The Aspen Current

Danny Harris, Executive Director of Aspen Socrates Program, shares some lessons on leadership collected along his journey, including as a parent.

America’s rising generations—the youth and young adults best positioned to meet the country’s growing need for STEM professionals—are on the front lines of recent and rapid policy shifts within the federally-funded research and higher education ecosystems. Attracting and supporting their training and development at a time when uncertainty is high and alternative pathways abound will require significant and sustained coordination across STEM sectors. Whether situated in formal and informal learning institutions, industry, government, or civil society, we must all come together to support, reform, and enhance our collective investment in the future leaders of STEM. This report, developed as part of the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program’s 2025 roundtable series, synthesizes insights from practitioners in K–12 education, higher education, science research, professional associations, science communication, and civic science.

Catalina Martínez Coral is a leading force for reproductive rights across Latin America and the Caribbean, guided by her belief that “the political is personal, and the personal is political.” As Vice President at the Center for Reproductive Rights, her leadership has driven landmark victories—from decriminalizing abortion in Colombia to securing justice for women and girls across the region.

A few lessons we learned from producing In Session: Practical Wisdom from Aspen Institute network leaders.

Recently, Aspen FSP hosted a workshop to identify the financial shocks that most impact our Community Advisory Group. Here’s what we learned.

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States in 2020, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and Aspen Institute Board Trustee Alex Azar faced the challenge of a lifetime.

Mike Wilkening’s work as a public servant has followed a simple philosophy: government in service of its people. In this blog, he shares more about his leadership approach and his position as an Aspen FSP Fellow.

Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Kyiv, reflects on how the war in Ukraine has reshaped her understanding of leadership.

John Renehan, Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow, reflects on what it truly means to lead with integrity in a complex and fast moving world.

Sonia Kapadia shares why authentic leadership, smart risk taking, and love for the work are essential to driving meaningful change.

Simi Nwogugu’s journey reflects a bold commitment to helping African girls rise — equipping them with agency, protection, and leadership skills to rewrite their futures.

Is it possible to nudge the massive gaming industry to design pro-social digital spaces for millions of players around the world?

“We are delighted to welcome this new class of Fellows,” said UpSkill America Senior Director Haley Glover. “Supporting these leaders, who are joining a thriving community of alumni, to advance in their work and careers creating real value for their organizations and opportunities for their workforces is so rewarding. This is an incredibly impressive group.”

We’re in the last month of our #JobQuality survey. If your org is improving #JobQuality, add your voice to this survey from The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program by December 31st.

How can sustainability leaders stay strategically relevant within their organizations?

Navyn Salem launched Edesia to combat global malnutrition, creating life-saving foods that have helped millions of children survive and thrive.