Harvard IOP Launches Conservative Mentorship Program

The Harvard Institute of Politics launched its Alice Stewart Memorial Mentorship Program last month to connect undergraduate students with conservative leaders in business, politics, and journalism.

The IOP’s undergraduate Conservative Coalition and the Harvard Republican Club unveiled the new program — named after late Emmy Award-winning journalist and former IOP board member Alice Stewart — at a Sept. 16 kickoff event. The program’s 19 mentors include former members of Congress Jason E. Chaffetz and Susan Molinari, and the Wall Street Journal’s former executive Washington editor Jerry Seib.

Participants will meet monthly with their mentors, either in person or virtually, culminating in a final reception on Dec. 3.

Conservative Coalition Chair and HRC President Michael Oved ’25 called the program’s creation “a pretty significant feat” and said he noticed a need for conservative mentorship early on during his time at the College.

“There have been initiatives and events that cater mostly to the liberal majority, and I totally understand that, because most of this campus is liberal,” Oved said. “But I think it’s about time that Republicans and conservatives at Harvard have a mentorship program of their own.”

Last year, the College administration intensified its efforts to support freedom of expression on campus through its Intellectual Vitality Initiative. A recent University working group report revealed that 45 percent of student respondents were hesitant to share controversial views in class.

Former Republican U.S. Representative Rodney L. Davis, one of the mentors tapped to join the program, said he hopes to inspire his undergraduate mentees as they explore their future careers, particularly in politics.

“It’s one more way that people’s life experiences can help mentor the next generation,” Davis said.

Since announcing the program’s creation, Oved said he has seen “tremendous excitement.”

“I’ve had hundreds of students come up to me expressing their excitement to get involved and to meet the mentors,” he added.

IOP President Pratyush Mallick ’25 said that the group has “more conservative representation than ever” this year.

“We’re excited for a sizable number of people to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from great conservative mentors from across the field, from private sector to public sector to senators and journalists,” Mallick said.

Some program organizers and participants recalled working with Stewart, the program’s namesake, and described her as “knowledgeable” and “a tremendous mentor.”

Davis said he had the opportunity to meet Stewart during his time as an IOP resident fellow in fall 2023.

“She was always somebody who was cheerful and knowledgeable, and then also really showed a dedication to the Harvard community that was something that should be cherished,” Davis said.

Oved said working with Stewart left a strong impact on him and called Stewart “a close friend.”

“I was a Republican in an overwhelmingly liberal space, and to see someone like Alice — someone who had so much charisma and defended her views with conviction and respect, and was still well regarded by her colleagues — was an inspiration,” Oved said.

“If we can keep her memory alive as a mentor by naming a mentorship program after her, that is perhaps one of the best ways to remember her,” he added.

Corrections: October 12, 2024

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the program was unveiled by the IOP’s Conservative Coalition. In fact, it was unveiled by the Conservative Coalition and the Harvard Republican Club.

A previous version of this article referred to Michael Oved ’25 as the co-chair of the Conservative Coalition. In fact, he is the sole chair.