Dawn Harfmann is NIFI’s Program Coordinator, supporting program development and implementation and the coordination of NIFI partner engagement. Dawn has a background in research and practice concerning nonpartisan community collaboration across differences. She helped co-found her community’s local chapter of the political bridge-building organization Braver Angels, where she serves as a trained moderator. Dawn has served as an educator in K-12 and at the college level, designing and leading place-based and experiential learning initiatives both in the classroom and in field settings.

Dawn’s commitment to nonpartisan deliberative democracy developed during her graduate work, where her research focused on bridging political and ideological divides related to clean energy. Dawn has a Ph.D. in Sociology, an M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Education, and a B.A. in Environmental Science.