan

AY25-26 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow Michael Regan

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

Polis Distinguished Fellow Miriam Sapiro

AY21-22 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow Miriam Sapiro

Former Acting & Deputy U.S. Trade Representative

Polis Distinguished Fellow Danny Werfel

AY25-26 Polis Distinguished Fellow

Polis Distinguished Fellow Danny Werfel

Former Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

EVENTS

Advancing Civics Literacy Through Storytelling: A Focus Group with Danny Werfel

The Lemur Magazine, Polis: Center for Politics

Advancing Civics Literacy Through Storytelling: A Focus Group with Danny Werfel

September 11, 2025 | 7:00 pm

Bridging the Divide: A Discussion on Bipartisan Legislating with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)

Sanford School of Public Policy, Polis: Center for Politics

Bridging the Divide: A Discussion on Bipartisan Legislating with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)

December 4, 2024 | 2:00 pm

The Wolves of K Street

DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy, Polis: Center for Politics

The Wolves of K Street

October 3, 2024 | 6:00 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