The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy hosted a virtual event, “The Hill Staffers Who Make Congress Go Round,” on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 12:30 p.m. CT.
Event panelists included:
- Jeremy Hayes: senior professional staff member and adviser to ranking member Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
- Ivelisse Porroa-Garcia: policy director and adviser to Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus; president, Congressional Hispanic Staff Association
- Nic Adams: professional staff member and adviser to Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
- Ian Bryan: legislative assistant, the office of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
“The staffers on Capitol Hill are vital to keeping our democracy running. These are the people who put their differences aside and work tirelessly behind the scenes to craft legislation to keep the gears of government turning,” said Gray Sasser, executive director of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy. “Educating and empowering our students at Vanderbilt to follow in their footsteps will elevate our shared future as Americans and ensure that we continue to move our country forward.”
About the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy
The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy is a nonpartisan initiative that aims to elevate research and evidence-based reasoning into the national conversation. Drawing on original research, evidence-based papers and crucial conversations from Vanderbilt’s world-class faculty and visionary thought leaders of all political persuasion, the timely endeavor aims to give policymakers and the public the tools needed to combat conspiracy and unfounded ideology with evidence, data and respectful discourse. The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy can make a meaningful contribution to solving society’s most pressing challenges and bridging our deepest differences. Stay informed on project news, events on demand and research at vu.edu/unity.