The merger connected students with experts who exposed this next generation of leaders to careers in policymaking. They learn from people like strategy expert Susan Eisenhower, who started the Institute 40+ years ago as a tribute to her grandfather, President Eisenhower. Every time I walk into my office, I'm reminded that Ike lived here. We are surrounded by history and purpose."
GETTYSBURG, Pa., Jan. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Former Journalist Leads New Generation of Change-Makers At Gettysburg College's Eisenhower Institute
By Patricia Green Rodgers, MSW, MSPR
Tracie Potts is a public policy educator and former journalist who covered local, national, and international news. Now in her fourth year as Executive Director of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College, Potts uses her journalism acumen, including 30 years covering The Hill, the White House, the Supreme Court, and national policy issues, to create opportunities for students.
1. You brought domestic and global media experience to your position. How has this helped?
"Reporting skills are helpful in policy research. I led a project that required finding people to interview about economic growth in Pittsburgh communities I'd never visited. That's what I did as a reporter! Like journalism, I teach students to approach research and write clearly and objectively."
The Eisenhower Institute, founded in 1983 as a Washington-based think tank on international affairs, merged with Gettysburg College in 2009. How has this benefited students?
"The merger connected students with experts who exposed this next generation of leaders to careers in policymaking. They learn from people like strategy expert Susan Eisenhower, who started the Institute 40+ years ago as a tribute to her grandfather, President Eisenhower. Every time I walk into my office, I'm reminded that Ike lived here. We are surrounded by history and purpose."
3. Is the Socratic Method used when examining ethical decisions that impact public policy choices?
"Yes. Our program leaders lead interactive discussions to foster critical thinking. We don't want to be just a 'think' tank. We want to be a 'think and DO' tank for students. For example, our Fielding Fellows conduct research for the U.S. State Department."
4. You and a colleague co-facilitated the EI's Civil Rights study trip to the South twice. How did the experience impact students?
"As a Black woman who grew up in the South, I was honored to expose my students to a culture that many of them had never seen and often misunderstood. We visit historic sites and talk to people who lived through injustices and those working on education, voting rights, jobs, and social issues. It inspires students to create lasting change."
5. As a Black woman leading a preeminent Institute at a prestigious college, what can you share about the college and its commitment to inclusivity?
"My goal at EI, similar to my goal as a journalist, is not to tell students what to think but how to think. It's why we present diverse perspectives. Last year, we hosted Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and former conservative British Prime Minister Liz Truss. As for me, I'm at the stage of life where I crave authenticity. I've also learned that sharing my lived experience is valuable to my students: achievements, failures, and what I'm still learning. Hopefully, the young people I seek to inspire will find their voice and pursue opportunities with confidence and humility."
Media Contact
Tracie Potts, Gettysburg College, 717-337-6685, [email protected], gettysburg.edu
SOURCE Gettysburg College
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