Harkin Institute Staff
The staff at The Harkin Institute is committed to providing research and programming that helps policymakers, members of the public and students stay well informed and inspires creative cooperation and engagement.
Matthew Reed
Executive Director
Matthew joined The Harkin Institute as the Executive Director in August of 2023. Matthew leads The Harkin Institute’s efforts to engage in rigorous public policy research and citizen engagement programming that advances social justice, fairness, and opportunity for all. Previously, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Brookdale Community College, as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Holyoke Community College, as Division Dean of Liberal Arts at the County College of Morris, and as Dean of General Education at DeVry University in New Jersey. Matthew graduated with honors in political science from Williams College and earned his doctorate from Rutgers University.
515-271-2512
Daniel Van Sant
Director of Disability Policy
Daniel joined The Harkin Institute in 2021 to oversee the Institute’s disability policy work, which includes organizing the Harkin International Disability Employment Summit, an annual event that brings together key champions and implementers from around the world to increase employment of people with disabilities. Before joining THI, Daniel was a staff attorney at Disability Rights Iowa where he provided free legal representation to children with disabilities and their families. Daniel earned his Juris Doctorate and a Master of Science in Cultural Foundations of Education with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Disability Studies from Syracuse University and earned his bachelor’s degrees in International Relations, Rhetoric, and Politics from Drake University.
515-271-3223
Rayna Stoycheva
Director of Retirement Security Policy
Rayna joined The Harkin Institute in 2021 to oversee the Institute’s retirement security policy work. She is responsible for research on public and private retirement programs, retirement savings access and adequacy, financial literacy, and pension wealth inequality. Prior to joining THI, Rayna was a faculty member at the University of Miami, where she taught courses in policy analysis, public finance, health economics, microeconomics, and statistics. Rayna received a joint PhD in Public Policy, with a concentration in Public Finance, from Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology. She received a master’s degree in Public Administration from Ohio University and a Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Economics from the American University in Bulgaria.
515-271-3222
Adam Shriver
Interim Director of Wellness and Nutrition Policy
Adam joined The Harkin Institute as a research fellow in 2021, working on a Kellogg Foundation grant to create a “good food plan” for the state of Iowa. He took on the role of Interim Wellness and Nutrition Policy in 2022, which includes organizing the annual Harkin On Wellness Symposium. He previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, and a Research Fellow at the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities at Oxford University. Adam has also taught courses on biomedical ethics, the ethics of food, and ethics of artificial intelligence at Drake University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Iowa State University as well as a Ph.D. from the Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology program at Washington University in St. Louis.
515-271-3623
Jennifer Fiihr
Operations Director and Building Contact for the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center
Jennifer joined The Harkin Institute in 2023. As Operations Director, Jennifer is responsible for all building activities, managing the budget, and Institute operations. Prior to working at THI, Jennifer assisted federal candidates with campaign finance reporting. She also served as the human resources manager for large, non-profit organizations. Jennifer earned bachelor’s degrees in history and political science from Drake University. Jennifer has also been involved in her community, serving on the Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees for over a decade. Jennifer also worked on two of Senator Harkin’s re-election campaigns and in his D.C. Senate Office early in her career.
515-271-3692
Kathryn Kuckelman
Communications Manager
Kathryn joined The Harkin Institute in January of 2023. As Communications Manager, Kathryn oversees all external communication efforts for the Institute and assists with event logistics. Before working at THI, Kathryn spent a year working on press relations with Progress Iowa and worked as a News Producer at WHO 13 News in Des Moines for over five years. She earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from Iowa State University and is currently working on earning her Master of Arts in Communication at Drake University.
515-271-1895
Lila Johnson
Graphic Designer and Digital Accessibility Specialist
Lila joined The Harkin Institute in 2020 as an Undergraduate Graphic Design Assistant. After graduating from Drake University, she was promoted to a part-time Graphic Design Specialist. In March of 2023, Lila came on full-time to continue her graphic design work for the Institute and to oversee the digital accessibility efforts. Lila earned bachelor’s degrees in advertising and graphic design from Drake University, where she is currently working on earning her Master of Arts in Communication.
515-271-3691
Ashley Ezzio
UpLift Project Coordinator
Ashley joined The Harkin Institute in 2022 to coordinate UpLift – The Central Iowa Basic Income Project. The pilot will study the impacts of an unrestricted, no-strings-attached, $500 basic income payment for 24 months. Previously, Ashely worked in both government and nonprofit roles. Most recently she managed the Iowa Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program and coordinated the development and implementation of the Title V Community-Based Doula Project at the Iowa Department of Public Health. Ashley earned a bachelor’s degree in Child, Adult, and Family Services from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in public health from Des Moines University.
515-271-1813
Michael Berger
UpLift Project Coordinator
Michael joined The Harkin Institute in 2023 to coordinate UpLift – The Central Iowa Basic Income Project. The pilot will study the impacts of an unrestricted, no-strings-attached, $500 basic income payment for 24 months. Previously, Michael completed a practicum project with Mid-Iowa Health Foundation focused on researching basic income projects across the nation and engaging central Iowa partners to inform how to design the local pilot model. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Iowa.
515-249-4497
Stephanie Sinovic
Senior Advancement Officer, Drake University Advancement
Stephanie joined Drake University’s development team as a major gift officer in 2012. She leads The Harkin Institute’s fundraising initiatives and serves as the institute’s liaison to University Development. Stephanie is a Des Moines native who began her career in Chicago. She holds a master’s degree in education from Notre Dame and bachelor’s degrees from Marquette University in Spanish and communication studies.
515-271-3745
Hope Bibens
Director of Archives & Special Collections, Drake University Cowles Library
Hope came to Drake University in 2015 from Indiana University, where she was a project archivist for the papers of Senator Richard Lugar. At Drake’s Cowles Library, she oversees the University’s Archives & Special Collections, which includes the Tom Harkin Collection, as well as other Iowa politicians’ congressional papers. Hope earned master’s degrees in both library science and U.S. history from Indiana University Bloomington and interned with the United States Senate Historical Office.
515-271-2088
Address: 2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311
Phone: (515) 271-3623
Email: harkininstitute@drake.edu
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.