John Bel Edwards Returns to Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School for Study Group Session with Governor Asa Hutchinson

On October 22, 2024, Fishman Haygood special counsel John Bel Edwards will return to the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School (IOP) and serve as a guest of former Arkansas Governor, and current IOP Resident Fellow, Asa Hutchinson. During a special study group session, “Is America Hopelessly Divided?”, Hutchinson and Edwards will discuss how executive leadership can change the tone and bridge this divide, where rural and urban America might find common ground, and whether the key to breaking the gridlock is the idea of nonpartisan redistricting or ranked choice voting. Read more about the study group here.

Each semester, the IOP invites a select group of Fellows to engage in civil discourse with the Harvard community and help inspire students to pursue careers in public service, preparing the next generation to provide impactful leadership in the United States and worldwide. Fellows typically reside on campus, mentor a cohort of undergraduate students, hold weekly office hours, and lead an eight-week study group based on their experience and expertise. Edwards was appointed and served as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School during the spring 2024 semester. Read more about his time at the IOP here.

Edwards regularly shares his insights with future leaders. Last spring, he spoke with Sally Richardson, Tulane University Law School’s interim dean, for an informal chat on the topic of “Lawyers as Leaders in Times of Crisis.” Most recently, Edwards co-taught a Trial Advocacy class for Loyola University New Orleans College of Law students on October 10, 2024.

Edwards works with both the firm’s business and litigation teams with a focus on renewable energy matters. Click here to learn about his practice.