semesterly policy seminars
Each semester, the Biden Institute offers three one-credit seminars on various policy topics. These include lectures and visits from senior practitioners from various backgrounds and perspectives.
Each seminar meets 5:30–8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays during spring 2025.
Any questions about upcoming seminars? Have a suggestion for a topic you would like us to consider?
Email questions and suggestions to bideninstitute@udel.edu.
spring 2025 seminars
Meeting dates: February 18, 25; March 4, 11
Description: Are you interested in working in the public service field? Federal, state and local governments, along with many nonprofit organizations, rely heavily on project management and project-based work models. Successful project management can lead to more successful outcomes, reduction in costs and time, and aid in overall strategic planning for organizations. This course will teach students the tools and skills necessary to work on projects in a variety of public service careers. This course will include lectures and visits from senior practitioners from various backgrounds and perspectives.
Meeting dates: March 18; April 1, 8, 15
Description: Earth’s geography, from its atmosphere to its core, is impacted by natural and human factors. This seminar discusses climate change from pollution to policy to understand where we are, how we got here and what's next. This course will include lectures and visits from senior practitioners from various backgrounds and perspectives.
Meeting dates: April 22, 29; May 6, 13
Description: The criminal justice system is comprised of public and private stakeholders who influence the course of policy development for the incarceration of individuals who are suspected or convicted of illegal offenses. This seminar will explore the intersection of law and policy, and their impact on the civil rights of citizens. This course will include lectures and visits from senior practitioners from various backgrounds and perspectives.
fall 2025 seminars
Meeting dates: September 9, 16, 23, 30
Description: Have you ever considered running for office or managing a political campaign? This skills-based workshop will equip students with the tools and knowledge to understand how political campaigns work in the United States, including the trends and rules for campaigns across the country. This course will include lectures and visits from senior practitioners from various backgrounds and perspectives.
Meeting dates: October 7, 14, 21, 28
Description: How does someone become a U.S. ambassador? What is the difference between a career diplomat and a political appointee? This seminar will dive into the role of an ambassador in U.S. international relations and diplomacy with former and current ambassadors and the staff members who support them. This course will include interviews with experts on global diplomacy.
Meeting dates: November 4, 11, 18; December 2
Description: Mental health and substance abuse are ever-evolving crises in the United States, especially for young people. What are the policy levers that can be used to address it? This course will explore the current status of mental health and drug addiction policy to investigate its multi-dimensional nature, including health, crime, and housing. This course will include lectures and visits from senior practitioners from various backgrounds and perspectives.
Previous Biden Institute Seminars
Winter 2025
Public Service Career Workshop
Fall 2024
Title: Technology Policy
Title: Case Study: Crisis Management
Title: Healthcare Policy: Solving the Pipeline Problem
Spring 2024
Title: Political Fundraising
Faculty: Christy Gleason
Title: Environmental Policy: Sustainability
Faculty: David Carter
Title: Middle Class Economics
Faculty: Troy D. Mix
Fall 2023
Title: Diplomats and Diplomacy
Faculty: Gary Locke
Title: Education Policy
Faculty: Susan Buntin
Title: Getting to Know Washington, DC
Faculty: Cathy McLaughlin
Spring 2023
Title: Political Speechwriting
Faculty: Jeff Nussbaum
Title: Environmental Justice
Faculty: Michele Roberts
Title: Social Justice Policy
Faculty: Anumira Bhargava
Fall 2022
Title: Lobbying & Influence in Public Policy
Faculty: Rhett Ruggerio
Title: Middle Class Economics
Faculty: Steph Sterling
Title: LGBTQ+ Policy and Public Discourse
Faculty: Sarah McBride
Spring 2022
Title: Gun Policy
Faculty: Dave Bentz
Title: Civil Discourse
Faculty: Tim Shaffer
Title: Protest to Policy
Faculty: Shyana Strom
Title: Immigration Policy
Faculty: Charles Kamasaki
Fall 2021
Title: Civil Discourse
Faculty: Phil Barnes
Guest Speaker: Tim Schaffer
Title: Infrastructure Policy
Faculty: Leslie Proll
Title: Climate Policy
Faculty: Collin O’Mara
Spring 2021
Title: Intro to Washington, DC
Faculty: Cathy McLaughlin
Title: Vaccine Policy
Faculty: Kim Isett
Title: Protest to Policy
Faculty: Eugene Young
Fall 2020
Title: National Security Policy
Faculty: Samantha Vinograd
Title: Environmental Policy
Faculty: Dr. Cecilia Martinez
Spring 2020
Title: Topics in Public Policy: Criminal Justice Policy
Faculty: Maryanne Donoghy
Title: Topics in Public Policy: Environmental Policy
Faculty: W. Michael McCabe, Pablo McConnie-Saad
Title: Topics in Public Policy: Education Policy
Faculty: Amanda Fuchs Miller
Fall 2019
Title: Topics in Public Policy: Modern Presidential Campaigns
Faculty: Mike Donilon
Title: Topics in Public Policy: Gun Policy
Faculty: David Bentz
Title: Topics in Public Policy: Opioid Policy
Faculty: Kayla Tormohlen & Jia Ahmed
Spring 2019
Title: Topics in Public Policy: U.S. LGBTQ Policy
Faculty: Stefanie Feldman, Sarah McBride
Fall 2018
Title: U.S. Federal Policymaking Toolkit
Faculty: Stefanie Feldman
Title: Seminar on Non-Profit Management
Faculty: Louisa Terrell, Deborah Jospin
Title: Seminar on U.S. Immigration Policy
Faculty: Ali Noorani, Jacinta Ma
Spring 2018
Title: Jobs, Economy and the Impact on the Middle Class
Faculty: Mike Donilon and Sarah Bianchi
Title: Developing and Implementing Health Care
Faculty: Bruce Reed, Sarah Bianchi
