Princeton SPIA DC Center

Sanyu Mojola, Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University joined Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist and political analyst at MS NOW, for a conversation on her new book, Death by Design: Producing Racial Health Inequality in the Shadow of the Capitol. The event examined Washington, D.C.’s historical and contemporary public health crises and the policy decisions that have shaped racial health inequities in the nation’s capital. Drawing on extensive historical and contemporary data, Mojola discussed how urban design, federal governance, and social policy have contributed to overlapping epidemics—from maternal and infant mortality to HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, homicide, and COVID-19—producing stark disparities in life expectancy between Black and White residents. Robinson and Mojola reflected on Washington, D.C.’s unique status as a federal city, its broader significance as a microcosm of national inequality, and pathways to a more equitable future for the city. 

The Princeton SPIA DC Center hosted back-to-back House and Senate briefings under the “Princeton AI Dialogues”—a collaboration with the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP). Co-hosted by the offices of Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA), and Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), the briefings focused on “AI Companions: Emerging Risks to Mental Health and Online Safety.” CITP leaders Arvind Narayanan and Mihir Kshirsagar discussed large language models' evolving technical capabilities and federal regulatory approaches, while Princeton psychology researcher Rose Guingrich assessed AI companions' social impacts. Delivering Princeton's research to bipartisan congressional staffers in both chambers, the briefings informed active federal policy conversations surrounding AI chatbots.

President Christopher Eisgruber joined NPR's Ayesha Rascoe for a public conversation on his new book, Terms of Respect, at the Princeton SPIA DC Center in Washington. The book and conversation are a timely contribution to the national conversation about free speech, higher education, and what it means to disagree constructively in a democratic society. President Eisgruber and Ms. Rascoe discussed motivations for the book, common misconceptions about free speech in academic environments, a variety of examples from Princeton University, and growing pressures confronting American universities today.

Zach Vertin hosted ambassadors and senior diplomats from across the African continent for the latest installment of SPIA’s Diplomatic Corps Dinner Series at the Princeton SPIA DC Center. Featured guests included Princeton Professors Pascaline Dupas and Judd Devermont, former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the U.S. National Security Council. The evening’s conversation focused on U.S.–Africa relations and economic development amid a changing global order, with participants exchanging perspectives on regional growth, governance, and opportunities for partnership.

The Princeton SPIA DC Center, the Center for International Security Studies (CISS), and the Japan Economic Foundation (JEF) partnered to host a U.S.–Japan Forum in Washington, D.C. Princeton’s John Ikenberry and JEF Chairman Masakazu Toyoda (MPA ’79) co-convened the day’s dialogue. Participants included scholars and policymakers from both countries, among them Adam Posen, Aaron Friedberg, and other leading experts on trade, technology, and international security. Discussions explored U.S.–Japan cooperation across technology, industrial policy, trade, security, and the rules-based economic order. More than 100 guests attended in person, including SPIA students, with additional participants joining virtually from both countries.

For the second year, the Princeton SPIA DC Center is hosting a majority of events for the long-running “Princeton in Washington” (PIW) program—a project of the Center for Career Development. Princeton-in-Washington introduces Princeton undergrads—as well as SPIA graduate students and recent graduates—to careers and life in Washington through talks and social events with a wide variety of alumni working in federal government, journalism, law, think tanks and non-profits, etc. Participants include David Petraeus MPA ‘85, Ph.D.‘87, former CIA Director and General (U.S. Army, Ret.); Mike McCurry '76, former White House Press Secretary under President Clinton; Kristin Lynch '05, former speechwriter to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden; Nicholas Wu '18, Congressional Reporter at POLITICO; Lisa Brown '82, former general counsel of the U.S. Department of Education, and Chris Lu '88, former head of the Obama presidential transition and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management & Reform.

New York Times diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong and National Public Radio’s Rund Abdelfatah discussed Wong’s new book, At the Edge of Empire, as part of Princeton’s ‘Books & Cocktails’ series. Wong explored his immigrant family’s history in China and his own experiences reporting on China as the country’s role in the world continues to evolve. Wong and Abdelfatah also discussed U.S.-China relations amid a new U.S. Administration and a changing global landscape.

Princeton University Professor Arvind Narayanan and Princeton computer science Ph.D. candidate Sayash Kapoor joined former BBC World Service Newshour presenter Razia Iqbal to discuss their new book, AI Snake Oil. in conversation as part of Princeton's Books & Cocktails series and AI Dialogues series. The two leading AI experts discussed the history of artificial intelligence and the types of AI that are most used by people personally and professionally at present. They spoke about where AI technologies currently excel, where not, and how the public should make sense of AI capabilities amid rapidly growing media attention on the topic.

To mark National ‘Second Chance Month,’ the Princeton SPIA DC Center convened a discussion on innovations in criminal justice reform and public safety. The gathering opened with a one-on-one conversation between Douglas Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs and co-author of the First Step Act, and Princeton professor Udi Ofer.  A wider panel discussion followed, featuring leaders from reform advocacy organizations, including: Heather Rice-Minus of the Prison Fellowship, Hillary Blount of For the People; Ronald Simpson-Bey of JustLeadershipUSA, and Ana Zamora, of Just Trust. For more see Princeton SPIA Reflection here.

Author Alex Cuadros and the Wilson Center’s Brazil Institute Director Bruna Santos joined Princeton’s Zach Vertin in conversation as part of the Princeton SPIA DC Center’s “Books & Cocktails” series on the Rooftop. The trio discussed Cuadros’ new book, When We Sold God’s Eye, and the story of the Cinta Larga, before expanding to discuss broader themes of Brazil past & present—from climate change and land management in the Amazon to indigenous peoples’ rights and contemporary politics.

On October 23, Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber ‘83 joined some 240 fellow alumni in Washington for an evening of conversation and networking on the rooftop of the Princeton SPIA in DC Center.  During his remarks, Eisgruber spoke of his goal of enhancing the University’s socio-economic diversity so to better address the needs of the middle class and contribute to economic improvement. He was pleased to report that some 71% of Princeton students are receiving financial aid this year—a 10% increase from just two years ago. He also highlighted the long-term benefits of supporting education and “curiosity-driven research” for policy development and the overall security and economic prosperity of the United States.

On October 17, the Princeton SPIA DC Center convened a public event entitled, “China’s Economic Troubles: Temporary Woes or Structural Reckoning?”. Zach Vertin moderated a conversation that featured Princeton professors Rory Truex and Wei Xiong as well as economists Martin Chorzempa and Yeling Tan of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The group discussed China’s economic downturn, including a real estate crisis, low consumption, diminished business confidence, local government challenges, and recent stimulus measures. They also reflected on the slowdown’s effect on political stability, Communist Party politics, trade tensions with friends and foes, export controls, and strategies for the next U.S. Administration. Watch the full event here(external link). 

On September 19, the Princeton SPIA in DC Center welcomed scores of first-time visitors to a rooftop event at its beautiful space on DuPont Circle—including ambassadors, White House and federal agency officials, congressional staff, professional associations, think tank and NGO leaders, journalists, and other Washington constituencies. The Director of SPIA DC, Zach Vertin, introduced the many activities, public and private, now taking place at the Center and highlighted the policy-relevant work of Princeton faculty, including on artificial intelligence, evolutionary ecology and public policy, and criminal justice reform, among others. Policymakers and thought leaders present were invited to collaborate with SPIA and Princeton faculty, centers, and programs on a broad range of policy agendas and join the Princeton SPIA in DC Center’s growing Washington network.  

Princeton's Afghanistan Policy Lab, led by APL Director and former Afghan Ambassador to the U.S. Adela Raz, together with the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security co-hosted a one-day event at Princeton SPIA in DC, marking the somber anniversary of the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The event gathered experts, policymakers, civil society leaders, and affected communities to analyze Afghanistan’s ongoing challenges under the Taliban rule, including economic instability, civic engagement, women’s rights, and justice.

On July 18, Princeton SPIA DC Director Zach Vertin hosted a discussion on nonprofit leadership in our rooftop venue. The event featured Nick Grono, MPP '03, CEO of the Freedom Fund; Cecilia Rouse, President of the Brookings Institution and former Dean of Princeton SPIA; and Xanthe Scharff, founding CEO of the Fuller Project. The discussion was anchored by Grono's new book, "How to Lead Nonprofits: Turning Purpose into Impact to Change the World," which explores leadership and achieving results in the nonprofit sector.

Princeton SPIA in DC, in collaboration with the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP) faculty, hosted the "Princeton AI Dialogues: Expert Briefings" on Capitol Hill. Princeton Professor Arvind Narayanan, Professor Peter Henderson, and PhD candidate Sayash Kapoor delivered briefings on critical questions on developments and deployment of predictive AI and engaged Senate staff on a broad range of topics related to governance of the technology and its potential applications.

SPIA in DC hosted a public discussion on "Global Challenges 2024". Following introductory remarks from Director Zach Vertin and Dean Amaney Jamal, the event – full video recording here(external link) – featured General Mark A. Milley '80, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Princeton SPIA Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor. The event was moderated by CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes MPA '99. Watch the full event here(external link).

On May 22, Zach Vertin hosted Books & Cocktails on the rooftop at the SPIA in DC Center, featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Carlos Lozada MPA '97 and Katie Rogers, White House Correspondent, both of The New York Times. Lozada discussed his chronicle of essays, "The Washington Book," offering insights into how political figures reveal themselves and what it tells us about our politics. Rogers shared reflections from "American Woman," which examines the influence of modern first ladies on campaigns and policy, and the transformation of the role itself.

SPIA in DC partnered with CITP faculty to convene the first two in a series of “Princeton AI Dialogues: Expert Briefings” on Capitol Hill. One with the Senate AI caucus, and a second with the House AI Caucus. Together, the two sessions drew more than 50 participants from Republican and Democratic congressional offices and committees. Professors Arvind Narayanan and Peter Henderson, together with PhD candidate Sayash Kapoor spoke to a wide range of topical issues regarding AI development and governance—open vs closed models, safety and catastrophic risk management, testing/validation/red-teaming, cybersecurity, copyright, deepfakes, watermarking and provenance, potential impacts on labor, hiring, judicial processes, and children.

April 17 & 18, SPIA in DC welcomed Professor Layna Mosley and the Princeton Sovereign Finance Lab(external link) for a two-day workshop—“The Politics of Sovereign Finance”—on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings. Some 90 scholars, policymakers, and private sector participants debated contemporary issues in the realm of sovereign finance, including domestic and international politics of access and default, global finance reform, international bond markets, debt restructuring, debt transparency and governance, and the ways in which China is influencing sovereign finance.

Princeton SPIA in DC and the Peterson Institute for International Economics co-hosted a public discussion on Globalization, the U.S. Economy, and Political Backlash. Following introductory remarks from Director Zach Vertin and Dean Amaney Jamal, the event and livestream featured Lazard CEO Peter Orszag, Princeton Professor Helen Milner, and Cullen Hendrix of PIIE. Watch the full event here(external link).

Princeton SPIA welcomed 40 undergraduate students for "Inside DC: Undergrad Policy Day in Washington", which included conversations with policymakers at the White House, National Security Council, World Bank, USAID, as well as with veteran journalists, NGO leaders, and former government officials.

Sincere thanks to the day’s many hosts and participants, including SPIA alumni Somya Bajaj *19, Samantha Libraty *23, Ellinore Ahlgren *21, Brian Kelly *12, Josh Black *00, Juan Jose Leguia Alegria *13, Anna Twum *18, Ryan Chia Kuo *18, Juan Sebastian Leiva Molano *23, Harrison Fuller *23, Alex Brockwehl *18, Megan McGuire *18, and Bunmi Otegbade *19, together with Princeton SPIA DC Director Zach Vertin and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Paul Lipton.

Director Zach Vertin hosted Ambassadors and senior diplomats from the Asia-Pacific region at Princeton’s new center in Washington. The Honorable Dr. Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, kicked off a discussion of political and economic trends in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as opportunities for the year ahead. This dinner is part of a series of Princeton SPIA engagements exploring collaboration with the diplomatic corps in Washington and reflects the School’s commitment to fostering international research, dialogue, and policy engagement.

SPIA in DC Director Zach Vertin was grateful to host Ambassadors from Latin America to discuss opportunities for collaboration as well as political and security issues in the region. Princeton Professors Miguel Centeno and Deborah Yashar provided expert commentary, as did former U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis. This dinner is part of a series of Princeton SPIA engagements with the Diplomatic Corps in Washington, D.C., undertaken in furtherance of the School’s commitment to international research, dialogue, and policy engagement.