Former Connecticut Secretary of the State Miles Rapoport has been appointed senior practice fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.
The center seeks to advance “excellence and innovation in governance and public policy” through research, education and public discourse, according to its website.
Rapoport, who served as a state legislator for 10 years before being elected secretary of the state, will work on efforts to deepen the center’s engagement on issues related to democratic practice. The newly created fellowship also aims to build on the link between scholarship and the people and organizations working to defend and improve public institutions, according to an announcement on Rapoport’s new role.
“Miles brings decades of experience as a democracy advocate to our new senior practice fellowship,” said Archon Fung, academic dean of the Kennedy School and Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Citizenship. “He has been an elected official charged with overseeing Connecticut’s elections, a policy leader, an organizer, and a consistent advocate for a vibrant and inclusive democracy.”
Prior to his appointment, Rapoport served as president of Demos, a public policy and advocacy organization that promotes democracy, for more than a decade. He also served as president of Common Cause, a public interest group based in Washington.