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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

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

The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History

Danny Werfel | Brookings Institution | November 10, 2025

October 2025 Faculty Press List Highlights

Duke Faculty | Various | October 30, 2025

Distinguished Fellow Michael Regan on the Importance of Partnerships in the Climate Control Fight

Michael Regan | The Chronicle | October 24, 2025

Executive Branch Power Grows as Loper Bright Order Fades: Werfel

Danny Werfel | Bloomberg Tax | October 17, 2025

Rethinking How Americans Learn to Be Americans

John Hillen, Manoj Mohanan | Duke Sanford School of Public Policy | August 31, 2025