Bryce Harlow Foundation

For Thomas Rothe, public affairs was a part of everyday life growing up in the Washington, D.C. area. His great-grandfather, James Malone, was deeply involved in early brewers’ trade associations, and his mother spent decades leading government relations for a major fertilizer company, shaping global trade reforms and advising on complex agricultural policy. Hearing about hearings, negotiations and policy debates around the dinner table gave Thomas an early sense of the impact advocacy can have.

Those experiences stayed with him. After studying at Grinnell College in Iowa, where he also competed as an NCAA swimmer, Thomas returned to D.C. knowing he wanted to build a career in government relations. After working a series of campaigns, Thomas landed at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, where he began as a legislative assistant and quickly grew into a lobbying role. Thomas worked on issues ranging from crop insurance as part of the 2018 Farm Bill to right-to-repair, mastering a highly technical portfolio of keen importance to insurers, farmers and consumers.

Today, as the Public Affairs Officer at a global commercial insurer AXA XL, Thomas works on U.S. and EU policy developments. He is also earning his JD at The Catholic University of America, deepening his understanding of financial regulation, systemic risk and legislative drafting—skills he sees as essential to his future as a senior government relations professional.

“The Bryce Harlow Foundation’s mission resonates so strongly because ethical lobbying is central to my approach,” Thomas said.  As a Fellow, he’s enjoyed connecting with peers across sectors and learning from his mentor, Francis Creighton, whose guidance has blended career strategy with life advice.

Each of Olivia McLarnan’s varied steps toward a career in criminal justice policy has illuminated how policy shape people’s lives — and confirmed for her that public service offers the meaningful work she seeks.

After graduating from the University of Oregon, she held a range of roles that taught her how organizations function and what it means to work in fast-paced, mission-driven environments.  She eventually transitioned into state-level campaign work and ultimately into advocacy #cut50 (now Dream.org), where she supported work on the First Step Act (2018), a bipartisan U.S. federal law focused on criminal justice reform aimed at reducing recidivism. Through that experience, Olivia met people who were able to return home because of the First Step Act — individuals who had been serving long, often disproportionate sentences.  Those connections cemented her understanding of policy’s real-world impact. “Policy isn’t abstract,” Olivia said. “In this case, it was giving someone a second chance.”

Today, as a Policy Specialist at the Council on Criminal Justice, Olivia works at the intersection of research, policy, and public education. The Council’s nonpartisan approach challenges her thinking and exposes her to a broad range of perspectives. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at American University, with a focus on quantitative analysis, helping her marry data with human stories.

Olivia was drawn to the Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship for its emphasis on principled advocacy and has enjoyed getting to know her fellow cohort members, whom she describes as bright, generous, and deeply curious. She also greatly values the mentoring component. Her mentor, Emily Dickens, has already helped her reframe challenges and view her career questions through a wider, more strategic lens.

At its recent board meeting, the Bryce Harlow Foundation announced the appointment of six new board members and new elected officers. Join us in welcoming them and read all about it here: Bryce Harlow Foundation Names New Officers and Board Members. Our full list of board members and staff may be found HERE.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation is pleased to announce our awards dinner 2026 honorees! Please join us in congratulating Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rich Gold, Holland & Knight LLP, who will be honored at our annual awards dinner on April 16, 2026. Bryce Harlow Foundation 2026 Honorees Announced.

Lake Majestic grew up in metropolitan Detroit and was fascinated with American history from an early age, often staring at classroom pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln.  Wondering who they were and how they changed the world set him on the path toward a career in policy and advocacy.

He came to Washington, D.C. in 2015 to study political science at American University. Working in nearly every corner of political life – campaigns, Hill internships, a lobbying firm – helped Lake discover where he truly belonged. “I am a policy person,” Lake said. “it’s where I am able to have the greatest impact.”

Today, Lake is the Community Advocacy Director at the American Heart Association, advancing policies promoting cardiovascular health and stroke prevention. The work is deeply personal. As someone who is hard of hearing and has seen family members struggle with serious illness, Lake understands how critical access, awareness, and advocacy can be. “Health policy is never finished,” Lake said. “There’s always a new challenge and always more to be done to make life better for people.”

Lake is also pursuing a master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University and was drawn to the Bryce Harlow Foundation for its emphasis on ethical leadership and bipartisan collaboration. “Bryce Harlow believed in integrity and service, and that’s what I aspire to,” Lake said.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 Bryce Harlow Fellowship, a prestigious award including scholarship funds and mentoring. We encourage you to please help spread the word, or to apply if you are working full time, going to graduate school part time and are interested in the field of lobbying and government advocacy. The deadline for applying is Sunday, May 3, 2026. For complete information, including a link to the on-line application, please visit our website.

2026 BHF Fellowship Application Open

Molly Broughton grew up in Austin, Texas, and came to Washington, D.C. with a deep interest in politics, justice, and the environment. She received her undergraduate degree from American University, and an internship in the office of Representative Lloyd Doggett and lived through the Texas Freeze — the 2021 winter storm that left millions without power. Both experiences sharpened her awareness of how crises hit vulnerable communities the hardest. “Environmental policy is one of the most intersectional issues,” Molly said. “Although it impacts everyone, it disproportionately affects those who are already marginalized.”

Molly’s introduction to lobbying came through an internship at Holland & Knight LLP, where she quickly discovered that lobbying is about education. “It was my job to make sure staffers understand issues that might otherwise not be on their radar,” Molly said. “This important work gave me a sense of purpose.”  Today, as a Legislative Assistant in the firm’s lobbying division, Molly focuses on environmental and regulatory issues. “Even straightforward, non-controversial issues like recycling – which everyone wants – needs advocates,” Molly said.  Molly is also pursuing a law degree at George Washington University, expanding her knowledge to help carry issues all the way through from advocacy to policy.

For Molly, the Bryce Harlow Fellowship feels like a natural extension of her work and values. Meeting with her mentor, Heidi Brock, she is learning by example the practice of ethical lobbying. At Holland & Knight LLP, she’s surrounded by alumni of the Fellowship program, including her mid-career mentor Andy Emerson, and sees firsthand how a culture of mentorship can shape careers. “The Fellowship engenders all that is good about lobbying,” Molly said. “I hope to carry on the legacy of Mr. Bryce Harlow throughout my career.”

Raised on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Phillip McAuley’s path to public policy was shaped by Hurricane Katrina. When the storm devastated his hometown of Pass Christian in 2005, his family lost nearly everything. In addition to teaching him to let go of material things, the official government response to the disaster was eye-opening. “It showed me just how essential political will and community influence are in driving change and taking action,” Philip said. “Those lessons will stay with me forever.”

This experience sparked his interest in government and public affairs. After earning a business degree at Mississippi State University, he interned on Capitol Hill for Congressman Steven Palazzo and completed a master’s in public administration and policy at the University of Georgia. Today he is Senior Manager of Public Policy – East, North America at Vantage Data Centers and an MBA candidate at Georgetown University.

In his role at Vantage, Phil oversees advocacy, permitting, legislative and regulatory matters across the eastern U.S. The work is increasingly important as AI drives demand for digital infrastructure. “Data centers have moved from being a background utility to a focal point for policymakers,” Phillip said. “It’s exciting to play a small part in shaping this new era.”

Phil considers it an honor to be part of the Bryce Harlow Fellowship. “Professional development is very important to me, and this program offers mentorship, best practices and a network of peers across industries,” Phillip said. “I want to be a sponge, learning from the experiences of others, both their challenges and their wins.” He hopes to carry that forward, giving back by modelling ethical leadership and mentoring the next generation of professional advocates.

Katie Gaynor’s path toward a profession in health policy was shaped by her early experiences with rural communities and local food banks. Having lived in four states before enrolling at the University of Alabama, she credits two experiences with shaping her perspective: volunteering in rural hospitals where saw gaps in access to care, and working at a local food bank, interviewing seniors about barriers to SNAP benefits. “It was eye-opening to see people who had given so much into the system go without basic support,” Katie said.

Bringing this perspective to Washington, D.C. Katie began working to shape federal policy. She started her career at a pharmacist association during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now serves as a Hospital Policy and Regulatory Analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) where she focuses on hospital payment and drug pricing policy. Her work advances the mission of academic medicine and promotes equitable access to care.

Katie is also pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins, concentrating on health policy and management. “I’m continually learning how to combine the technical side of policy with advocacy to make systems more sustainable, efficient, and fair,” Katie said.  She credits mentors with showing her how to link career decisions with deeper purpose and is looking forward to working with her Bryce Harlow Fellowship mentrors, Jane Adams and Ali Icenhower.

For Katie, becoming a Bryce Harlow Fellow brings these threads together. She was drawn to the Foundation’s emphasis on integrity in lobbying and collaboration across the aisle, which she sees as essential in health policy. “I am constantly thinking about the people back home in Appalachia,” Katie said. “This Fellowship helps me carry forward the idea that advocacy should always serve the people first.”

Hannah Bolotin is dedicated to breaking down silos and building bridges across divides in public policy and criminal justice. A native of Washington State, she earned her undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University and began her career as a researcher at Boston College, studying how children across cultures understand punishment and justice. “Working in non-Western cultures showed me the importance of stepping outside your own frame of reference,” Hannah said. “It taught me how much you gain by widening the lens.”

Hannah carried that lesson into her criminal justice policy career. As Manager of External Relations at the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), Hannah engages CCJ’s diverse membership of criminal justice leaders and works to develop consensus-based policy recommendations spanning the political spectrum. “I’m constantly engaging with people from every background,” Hannah said. “The best part of my job is seeing unlikely allies work together and form lasting relationships.”

Guided by a strong moral compass, Hannah is pursuing a Master‘s in Public Affairs at Duke University, where she focuses on ethical leadership and coalition-building. It also drew her to the Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship. “I’m honored to be part of this community of principled advocates committed to shaping the future of policymaking and social change,” Hannah said.