Spring 2026 Barbara Boxer Fellow
Yemisi Egbewole is the founder of Podium Strategies and a political commentator and consultant who has appeared on CNN, Fox News, BBC, News Nation, and MSNOW. She brings nearly a decade of federal government experience, including roles in Congress and the White House.
Previously, she served as Chief of Staff to the White House Press Office and an advisor to the White House Press Secretary. She played a key role in coordinating bilateral meetings, press conferences, and message planning on behalf of the President Biden.
Earlier in the administration, she was a Senior Legislative Affairs Advisor in the White House’s Office of Legislative Affairs. There, she helped guide Biden’s policy agenda for the first two years of his administration, passing legislation like the Chips and Science Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Yemisi is also a seasoned Senate staffer, having served in policy roles for Senator Amy Klobuchar on the Senate Commerce Committee and for Senator Mark Warner, where she worked on his tech, telecommunications, and trade portfolio.
Study Group: “Inside the Ecosystem: How Washington D.C. Actually Works”
This study group explored how Washington’s political ecosystem actually functions. We looked at D.C. from Capitol Hill to the West Wing, K Street, and national media. Drawing on my experience as a Senate staffer, White House advisor, consultant, and on-air commentator, students examined how relationships, messaging, and institutional incentives shape policymaking in real time. We broke down a day in the life of a Hill staffer, the dynamics of the press corps, and how outside organizations and media voices influence outcomes. Guest sessions with current and former White House officials, senior Congressional staffers, national journalists, and strategists helped students understand how bipartisan common ground is built and more importantly, why it matters.
“CPF feels like a great watering hole for so many young minds who want to learn more. At the same time, it invites people who are some of our top political figures to give knowledge to these young people about what it looks like to work and operate in politics, and to be inspired by young people who say, ‘I have a new vision for the way that I want us to work politically.’ It’s been amazing to get to see the way CPF is a foundation for bridging not only a generational divide, but ideological ones as well.” – Yemisi Egbewole
AND FROM THE STUDENTS IN YEMISI’S STUDY GROUP:
“Yemisi’s study group opened my eyes to the reality of politics. As someone who is interested in working as a government consultant, her study group deepened my knowledge of the inner workings of Congress, the White House, and SCOTUS. Walking away from this study group, I gained both the skills and network to be supported in my career.” – Meg Arun
“I gained valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of the White House as a central bureaucratic institution supporting the President, his aides, and the many individuals who keep the U.S. government running. A key takeaway was learning about the strategies and values—particularly hard work and attention to detail—that guided Yemisi’s career and helped her rise to White House Chief of Staff. I gained practical guidance on strengthening my networking skills and building professional relationships to advance my career.” – Dylan Nathaniel