Bryce Harlow Foundation

Clara Keane is passionate about advocating for health care reform, particularly in mental health services, and using data and evidence-based practices to solve challenges.

Currently, she is the Legislative Advocacy Manager at the Treatment Advocacy Center, where she works in grassroots engagement with stakeholders around the country. Prior to this, Clara worked at the American Art Therapy Association for four years where she worked to expand access to art therapy services. She is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy from George Mason University, where she is focusing on health policy. Clara enjoys painting and loves languages. She speaks Spanish, German, and Hungarian.

Clara is grateful to be part of a Bryce Harlow Fellowship network. “The Foundation’s emphasis on bipartisanship and integrity is important now more than ever,” Clara said. “It’s incredible to have access to mentors who are leaders in government relations and to meet other Fellows with similar professional interests.”

The Bryce Harlow Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 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 Friday, April 29, 2022. For complete information, including a link to the on-line application, please visit our website.

Originally from the Buckeye State, Elle Crader got her start in politics working for former Ohio Gov. John Kasich. She also studied political science at the Ohio State University and grew up with a strong interest in politics and the news.

Today, she works in Chicago as a Legislative Liaison for CHW Advisors/Cornerstone Consulting Services, a traditional lobbying firm.  Elle helps clients advocate for a variety of issues with the state legislature, including criminal justice reform.  She is also pursuing a Juirs Doctor of Law at the Loyola University Chicago to better understand how to create and understand the impact of policies.

Elle is proud to be a Bryce Harlow Fellow. “It’s important to have the Bryce Harlow Foundation promoting honesty and integrity in the lobbying field while helping to build a network of ethical lobbyists around the country,” Elle said.

Truly a woman who does it all, Elle is has two poodles and is also the proud mom of a young baby born during the pandemic.

At its recent board meeting, the Bryce Harlow Foundation announced the appointment of four new board members and new elected officers. Join us in welcoming them and read all about it here: 2022 BHF new officers and board. Our full list of board members and staff may be found HERE.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation announced the 2022 honorees for it 41st annual awards celebration.  Please join us in congratulating Senator Roy Blunt and David Castagnetti. Learn all about the awards celebration and how to sponsor or support the foundation HERE.

Krystal Azelton always wanted to be an astronaut and even went to space camp – twice – while growing up in central Indiana.  But after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Krystal wanted to learn more about how governments work.  She moved to Washington, D.C. and earned her undergraduate degree in international politics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Krystal found a way to combine her interests in space, international relations, and government advocacy.  She is now the Director of Space Applications Program for the Secure World Foundation, where she works in government relations to help create good policies around satellite data and applications to promote space sustainability.  She is also studying for a Master’s degree in Public Administration at George Mason University, pursuing this while all of her usual international work travel was on pause due to the global pandemic.  She said she sees this as an opportunity to think more broadly about policy analysis, theories of public administration, and the processes that affect her daily work.

“I’m honored to be selected as a Bryce Harlow Fellow,” Krystal said. “I love that the Foundation supports students across fields and really focuses on the job of lobbying. Bryce Harlow is an excellent role model for advocating with integrity.”

Competitive volleyball player Kyle Kammien always had a strong desire to be part of the policy-making process, beginning with his work at the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce in Missouri, where he grew up.  He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration and economics from Saint Louis University.

Now part of the government relations teams at Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Kyle works with trade associations to build coalitions and help policy makers better understand the potential effects of policy on different groups of people and organizations. He is also going to law school part time at George Washington University to learn about the mechanics of law and to ultimately help him hone his advocacy skills.

“The Bryce Harlow Fellowship’s scholarship, networking opportunities, and mentorship are all incredible,” said Kyle. “Also, the mission really resonates.  Bringing partners together to have respectful and honest conversations is at the heart of the Bryce Harlow Foundation. We need more of these ethical guideposts in today’s political climate.”

Originally from Sicily, Italy, Jess Brown has long been passionate about human rights, gender issues, and security when it comes to helping vulnerable groups around the world. Today she works as an Outreach and Communications Specialist for the USAID Office of Cuban Affairs, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in Security Studies at Georgetown University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University Maryland, where she also studied abroad in Copenhagen and Bosnia.

Prior to her current role at USAID, Jess worked at the State Department and the Foreign Service Institute, and believes it’s important to advocate for diversity and inclusion policies in our government. The Bryce Harlow Foundation’s focus in integrity rings true to Jess. “The mentorship has been so helpful for me. I’ve already been able to connect with other Fellows and learn from others in the program. I really appreciate the opportunities to share with others in the advocacy field,” said Jess.  “Being a part of the Bryce Harlow Fellowship will help me be a successful lobbyist while also staying true to my core values.”

The Bryce Harlow Foundation is pleased to announce it’s 2021-22 class of Fellows.  Please join us in congratulating this talented group.  Please click HERE if you are interested in learning more about the Fellowship. We’ll begin accepting applications in mid-January for the fall 2022 academic year.

Samantha “Sammy” Chavin is from Charleston, South Carolina and grew up with parents who worked in health care. She studied neuroscience as an undergraduate and considered medical school before moving to Washington, D.C. to help people through health policy and lobbying.

Sammy is the Federal Policy Coordinator for Family Values @ Work, a network of state coalitions working to pass paid sick days and paid family and medical leave. She is also earning a Master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University. She believes our government was designed to be representative, and we see the best of this system when advocates inform our policy decisions.

“The Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship has provided me with a whole network of people who are interested in changing the way things work through better policy,” Sammy said. “Most people in lobbying and advocacy are thinking creatively and strategically about how to effect change. It’s great to learn from both peers and board members who are farther along in their career.”