Bipartisan Senior Elected Officials Convene to Tackle Nation’s Most Pressing Education Challenges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2026
Contact: Dr. Javaid Siddiqi
Javaid.Siddiqi@hunt-institute.org | (984) 377-5200

The Hunt Institute to Host Cohort 12 of The Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows

San Diego, CA – The Hunt Institute, a national education nonprofit affiliated with Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, will convene the second and final session of the 12th cohort of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows from August 5–7, 2026, in San Diego. The convening will bring together 25 senior elected officials from across the country for bipartisan discussions with leading national experts on the educator workforce and higher education.

Through evidence-based research, candid dialogue, and peer learning, Fellows will explore innovative policy solutions to strengthen education systems and improve student outcomes. The Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows is the nation’s premier bipartisan education leadership fellowship, equipping lieutenant governors, state legislators, and other senior elected officials with the knowledge, relationships, and network needed to advance effective education policy.

“The Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program demonstrates what is possible when leaders put politics aside and focus on what works best for students,” said Governor Susana Martinez, former Governor of New Mexico and Vice Chair of The Hunt Institute Board of Directors. “I look forward to seeing how these Fellows put what they’ve learned into action by returning to their states with the knowledge and leadership needed to strengthen their communities and expand opportunities for all students and families.”

Named for renowned education governors Jim Hunt (D-NC | 1977-1985; 1993-2001) and Tom Kean (R-NJ | 1982-1990), the national, nonpartisan Fellowship launched in the fall of 2014. The cohort includes 29 policymakers from across the nation, all state-level policymakers committed to uplifting education issues in their states.

The Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program invests directly in America’s senior elected officials, giving them the knowledge, relationships, and tools to strengthen state education systems and improve outcomes for students. The bipartisan Fellows program:

• Equips Fellows with the latest research and proven strategies shaping education policy.
• Sparks bipartisan dialogue and debate around today’s toughest education challenges.
• Connects Fellows with nationally recognized leaders getting real results in education policy.

“As Cohort 12 concludes, these Fellows have proven that meaningful progress is not only possible but happening when leaders focus on what matters most, regardless of party. Great leadership for students knows no party, and that’s the vision Governors Jim Hunt and Tom Kean built this program on,” shared Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President & CEO of The Hunt Institute. “This cohort of Fellows’ shared commitment to students and the communities they serve is common ground that will shape better education policy for years to come.”

Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows will engage in timely discussions on the state of the teacher workforce, strategies for aligning postsecondary education with evolving workforce and economic needs, and policies to ensure affordable access to postsecondary education. This year’s convening will feature distinguished national leaders and experts, including;

• Assistant Secretary Kirsten Baesler, U.S. Department of Education
• Jon Schnur, Chief Executive Officer of America Achieves
• Former Governors Susana Martinez (New Mexico), Chet Culver (Iowa), Jim Douglas (Vermont), Dannel Malloy (Connecticut), Bob McDonnell (Virginia), and Bob Wise (West Virginia)
• Dr. Shannon Gilkey, Commissioner of Postsecondary Education for Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
• Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner of Higher Education for the Louisiana Board of Regents

Since their initial convening in December 2025, Fellows have completed a rigorous curriculum facilitated by The Hunt Institute, including policy discussions, strategy breakouts, school site visits, classroom perspective sessions, monthly virtual sessions, and two in-person convenings.

“Education should be our highest priority because every student deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of where they live,” said Lt. Governor Ghazala Hashmi (D-VA). “As our nation enters its next 250 years, preparing students, strengthening our workforce, and expanding opportunity are not partisan priorities; they are investments in our shared future. I am grateful to The Hunt Institute and Dr. Javaid Siddiqi for creating a space where leaders from across the country and across the political spectrum can learn from one another, exchange ideas, and work towards greater impact.”

“As elected leaders, our responsibility is to ensure all students have an opportunity to succeed,” said Lt. Governor Michelle Strinden (R-ND). “A strong education system strengthens families, grows our workforce, and expands opportunity for future generations. I am grateful to The Hunt Institute for bringing leaders together to share proven ideas, find common ground, and keep the focus where it belongs—on students.”

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About The Hunt Institute
The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: www.hunt-institute.org