CHICAGO, IL — The University of Chicago Center for Effective Government (CEG) at the Harris School of Public Policy continues to grow its team to support an expanded portfolio of programs and initiatives aimed at advancing institutional reform and strengthening democracy. To support these efforts, Deion Lemelle—political operations professional, University of Chicago alum (MPP’22), and former graduate assistant to the Center—joined CEG earlier this month as Assistant Director.
As a graduate assistant, Lemelle supported the Center in its early stages, contributing to engagement strategy, operations, and spearheading two key initiatives: the Center’s Senior Practitioner Fellowship, and The Democracy Series, a partnership with the Seminary Co-op Bookstores and Chicago Center on Democracy. As Assistant Director, he’ll continue leading key initiatives including the Senior Practitioner Fellowship, as well as expanding research and faculty affiliation functions critical to the Center’s work and mission.
Prior to joining the Center, Lemelle worked as Special Assistant and Engagement Manager at Win the Era where he managed endorsements and coordinated political and advocacy engagement in democracy reform, economic justice, national service, mental health, and climate change. He previously worked as Principal Scheduler to Chasten Buttigieg for the Pete for America 2020 presidential campaign, interned for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and managed special projects for the Louisiana Democratic Party. A U.S. Navy veteran, Lemelle holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Tuskegee University in addition to his master’s of public policy from UChicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.
“The Center for Effective Government is actively leading academic and practitioner engagement in institutional reform,” said Lemelle. “Effective policy solutions that could help restore trust in government often face institutional barriers across the nation, at all levels. I’m excited to join such a dynamic team committed to addressing government responsiveness.”
Sadia Sindhu, Executive Director of the Center for Effective Government, said, “Building on two years of significant contributions as a graduate assistant, Deion is poised to help take CEG and our efforts towards reform to new heights is his new role. At this critical moment for the Center and its growth, we are so grateful to have him on board.”
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About the Center for Effective Government
The University of Chicago Center for Effective Government was founded in 2019 to help solve the problems of government ineffectiveness with a multi-faceted theory of action. The Center organizes its work and activities, and builds bridges between its stakeholders—scholars, students, practitioners, leaders, journalists, and advocates—around three key areas: ideas, education, and engagement. Through robust, innovative programming, the Center works to strengthen institutions of democracy and improve government’s capacity to solve public problems.