Brian Palmiter

Brian Palmiter is the Assistant Director of Student Engagement at the Center and an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He received his doctorate in political theory from Harvard University, and from 2024-2026 he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Civil Discourse at the Center. Brian's research interests lie at the intersection of political ethics and democratic theory, with a focus on the ethical and practical puzzles posed by rules, as well as on the virtue of civility for democratic practice.

Among his most enjoyable responsibilities at the Center, Brian coordinates the Fellowship in Values Engagement, a program aimed at building students’ capacity for participating in ethically-charged discussions that students from diverse backgrounds can experience as both inclusive and yet intellectually productive. He also coaches the Harvard Ethics Bowl team, which advanced to the APPE IEB National Quarterfinals in 2026.