Prominent AIDS activist Peter Staley is one of six resident fellows selected to join Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP) at the John F. Kennedy School of Government for the fall semester, according to an IOP announcement.
“Being welcomed by Harvard to teach about the impact and joys of activism is a true honor,” Staley said in the press release. “Today’s generation of college students realize there are multiple paths to making a difference in the world, and I can’t wait to explore with them what I’ve witnessed and been inspired by through activism.”
In the 1980s and 1990s, Staley’s work with ACT UP and the Treatment Action Group led a pharmaceutical company to lower the price of an AIDS med and the government to restructure its AIDS research. Much of this early activism is featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary How to Survive a Plague.
In 2004, he launched a campaign against crystal meth, and recently Staley has worked on New York State’s Ending the Epidemic Task Force and advocated for Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Earlier this year, he and a group of AIDS advocates met with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders regarding HIV/AIDS issues (read about that here and here). He also publishes a blog on POZ.com.
According to IOP, the six resident fellows are:
Michael Blake, Member of the New York State Assembly for the 79th District in The Bronx, NY, will lead students in discussion about the changing face of America and its impact on our national politics.
Ann Compton, former ABC News correspondent covering the White House and national politics from 1973 to 2014, will track the final eight weeks of the most unconventional campaign in modern times.
Sarah Isgur Flores, former Deputy Campaign Manager for Carly for President, will guide students through the inside workings of a presidential campaign.
James T. “Tom” Hill, U.S Army General four-star (retired) who most recently served as the combatant commander for U.S. Southern Command, will lead discussions on the role of the military in national security policy formulation and execution.
David Kochel, Senior Strategist for Jeb Bush for President 2016 and respected veteran political operative, will guide students through a presidential campaign season that has seemingly broken all the rules.
Peter Staley, activist and co-founder of The Ad Hoc National Coalition to End the AIDS Epidemic, will reflect on his experience in movement politics and building successful activism campaigns from the ground up.
In addition, two public service leaders were selected as visiting fellows:
Charles “Chuck” Hagel, United States Secretary of Defense (2013-2015); United States Senator from Nebraska (1997-2009)
James “Jim” Roosevelt, co-Chairman, Democratic Party Rules and Bylaws Committee (1995-); Tufts Health Plan, senior vice president and general counsel (1999-2005); Tufts Health Plan, CEO (2005-2015)
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