Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy

Othniel M.A. Harris is the Program Manager of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy at Brown University, where he supports the Center’s programming, operations, and strategic initiatives focused on American politics and public policy. In this role, he works closely with faculty leadership to plan and execute public events, manage programmatic initiatives, and oversee budgets and funding opportunities that support student engagement and public service.

Prior to joining Brown, Othniel served as Special Assistant to the General Counsel at the United States Department of Commerce during the Biden-Harris Administration. In that role, he supported senior legal leadership by conducting legal and policy research, preparing briefing materials, and coordinating across agency offices to ensure effective communication and decision-making at the highest levels of the Department.

Othniel began his career in politics as a Regional Voter Protection Director with the North Carolina Democratic Party during the 2020 election cycle, where he managed teams of attorneys and volunteers and oversaw efforts to ensure voter access and compliance with election law.

He is currently a Juris Doctor candidate at Roger Williams University School of Law, where he is a recipient of the Leadership Scholarship and an active member of several student organizations, including the American Constitution Society, Black Law Students Association, and Christian Legal Society. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from American University.

Othniel’s professional interests include the intersection of law, public policy, and governance, with a particular focus on strengthening institutions, improving accountability, and expanding access economic to opportunity.