Public Policy
Course Title: Public Policy and Communications in Washington, D.C.
Day & Time: Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
This course examines the relationship between public policy and communications in Washington, D.C., focusing on how power is built, contested, and exercised in the nation’s capital. It analyzes how policymakers, advocates, and businesses shape policy through strategic messaging, media engagement, and public narrative. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between political actors, news media, and social media in framing issues, mobilizing opinion, and determining whose voices and interests define the policy agenda. The course features guest lectures from senior Washington practitioners, field visits to notable D.C. institutions, and writing assignments that produce two polished pieces for students’ professional portfolios.
Jasneet Hora
Jasneet Hora is a strategic communications consultant who helps business leaders advance their goals in an evolving Washington. He previously served as deputy director of speechwriting for Vice President Kamala Harris, as a speechwriter and advisor to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as a communications strategist at West Wing Writers, and as a researcher at the immigration advocacy organization FWD.us. He holds a master’s degree from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, where he spent a happy summer living at the UC Washington Center.
