
Kristin Grimm (left) and Erin Hart (right), two Master in Public Policy professors.听
鈥淵ou envision the change, we help make it happen.鈥澨
Professors Kristen Grimm and Erin Hart are determined to teach their听听students how they can identify policy needs and work together to get those policies in place.听Between them,听Grimm and Hart have more than four decades of experience in the field of public interest communication work. They use their deep knowledge of communication strategy, social science and campaign development to guide students in using听influence and persuasion to get policies in place that听make the world a better place.听听听
鈥淲hen it comes to what works to get policymakers, voters or corporate leaders to change a policy, nothing beats real-world experience. Communication听is fast moving.听We鈥檙e constantly learning from听new science that tells us why humans behave the way they do.听We can apply that in real time to make real change on issues that matter,鈥 Hart says.听听
鈥淭he world doesn鈥檛 get better on its own. It needs champions.鈥
Sixteen years ago, Grimm founded听Spitfire Strategies听in Washington, D.C., a full-service firm that听uses strategic communications to engage audiences and build support for ambitious change. Grimm surrounded herself with other mission-driven people who fight discrimination and inequality where they see it and are creative in getting noticed in the attention economy. In听2014, Hart听and听Grimm听met when they were founding an effort to advance the field of public interest communications and collaborate听on听ways to grow and diversify听practitioners.听听
Between the two of them, they have worked to make the criminal justice system fairer, helped the Gulf of Mexico get back on its feet after the BP oil spill, advocated for a free and open internet, fought Big Tobacco's efforts to addict smokers as teens, protected endangered species, safeguarded water quality听and continued the fight to get workers the paid sick leave they need to take care of themselves and their families.听听听
Each week, Grimm or Hart travel听or video in听from D.C.听and San Francisco, respectively, to Durham, New Hampshire, to instruct their strategies for policy impact class.听Both love working with students who look out on the world and think, 鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 be like that鈥 and helping them learn ways to change it.听They achieve this by bringing their real-world experiences and technical expertise into the听classroom, getting their students to pick an actual听problem听they want to solve听and helping them design a strategy to do just that.听听
鈥淭he world doesn鈥檛 get better on its own. It needs champions. We are here to make sure those champions have the skills and expertise they鈥檒l need to end inequality, improve people鈥檚 well-being听and expand opportunity. We love seeing students try their hand at this听and empowering them that change is in their hands,鈥澨鼼rimm said.听听
Learn more about Carsey's curriculum and faculty.听
听
-
Written By:
Sarah Dorner | Carsey School of Public Policy | sarah.dorner@unh.edu | 603-862-0214











































