Eighth Cohort of Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Announced

Cary, NC. – For the eighth year, The Hunt Institute is excited to announce a new cohort of Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows. The Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program, founded in 2014 by Governor Jim Hunt (D-NC) and Governor Tom Kean (R-NJ), partners with equity-minded policymakers to provide them with the knowledge needed to improve education in their states.

The launch of the eighth cohort in The Hunt Institute’s Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program adds 27 senior-level elected officials to its ranks, bringing the total to 167, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with six sitting governors having participated in the program: Governor Kate Brown of Oregon, Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Governor Brad Little of Idaho, Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi, and Governor Spencer Cox of Utah.

“While we continue to see extreme polarization in this country, the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program is a reminder that policymakers can work across the aisle to solve the education issues that matter most,” Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, president and CEO of The Hunt Institute. “For our education systems to emerge from this pandemic stronger than before, we must consider the needs of education leaders, teachers, students, and families. Now is the time to build back stronger and our policymakers have a pivotal role.”

The 2022 Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows are:

• The Honorable Carol Ammons, State Representative (D-IL)
• The Honorable Lauren Arthur, State Senator (D-MO)
• The Honorable Teresa Benitez-Thompson, Assembly Member, Majority Floor Leader (D-NV)
• The Honorable Jacqueline Coleman, Lt. Governor (D-KY)
• The Honorable Veronica Degraffenreid, Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth (D-PA)
• The Honorable Keith Faber, State Auditor (R-OH)
• The Honorable Eileen Filler-Corn, Speaker of the House of Delegates (D-VA)
• The Honorable Lynn Fitch, Attorney General (R-MS)
• The Honorable Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix (D-AZ)
• The Honorable Reed Gusciora, Mayor of Trenton (D-NJ)
• The Honorable Jon Hardister, House Majority Whip (R-NC)
• The Honorable Deidre Henderson, Lt. Governor (R-UT)
• The Honorable Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent (D-OK)
• The Honorable David Hogue, State Senator (R-ND)
• The Honorable Alicia Hyndman, Assembly Member (D-NY)
• The Honorable Glenn Thomas Jacobs, Mayor of Knox County (R-TN)
• Mr. John E. James, President, James Group International, Inc. (R-MI)
• The Honorable Jacey Jetton, State Representative (R-TX)
• The Honorable Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, State Senator (D-DE)
• The Honorable T’Wina Nobles, State Senator (D-WA)
• The Honorable Jeanette Nuñez, Lt. Governor (R-FL)
• The Honorable Quentin “Q” Phipps, State Representative (D-CT)
• The Honorable Lance Pruitt, Former State Representative (R-AK)
• The Honorable Ben Queen, State Delegate (R-WV)
• The Honorable Stephanie Garcia Richard, Commissioner of Public Lands (D-NM)
• The Honorable Murrell Smith, State Representative (R-SC)
• The Honorable Shirley Weber, Secretary of State (D-CA)

“I’m honored to be part of this cohort and appreciate The Hunt Institute for the opportunity,” said House Majority Whip Jon Hardister (R-NC). “As we continue to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our students, educators, and communities, I’m eager to learn more about what my peers are doing to ensure all students are given a chance to succeed, regardless of circumstance.”

The eighth cohort will meet in December in Washington, D.C. to engage in fellowship and learning around early childhood and K-12 student learning policies.

“Schools across the country are navigating what successful learning looks like,” said Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman (D-KY). “Now more than ever, students need a comprehensive cradle-to-career public education and job training system. I’m grateful to be part of this cohort; it’s a privilege to work alongside this bright group of education-minded leaders. If ever there was a time for collaboration, it’s now.”

In addition to the upcoming convening, Fellows will take part in sessions throughout the program covering topics across the education continuum, including the education workforce and higher education.

“I’m a firm believer in supporting and empowering our schools by amplifying parent voice for their children’s education,” said State Representative Quentin “Q” Phipps (D-CT). “The Hunt Institute’s program gives policymakers like myself the tools we need to better understand the nuances of education policy and in turn, bring about positive change for education leaders, teachers, parents, and students.”

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