Karine Jean-Pierre, 35th White House Press Secretary and former senior advisor to President Joe Biden, visited the Brooks School of Public Policy for “On Being First: A Fireside Chat with KJP” hosted by Black in Public Policy (BIPP), a Cornell student organization that focuses on building access and exposure to policy careers for Black students.

BIPP president Navon Morgan MPA ‘26 opened the event by celebrating Black History Month, recognizing fellow BIPP founders Vice President Irene Gatimi MPA ‘26 and Community Relations Chair Oke Johnson MPA ‘27, and thanking event moderator, Brooks School faculty member, Gavin Mosley.

“This event is the culmination of so many months of work not only to create this moment today but to create this organization,” Morgan said. “We get two years to build something we can leave behind for the next group of students and I’m grateful to the Brooks School and to my brothers and sisters in BIPP for working together to create this first for our campus community.”

Last year, Jean-Pierre made headlines when she announced that she had left the Democratic Party to become an independent before releasing her second book, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, which was published in October 2025. During the event on Friday, she reflected on the power of being the first Black woman and the first openly LGBTQ person to serve as White House Press Secretary.

“At the time, you don’t realize what’s happening. You don’t realize the bigness of it for other people. When you’re in D.C. you’re living in a bubble and it takes time to understand. It really boils down to two words: representation matters,” said Jean-Pierre. “When you see someone who looks like you in a position, it makes you feel pride and belonging.”

Prior to becoming White House Press Secretary, Jean-Pierre served as deputy press secretary from 2021 to 2022, as the chief of staff for U.S. vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris during the 2020 presidential campaign and as the senior advisor and national spokeswoman for the progressive advocacy group MoveOn.org. 

Jean-Pierre, who earned an MPA from Columbia University's SIPA program, visited Cornell at the invitation of Brooks School Dean Colleen Barry, and spent time earlier in the day visiting classrooms and interacting with student fellows from the Institute on Politics and Global Affairs (IOPGA).

During the fireside chat in Warren Hall Friday evening, she addressed a diverse campus audience that included Brooks MPA and undergraduate students, touching on a range of topics including the electoral college system, the political realities facing Democrats in the next election cycle, and her experiences working on high-profile campaigns for candidates like Martin O’Malley, John Edwards, and Barack Obama.

In her closing remarks, Jean-Pierre urged the students to stay engaged in public policy.

“Try to reimagine what the country could look like, because there’s no going back. We need smart and talented people and I want you to stay engaged right now, because we are going to need you,” Jean-Pierre told the students.

BIPP Vice President Irene Gatimi MPA ‘26 closed the event, inviting the campus community to stay engaged by participating in student organizations and by pursuing their professional dreams.

“If this conversation inspired you even a fraction of the way it inspired me, I encourage you to connect with us,” said Gatimi. “Karinne Jean-Pierre’s career journey is an example we can follow and it’s so important to create broader representation and more robust career pathways for Black students who want to go into public affairs and shape public policy.”

In March and April, BIPP will host an upcoming event for Black Professionals in Public Affairs and officer elections. To connect with BIPP, visit their Campus Groups webpage or follow their Instagram @blackinpublicpolicy.