2026 Speakers

John Della Volpe is the Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, where he has led research initiatives on American youth since 2000. His work focuses on understanding the attitudes, values, and behaviors of young Americans and their impact on politics and public life.

A contributor to NBC, MSNBC, and The New York Times, John is the author of the critically acclaimed book Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (St. Martin’s Press, 2022).

An Eisenhower Fellow, John’s global research spans Asia, Europe, and beyond. He previously served on the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission on Media and continues to explore the intersection of public opinion, media, and democracy. He is also the executive producer of Power of Z and associate producer of De Slag om Florida (The Battle for Florida).

A graduate of the University of San Diego, John has been honored with its Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award and holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Stonehill College.