On Tuesday, October 20, the Trachtenberg School and the University of Minnesota co-hosted a daylong policy forum honoring the former Vice President, Walter Mondale. The forum was divided into four panel discussions on Mr. Mondale’s legacy in shaping the Vice Presidency, education policy, national security policy, and civil rights. Other speakers in attendance included Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Senator Patrick Leahy.
For first year fellows, Alec Nadeau, Angela Sako, and Max Tingle, attending the event was the ultimate #OnlyatGW moment. They not only served as volunteers and assisted the organizing parties to ensure the event ran smoothly; they also had the fortune of learning about policy in action from some of the most influential decision makers in today’s political scene.
While each panel served as a lesson in political history as well as current affairs, for the PAFs in the audience the learning opportunity also included professional development. Many of the panelists, especially the two Vice Presidents, touched upon competencies such as dealing with ambiguity, managing up, and of course, conflict resolution.
For me, the most important takeaways came from Mr. Biden’s reflections on his time in office. They included the following lessons:
1. When there is trouble on the Hill send Joe Biden.
2. When you do not agree with the President, wait until you’re in the Oval Office to share your opinion.
And finally, the most important of them all
3. Always discuss mutual expectations and goals for the office with your supervisor.
All jokes aside, attending and serving this event was an enriching experience. As an MPP student, it was an honor to learn about public policy from such experienced public servants. If you have the time, I would strongly encourage watching the live recording of the forum on the Trachtenberg School website
