Sine Institute of Policy Politics

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 ACADEMIC YEAR

Where the brightest minds engage to promote common ground and nonpartisan solutions. TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction 13 Student Engagement 4 A Message from our Executive 14 Sine Student Advisory Director Amy K. Dacey Committee 5 A Year in Review 16 Student Engagement 7 Shaping the Future of Policy 16 2019-2020 Sine Student and Politics Advisory Committee 8 2020 Spring Fellows 16 2019-2020 Student Associates 9 2019 Spring Fellows 17 Hear from Sine Student 10 Guest Speakers Associates 13 Communications 18 What’s Next for Sine? 14 Leadership 19 Keep up with the Happenings 14 Staff Bios at Sine 15 Board of Advisors

Sine Institute of Policy & Politics Annual Report 2019-2020 Academic Year Introduction

The Sine Institute is a laboratory for university-wide collaboration and an incubator for policy innovation, convening the best and the brightest in the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors, as well as journalism.

CONVENE, COMMUNICATE, tor A COLLABORATE. ec ca S de te m va ia Today’s interconnected world offers an ri unprecedented opportunity to bring P together experts, top scholars, and students in research and scholarship, to work on the nation’s most pressing

r J challenges in a way that promotes o o t u c r common ground and nonpartisan e n S a l i c policy solutions. The Sine Institute s li m b u of Policy and Politics seizes that P opportunity at a defining moment for our democracy and the world. AU’s capital city location, at the nexus of Nonprofit government and within a growing international business center, connects diverse perspectives from around business and the nonprofit community in the country and the world. With our public policy, the rise of the importance world-class academics and research, of economic regions in the United States, experienced practitioners in international and international policy issues. and domestic views, leaders in business, AREAS OF FOCUS nonprofits, and government, and the most politically-active student body in the Drawing on their expertise in U.S., Sine makes real, lasting change in government, politics, academia, policy and politics. The Institute stands journalism, nonprofits, and business, apart through its focus on the role of Sine Institute Fellows uncover new

1 https://american.edu/sine-institute/ policy solutions and problem-solving consequences at the regional level. methods informed by evidence and a Those ripples cross sectors and impact cross-sector perspective. Each fellow is international and national affairs, as asked to explore a timely aspect of policy well as our local communities. These and politics that will benefit from these complex influences are the crux of the dynamic conversations. conversations to be discussed and debated by Sine Fellows. In our interconnected world, policy changes ripple through our nation at the federal level and have significant

Regional Cross-Sector International and Influence Perspectives Domestic Policy on Politics Driving Public Dynamics Policy Discourse

2 Sine Institute N TS IO IONS AT AT EVEN RESEARCH /EDUC S PR OGRAMS MMUNIC OW NING CO LL AI FE TR

SINE INSTITUTE on policy topics of great importance, PROGRAM PILLARS and share solution-driven programs Fellows Programs: A cornerstone of happening on the local, state, national, the Sine Institute is its Institute Fellows and international stage. program. Each spring semester, beginning Communications: Sine Institute plans with Spring 2019, the institute hosts six to be a hub for policy questions, research, fellows from a list of innovative leaders and solutions through its growing online in government, politics, journalism, social media and newsletter channels, nonprofits, and business. sharing its programming and content Research: Sine is building and with a large and diverse audience. collaborating to provide research, polling, Training/Education: Sine is investing and data-driven information to challenge and collaborating across campus to build and inform the policy makers and opportunities for credit and non-credit shapers, helping to define our future. training and education experiences that Events: Sine curates a robust program highlight the techniques and tactics of in-person and online events. We bring for building active policy initiatives— together students, faculty, staff, and coordinating academic and practitioner community members to share insights perspectives to give a holistic view.

3 A Message from Executive Director Amy K. Dacey

It has been a full year since I started at the Sine Institute on June 19th. I was excited to work for an organization committed to finding solutions in a non-partisan way; I found an excellent start at the Institute, which had been launched the previous September. A unique inaugural group of fellows helped to bring Sine to campus and began working with students. My first 90 days were focused on the education of the university and its faculty, staff, and students. Even though I was a proud Eagle Alumni, I knew this new role would take me places, and I would need relationships and partnerships all across campus to help build the vision of the Sines and President Burwell. The fall was dedicated to Sine promotion, selection of the off-campus, experimenting with new ways to Fellows 2020 class, and, of course, creating engage our audiences, with great results. We systems and structures to help build a strong grew our promotion through social media foundation for Sine on—and off—campus. and our growing newsletter. We executed 36 number of events that fall, through partnerships with various schools Sine is working with the university as we on campus and organizations from the D.C. navigate what the future holds for us through community. I worked with alumni relations, the stages of the pandemic. We will offer development, University Communications, summer programming, create various events and career services to build awareness and for the fall semester, complete long-term seek ideas for the developing Institute. We planning and, of course, build a muscular were able to make a strong Fellows class for fellow’s cohort for Spring 2021. 2020, representing every relevant sector, This report details our year June 2019-2020, and we enjoyed having them on campus for and what is next for Sine. half the semester before Covid-19 moved us to work at home. We pivoted to all-virtual All the best, programming within 24 hours of moving Amy K. Dacey

4 A Year in Review

June 2019 Congressional and Presidential Studies First Day of Work “Impeachment: The Constitutional Remedy of Last Resort” Spoke at Career Panel on Campus Announcement of Sine Spring Fellows Joint Event with SPA, “No Labels” 2020 July 2019 Student Advisory Committee Meeting Development of Sine Promotional Video Sine Advisory Committee Webinar Development of University-wide Sine December 2019 Student Survey Orientation Handbook sent to Spring September 2019 2020 Fellows Women Empowering Women Breakfast- Panel Discussion: Metropolitan Museum AU Alumni Association of Art, NYC Joint Event with KPU and SIS January 2020 “Condoleezza Rice and Philip Zeiklow Event” Implementation of Sine Student Survey Orientation for Sine Spring Fellows 2020 October 2019 Seminar: “How We Got Here: Exploring Joint Event with U.S. Chamber of the Divisive Politics of the Past Decade” Commerce Foundation: “America Led By: Janet Rodriguez, White House Working Forward: Hidden Workforce” Correspondent at Univision News Joint Event with SOC/SPA/WPI Seminar: “The New Politics: Campaigning “Knock Down the House” and Developing Policy in a Digitized All American Weekend - Talk 2020 World” Update Led by John Tass-Parker, Head of Politics and Government at Instagram November 2019 Seminar: “Politics on the Plate” Sine Spring Fellows Class Announcement Led by Katherine Miller, Vice President Wes Bush Event “What is the Role of of Impact, The James Beard Foundation Business in a Civil Society” February 2020 Joint Event with WCL and Center on 5 Seminar: “How the Sausage Really Gets President Made: An Introduction to How the Public Seminar: “On the Ground: The Life of a Policy Process Works” Political Embed” Led by Susan Molinari, Strategist, Former Led by Janet Rodriguez, White House VP at Google Inc, Former Member of Correspondent at Univision News Congress Seminar: “So, You Think You Want to Seminar: “The Path to the President’s Campaign? Exploring Successful Strategies Cabinet: My Personal Story” for Office and Life” Led by Alphonso Jackson, the 13th Led by Susan Molinari, Strategist, Former United States Secretary of Housing and VP at Google Inc, Former Member of Urban Development (HUD) under Congress President George W. Bush Seminar: “How Departments in the Seminar: “Setting the Table for Change” Executive Interact with Congress” Led by Katherine Miller, Vice President Led by Alphonso Jackson served as the of Impact, The James Beard Foundation 13th United States Secretary of Housing Seminar: “Lend Me Your Ears: and Urban Development (HUD) under Speechwriting Master Class” President George W. Bush Led by Cody Keenan, Speechwriter for President Barack Obama March 2020 Seminar: “Going Global: Campaigns Seminar: “Enemy of Democracy: Foreign or Abroad” Domestic? Led by John Tass-Parker, Head of Politics Led by John Tass-Parker, Head of Politics and Government at Instagram and Government at Instagram Seminar: “Public and Affordable Housing Seminar: “The Important Role of the and Homeownership: A Policy Case Study” Executive Branch” Led by Alphonso Jackson, the 13th Led by Alphonso Jackson, the 13th United States Secretary of Housing and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under Urban Development (HUD) under President George W. Bush President George W. Bush Seminar: “The Fight for Fair Wage” Seminar: “Break on Through: The Modern Led by Katherine Miller, Vice President Political Media Environment” of Impact, The James Beard Foundation Led by Cody Keenan, Speechwriter for

6 Webinar: “Where Are We Now?: The State Seminar: “The True Cost of Food” of the Race after Super Tuesday” Led by Katherine Miller, Vice President Led by Janet Rodriguez, White House of Impact, The James Beard Foundation Correspondent at Univision News May 2020 Webinar: “The Power of Chefs & Webinar with the U.S.-Mexico Community to Change the World” Foundation: “COVID-19 on the Southern Led by Katherine Miller, Vice President Border: How Will it Shape the Future of of Impact, The James Beard Foundation Immigration Policy between the U.S. and April 2020 Mexico?”

Seminar: “Do you even go here? Influencers, June 2020 Corporates and NGOs in Digital Spaces” Launch of the Sine Summer Seminar Led by John Tass-Parker, Head of Politics Series and Government at Instagram Shaping the Future of Policy and Politics SINE INSTITUTE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM A cornerstone of the Sine Institute is its Institute Fellows program. Each spring semester, beginning with Spring 2019, the Institute will host six Fellows. Sine Institute Fellows consist of innovative leaders in government, politics, journalism, nonprofits, and business. Fellows have the ability to collaborate with renowned AU researchers and practitioners, as well as the most politically active students in the country, to uncover new policy solutions and problem-solving methods informed by evidence from the public, private, media, and nonprofit sectors. The Sine Institute Fellowship provides Fellows the space and resources to advance one or more policy solutions, as well as a platform to share their work more broadly. We offer connections with AU faculty, Institute Advisory Board Members, Fellows, and others with potential to catapult ideas forward.

7 2020 SINE INSTITUTE SPRING FELLOWS Alphonso Jackson John Tass-Parker Secretary of Head of Politics Housing and Urban and Government, Development for Instagram President George W. Bush

Cody Keenan Katherine Miller Chief Speechwriter Vice President of for President Barack Impact, The James Obama Beard Foundation

Janet Rodriguez Susan Molinari White House Strategist and Former Correspondent, Vice President, Google; Univision Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (New York)

2020 DISTINGUISHED LECTURERS Dina Powell Joe Hockey Management Former Ambassador Committee of to the U.S. from Goldman Sachs and Australia Former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor

8 2019 SINE INTITUTE SPRING FELLOWS Abdul El-Sayed Ruth Marcus Political Former Executive Commentator and Director, Detroit Columnist for the Health Department; Washington Post Former Candidate for Governor of Michigan

Bill Haslam Karen Zacarías Former Governor Playwright, Founder of Tennessee of Young Playwrights’ Theater and Latinx Theater Commons

William Kristol Political analyst and Founder of the Weekly Standard

2019 DISTINGUISHED LECTURERS Wes Bush Chairman and Former CEO of the Northrop Grumman Corporation

9 GUEST SPEAKERS Wes Bush, Chairman and Former CEO Allison Aubrey, NPR News of the Northrop Grumman Corporation Correspondent Christine Cikowski, Chef & Owner of Monique Baptiste, VP at JP Morgan Honey Butter Fried Chicken Kristen Bartoloni, Silver Street Strategies Ryan Clancy, Chief Strategist o f No Founding Partner Labels Olga Belogovlova, Policy Manager for James Clyburn, House Majority Whip Information Operations at Facebook Tom Colicchio, Restauranteur and Top Joel Benenson, Founder and CEO of Chef Producer the Benenson Strategy Group Sen. Bob Corker Jeffrey Blattner, Former Aide to Sen. Brent Colburn, Former Assistant to the Edward Kennedy Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs Catherine Boudreau, Food and Amy K. Dacey, Sine Institute, Executive Agriculture Reporter at POLITICO Director Amy Brandwein, Owner and Chef, Mike Davirs, Former Chief Nominations Centrolina Counsel for Sen. C huck Grassley Troy Broussard, Dallas Housing Devita Davison, Executive Director, Authority (DHA), President and CEO Food Lab Detroit LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder, Black Mia Dell, Policy Director, SEIU Voters Matter Fund and the BWM Capacity Building Institute Niaz Dorry, Coordinating and Executive Director, National Family Farm Coalition and Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance

10 Abdul El-Sayed, Former Executive Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News Director of the Detroit Health Ambassador Joe Hockey, Former Department Ambassador of Australia to the United Michele Flournoy, Co-Founder and States Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors Myriam Igoufe, Dallas Housing Caroline Fredrickson, Author Authority (DHA), Vice President of Policy Development and Research Fin Gomez, CBS News Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7) Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, Immigration Reporter Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) Cherry Graziosi, Former Congressional Ben Krauss, Fenway Strategies Partner Candidate Bill Kristol, Political Analyst/Founder of Katie Harbath, Director of Global the Weekly Standard Elections at Facebook , Co-Producer of Knock Bill Haslam, Former Governor o f Down the House Tennessee Amanda Litman, Co-Founder and Laura Hayes, Food Editor, Washington Executive Director for Run for Something City Paper Ruth Marcus, Washington Post Ryan Heath, Author of POLITCO’s Columnist Global Newsletter and Podcast, Global Gebe Martinez, Communications Translations Strategist Pamela Hess, Arcadia Food Director

11 Deray McKesson, Civil Rights Activist, Alexandra Rojas, Executive D irector Educator, Podcaster, and Author of Justice Dems Brian Montgomery, HUD Assistant Christine Ross, President of Maryland Secretary of Housing and Urban Chamber of Commerce Development Don Seymour, Facebook Head o f Politics Ed O’Keefe, Political Correspondent, and Government CBS News Ernest Smith, Owner of ES Fitness Kwame Onwuachi, Executive Chef, Terence Szuplat, Global Voices Kith/Kin Communications, Speechwriter Sarada Peri , Former Senior Speechwriter Rep. David Trone (D-MD-6) for President Obama; Communications Strategist Dave Weigel, Journalist at Washington Post Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-1) Ed Whelan, President, Ethics and Public Alex Platkin, Silver Street Strategies Policy Center Founding Partner Karen Zacaries, Playwright/Founder Andrea Reusing, Lantern, Chef & of the Young Playwrights’ Theater and Owner; The Durham Hotel, Chef Latinx Theater Commons Ben Rhodes, Former Deputy National Phillip Zelikow, Director of the Miller Security Advisor to President Obama Center of Public Affairs at the University Jamila Robinson, Food Editor, the of Virginia Philadelphia Inquirer, Vice-Chair, JBF Andrew Zimmern, Chef, Writer, Teacher Journalism Committee

12 Communications

SINE’S MEDIA PRESENCE The Sine Institute has launched and supported a more robust online presence over the past eight months, building strong channels and programming on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. We are growing and expanding our followers and developing unique and compelling content.

SINE OF THE TIMES We launched the “Sine of the Times” newsletter, which currently reaches over 2,600 influencers and engaged individuals in D.C. and across the country. With this newsletter, we set out to create an inclusive space for the D.C. community, stakeholders, politicians, students, faculty, and staff. The “Sine of the Times,” which started out monthly and moved to bi-weekly during the content-heavy spring semester, includes examples of nonpartisan collaboration, updates on laws and legislature, event promotion, and updates from past and present Sine Fellows.

2020 POLITICS WAR ROOM We also are hosting on campus the 2020 Politics War Room Podcast with Al Hunt and James Carville. With over 20,000 listeners and growing, the podcast features compelling interviews with figures from the 2020 elections and current events. Executive director Amy K. Dacey was a guest speaker on the podcast, where she discussed the possibility of a brokered convention.

13 Leadership STAFF BIOS 2010 to 2013, Amy served as executive Amy K. Dacey is executive director of director of EMILY’s List, the organization the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics dedicated to electing Democratic women at American University. For more than to national, state, and local offices, and two decades, she managed prominent led the organization’s revitalization, national organizations, advised leading restructuring and rebranding efforts. elected officials and candidates, including In addition, she served in various President Barack Obama and Senator leadership positions for several other John Kerry, and counseled a variety organizations, including the Service of nonprofits and companies. Before Employees International Union (SEIU), joining AU, Amy was president of AKD Fund for America, the Democratic Strategies, a strategic firm working Senatorial Campaign Committee, and with nonprofits and foundations in the the Democratic Congressional Campaign progressive policy space. During the 2016 Committee. Recently, Amy served as presidential election, she served as the executive vice president and managing chief executive officer of the Democratic director for MWWPR, one of the world’s National Committee. During the 2004 top independent public relations agencies. elections, she worked for then-Sen. John La’Nasa Clarkson serves as the Kerry on his presidential campaign administrative assistant at the Sine and, following his narrow loss, helped Institute of Policy and Politics. She is to lead Kerry’s political operation. She interested in foreign policy and plans to also managed Rep. Louise Slaughter’s pursue a JD in international law. La’Nasa congressional campaign in 1998. From completed undergrad at the College of

14 Charleston, where she double-majored in advisory board joins the Sines to lead the political science and African American way in cultivating and inspiring the next Studies with a concentration in politics, generation of leaders. philosophy, and law. While at the College Michèle Flournoy, former undersecretary of Charleston, she served as the president of defense for policy (2009-2012) and of the Black Student Union and research current CEO of WestExec. assistant for the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. Danielle C. Gray, former assistant to the president and cabinet secretary in Charles Leggett is the assistant director the Obama administration and current of events; he oversees and coordinates senior vice president, chief legal officer, events for the School of Public Affairs and corporate secretary for Blue Cross and and supports programs related to the Sine Blue Shield of North Carolina. Institute of Policy & Politics. Additionally, Charles acts as liaison among various Anita McBride, former assistant to departments on American University’s President George W. Bush, former chief campus, coordinating with faculty, staff, of staff to First Lady Laura Bush, and students, and outside partners. Prior to current executive-in-residence at AU’s joining American University’s School of School of Public Affairs. Public Affairs, Charles organized events Deval Patrick, former governor of the for AU’s School of Communication, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2007- managed communications, marketing, 2015). and event logistics for the Embassy of France’s cultural activities in Washington, Frances Townsend (AU SPA/BA ’82), D.C. former assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism BOARD OF ADVISORS (2004-2008) and current national security The Sine Institute is made possible analyst on CBS News. through a milestone gift of $10 Philip Zelikow, former counselor of million from AU alumnus, trustee and the United States Department of State, Jeff Sine entrepreneur , SIS/BA ’76, and former executive director of the 9/11 Samira Sine , advocate for women and Commission, and current professor of children and seasoned journalist. The governance and history at the University gift is the manifestation of the Sines’ of Virginia. interest in making positive change that will inspire future generations of leaders. The non-partisan, cross-disciplinary

15 Student Engagement

2019-2020 SINE STUDENT 2019-2020 STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ASSOCIATES The Sine Student Advisory Committee Each Sine Institute Fellow will be assigned is a group of student visionaries from student associates. These associates will across campus elected to guide the assist the Fellow in designing, planning, Institute and inspire the next generation organizing and executing their seminar of leaders. This committee will discuss series on campus. These students will student engagement, programming, and be assigned certain roles to help the recommendations for fellows and speakers Fellow make sure their seminars are well at the Sine Institute. Our inaugural publicized, attended, documented, and an committee members are: overall success. Clarissa Cheung, College of Arts Britt Jacovich Robert Roseman & Sciences Jackson Jonah Estess Kira Burba, School of Education Beauregard Mason Peeples Mason Peeples, School of Anna Donohue Chris Rodriguez Communication Yazan Hanouneh Zachary Hill Sledja Ishmakej, Kogod School of Lucas Business Isabelle Dahl Stockslader Acker Shauna Burton, School of Public Affairs Mallory Payne Aidan Levinson Mohammad Al-Mailam, School of Heather Hardee International Service Lucas Alexander Turner Stockslader Ericka Cruz, Washington College of Law Harper Roberts Rachel Schultz Madeline DeGorges, Washington College of Law Jake Denton Lauren Monahan Jake Denton, School of Professional and Joshua Evans Prerita Govil Extended Studies

16 HEAR FROM SINE STUDENT “Being a Sine Student Associate was one ASSOCIATES of the highlights of my senior year at “From the friends I made to the personal AU. I really enjoyed getting to know my and professional opportunities I’ve had, Fellow, John Tass-Parker, and I learned a my time at AU has set me up for a bright lot about digital politics. It offers a very future and created cherished memories unique opportunity to work alongside along the way. The Sine Institute has influential people in your area of interest.” been an important part of that. I am -Alex Turner grateful for the chance to have learned “Faculty, staff, and other students will from mentors like Amy Dacey and Janet often go great lengths to help you succeed Rodriguez, as well as the opportunity in any way they can. Working as a student to visit the White House Press Briefing associate for the Sine Institute gave me Room.” another community that wanted to see me -Yazan Hanouneh succeed.” “My four years here at AU have been -Rebekah MacArthur more impactful than I could’ve imagined, “Being an SPA student from 2016 to not just personally and academically, 2020 has been a real trial by fire as the but professionally as well. Having the political system experienced profound opportunity to work as a Sine Institute change. Being a Sine Student Associate Student Associate this semester has helped and learning from John Tass-Parker has me learn more about a wide variety of been a similarly transformative experience policy topics while getting the chance to because I’m certain that digital politics network with Fellows and other Student will continue to reshape national and Associates. As I head into my post- global politics for decades to come. “ graduate career, I’ll be sure to carry this -Heather Hardee experience along with me. -Anna Donohue

17 What’s Next for Sine?

If we have learned one thing from the One of Sine’s hopes for the future is to recent COVID-19 experience, it is that expand on the academic opportunities Sine must have a healthy balance of that we provide for AU students. events, online programming, research Currently, we are working with programming and other substantive Washington College of Law’s Program non-event related work. To address this on Legislative Negotiation (PLN) need, we have designed working “pillars,” and the Center on Congressional and or areas we have identified as possible Presidential Studies to create a one- funding and programming opportunities: day legislative negotiation seminar. The purpose of this course is to give students These pillars include: a deeper understanding of the dynamics • Fellows/ Distinguished Lecturer of legislative negotiations, and how to Program increase the chances of achieving goals in an often polarized environment. • Policy/Politics Events with Partners In addition, Sine would like to create a • Training and Education space for people of the D.C. community • Research and Polling and beyond to share ideas, find opportunities to collaborate, and work • Communications on policy solutions to some of our most These pillars were created to ensure that challenging issues. future programming would align with the mission and key issue areas of Sine’s strategic plan.

18 Keep up with the Happenings at Sine

SOCIAL MEDIA LEARN MORE ABOUT SINE Amy K. Dacey Bio @AUSineInstitute 2019 Fellows Video

@AUSineInstitute Sine Institute Website

@AUSineInstitute

@AUSineInstitute

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