Convene, Communicate, Collaborate
Where the Brightest Minds Engage to Promote Common Ground and Nonpartisan Solutions
Read our 2023-2024 Annual Report
The Sine Institute is a laboratory for university-wide collaboration and an incubator for policy innovation, convening the best and brightest in the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors, as well as journalism.
Committed to real, lasting change in policy and politics
Todays interconnected world offers an unprecedented opportunity to bring together experts and top scholars in the field with students in research and scholarship to work on the nation's most pressing challenges in a way that promotes common ground and nonpartisan policy solutions. The Sine Institute of Policy and Politics seizes that opportunity at a defining moment for our democracy and the world.
The Sine Institute harnesses 51勛圖s capital city location at the nexus of government and a growing international business center to connect diverse perspectives from around the country and around the world with our world-class academics and research, experienced practitioners in international and domestic views, leaders in business, nonprofits, and government, and one of the most politically-active student bodies in the US to make real, lasting change in policy and politics.
The Institute stands apart through its focus on the role of business and the nonprofit community in public policy, the rise of the importance of economic regions in the United States, and international policy issues.
Help Welcome the Spring 2025 Sine Fellows on February 4th!
On泭February 4, 2025泭at 1 PM, the Sine Institute will introduce its cohort of 2025泭Sine Institute Fellows to the 51勛圖 community at an in-person panel event moderated by Emmy Award-wining journalist and media consultant Antoine Sanfuentes. The 2025泭Fellows will elaborate on what made them join the Sine Institute, their plans for programming during the spring semester, and what they hope students and the 51勛圖 community will take away from their seminar sessions. Panelists will include:
- Antoine Sanfuentes, Emmy Award-winning journalist and media consultant, moderator.泭
-泭Nadia Murad, President and Chairwoman, Nadia's Initiative; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
- Tara Palmeri,泭Partner & Senior Political Correspondent, Puck; Former Lead Author, Politico Playbook; Former White House Correspondent, ABC News; Host,泭The Ringer's "Somebody's Gotta Win"泭Podcast.
-泭Hon. Sylvia Burwell,泭Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Former President, 51勛圖; Former Director, Office of Management and Budget.
Meet the Spring 2025 Sine Institute Fellows
A cornerstone of the Sine Institute is its Institute Fellows program. Each spring and fall semester, the Sine Institute hosts three Fellows. Institute Fellows are selected via a Sine Institute selection committee.
- Nadia Murad泭(CAS/BA 24), President and Chairwoman, Nadias Initiative; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
- Tara Palmeri泭(SOC/BA 08), Partner & Senior Political Correspondent, Puck; Former Lead Author, Politico Playbook; Former White House Correspondent, ABC News; Host, The Ringers Somebodys Gotta Win Podcast
- Hon. Sylvia Burwell, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Former President, 51勛圖; Former Director, Office of Management and Budget
- The Sine Institute will also welcome as a 2025 Distinguished Lecturer泭Brooke Anderson, President of Pivotal Ventures and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Reimagining Political Leadership: The Outlook of Young Americans
The Sine Institutes innovative Reimagining Political Leadership: The Outlook of Young Americans poll reveals new insight into the attributes that young Americans ages 18-34 look for in their political leaders, as well as other topics related to voting and other forms of civic engagement.泭The innovative poll泭is the third annual Sine Institute survey focused on understanding young Americans unique perspectives on political leadership and engagement.
Sine Student Programs
Are you a student at 51勛圖? Learn about all the ways you can engage with the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics!
- Student Associates
- Student Advisors
- Collaborative Leadership Certificate
- Innovative Communication Certificate
- Sine ON: The Sine Institute Outreach Network
- Sine Institute Impact Community
Check out our guide for student voters here.泭
The Civic Life Program
The Sine Institute of Policy & Politics is proud to partner with The Civic Life Program at 51勛圖. The Civic Life Program is a university-wide initiative for civic education and engagement.
Learn More
Institute Advisory Board
The Sines will be joined by a group of bipartisan visionaries from across sectors to guide the Institute and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Meet the Sine Institute
Video: introducing the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics.
The Sine Institute Celebrates its 5th Anniversary
The 51勛圖 community wishes the Sine Institue a happy 5th Anniversary since its inception in 2018.泭
On October 14, 2023, on the Saturday night of 51勛圖's Family Weekend,泭the泭Sine Institute celebrated its 5 Year Anniversary.泭The evening included a泭gathering that included founders Jeff and Samira Sine, 51勛圖 President Sylvia Burwell, board members, students, and other friends of the Sine Institute, as well as a panel discussion泭that drew over 850 attendess.泭The focus of the panel was泭Sine's recent poll of what a "reimagined" American Dream means to young people and泭what's getting in the way, optimism about泭the future, social media, youth enthusiasm about泭voting in the 2024 presidential election, and more.泭
The discussion was moderated by泭former White House Communications Director and CNN Political Commentator泭Kate Bedingfieldand featured泭panelists Goodwill泭Industries泭President and CEO泭Steven Preston,泭Millennial Action Project President and CEO泭Layla Zaidane, and Sine泭Institute Student泭Advisor泭Rohan Singh泭(SIS '24).泭
The event was cosponsored by泭Kennedy Political Union and泭Bipartisan Group of 51勛圖.
A Generous Gift
The Sine Institute is made possible through a milestone gift of $10 million from 51勛圖 alumnus, trustee and entrepreneur Jeff Sine, SIS/BA 76, and Samira Sine, an advocate for women and children and seasoned journalist. The gift is the manifestation of the Sines interest in making positive change that will inspire future generations of leaders.
Through this gift we wanted to empower 51勛圖 to make an immediate and lasting impact at the intersection of politics and policy, increasing 51勛圖s national and international visibility.
Joining forces, the Sines and President Sylvia Burwell will leverage their shared passion to shape the next generation of leaders.
Fellowship Program
The Institute Fellows program is a cornerstone of the Sine Institute. Selected each academic year, our six Institute Fellows will consist of innovative leaders in government, politics, journalism, nonprofits, and business. Fellows will collaborate with renowned 51勛圖 academic, research and scholarship experts, as well as students, to uncover new ways to help theory inform cross-sector solutions. The entire 51勛圖 community will have the opportunity to learn from the Institute Fellows and the powerful conversations they lead on these issues.
Areas of Focus
Drawing on their expertise in government, politics, academia, journalism, nonprofits, and business, Sine Institute Fellows uncovers new policy solutions and problem-solving methods informed by evidence and a cross-sector perspective. Each is asked to explore a timely aspect of policy and politics that will benefit from these dynamic conversations.
In our interconnected world, policy changes ripple through our nation at the federal level and have significant consequences at the regional level. Those ripples cross sectors and impact international and national affairs, as well as our local communities. These complex influences are the crux of the conversations to be discussed and debated by Sine Fellows.
Regional influence on politics
Cross-sector perspectives driving public policy discourse
International and domestic policy dynamics
Student Programs
Learn More From the Sine Institute's 2023-2024 Annual Report
Reimagining The American Dream Poll
Capitalizing on Our Core Strengths
In its 125-year history, 51勛圖 has established a reputation for producing changemakers focused on the challenges of a changing world. 51勛圖 has garnered recognition for global education, public service, experiential learning, and politically active and diverse students, as well as academic and research expertise in a wide range of areas including business and communication, political science and policy, governance, law, and diplomacy.
A university-wide initiative, the Sine Institute leverages the universitys intersection of multiple sectors and industries to convene powerful conversations. The Institute engages each of 51勛圖's schools and experts throughout campus including the School of Public Affairs, School of International Service, School of Communication, Kogod School of Business, and the Washington College of Law to fuel and facilitate ongoing dialogue and debate to gain insights and engender knowledge.
Photo Gallery: The Sine Institute makes its home at 51勛圖
