Alvin Brown is going to Washington.
The former mayor will be a spring 2016 fellow of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, the school announced Monday morning.
The Washington D.C.-based program bills itself as a way to connect students with political leaders to learn from one another “and tackle some of the biggest political challenges of the day.”
The program features figures in politics, government and the media leading a weekly non-credit discussion group.
Brown’s discussion group is called “Successes and Struggles of a 21st Century Mayor.”
The former mayor said in a statement he was excited to share what he has learned about leadership and governing while also learning about issues “driving some of our nation’s brightest young minds on a career path toward public service.”
He was mayor from 2011-15, but lost his bid for a second term to Mayor Lenny Curry in May.
The Georgetown position is the first public role Brown has been a part of since that defeat. In his final days in office, Brown said he’d spend several months with his family before deciding what to do next.
Brown’s accomplishments as listed by the school include assisting 29 companies expand or relocate in Jacksonville; negotiating a long-term pension agreement; creating the Downtown Investment Authority; and refinancing more than $1.3 billion in bonds to save $133 million.
Lauren Mullins, communications director for the McCourt School of Public Policy, said the program “jumped at the chance” to bring Brown to Georgetown when he showed interest, in part, because of his federal experience and public service.
Brown will hold office hours and mentor students and, in return, will receive a stipend and have access to campus resources and other classes at the McCourt School.
Mullins called it a “modest” stipend but declined to say the amount.
The program offers flexibility but generally fellows are on campus at least three days a week. According to Brown spokesman David Hunt, Brown will be at Georgetown for several months.
He’ll be joined in the spring program by: Laura Chinchilla, president of Costa Rica from 2000-14; Patrick Dillon, former White House deputy director of political affairs and special assistant to President Barack Obama; Jackie Kucinich, senior politics editor at The Daily Beast; and Katie Packer, former deputy campaign manager for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential ticket.
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