"Ted profoundly influenced my life"

I only talked with Professor Lowi once during my undergraduate experience and subsequently. I had little impact on him, but he had a huge impact on me. The only time I ever talked with Professor Lowi was after a lecture for then-Government 111, which he taught in tandem with Professor Benjamin Ginsberg. I was born in Japan to US parents, so naturally I wanted to know if I could be President as a “natural born Citizen.” He shook my hand and said yes, sure. I was all smiles. I did Cornell in Washington (CIW) in the spring semester of 1989, where I worked at the State Department with a strong interest in foreign policy. But then I got caught up in US domestic policy, and my career began. Professor Lowi was instrumental in the creation of CIW. Had the program not existed, I have no idea where I would be currently and what I would be doing. I’m grateful to Professor Lowi and to Cornell for the trajectory that they made possible in my efforts to help make the world a better place. In other words, Ted profoundly influenced my life, hopefully also with a positive ripple effect or two for others.

Ted’s impact on me

- Master of Public Policy, 1997, Ford School, University of Michigan; Master of Business Administration, 2002, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

- worked for State Department, State of Illinois governor and treasurer, Treasury Department, Office of Management and Budget

- [currently] Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress), where I am a specialist in government organization and management, advising Members and committees of Congress on related issues

P.S. I took 161 with you, Professor Kramnick, and am grateful for you too.

Clint Brass

College of Arts and Sciences

Cornell Class of 1990