Former Vice President Joe Biden has joined officials at the University of Delaware on Monday for the launch of the Biden Institute. He is an alumnus of the school, earning his Bachelor of Arts with a double major in history and political science in 1965.
It was previously reported that the new Biden Institute will be a research and policy center intent on creating solutions to several domestic policy issues. The University of Delaware confirmed that Joe Biden will serve as the institute's founding chair.
The center will be focused on developing public policy solutions on a variety of issues including economic reform and environmental sustainability to civil rights, criminal justice and women's rights, among others. It will be part of the university's School of Public Policy and Administration.
On Monday, Joe Biden revealed that the institute will focus on civic engagement and promote a spirit of bipartisanship, ABC News reported. He said forthright that Biden Institute will not be a political organization that will challenge President Trump and his policies but also made it clear that he will remain politically engaged and speak out on current issues.
The former Vice President of the United States clarified that, while he will continue to stand up for what he believes in, he will not do it using the University of Delaware. The Biden Institute will be nonpartisan.
Biden will be committing one day a week to the institute. His sister and campaign manager, Valerie Biden Owens, will serve as vice chair and Mike Donilon, his former White House counselor, will be managing director.
The former director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard, Catherine McLaughlin, will be serving as executive director. Biden has said that they are fortunate to have McLaughlin on board.
He also expressed his hope that the Biden Institute will attract leaders and experts from various fields such as politics, business and the news media for debates and discussions. CBS Philadelphia noted that Joe Biden is set to appear at an Apr. 7 rally to meet students.
