Blakely Hardin

Blakely graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina Honors
College in May 2024, with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Education Policy, Law,
and Government. While at USC, she led the nonpartisan student lobbying group,
Government Relations, advocating for measures to prevent tuition increases and
advancing student priorities with lawmakers at local, state, and federal levels. Under her
leadership, Government Relations presented key initiatives to the Mayor of Columbia,
the City Council, the SC Governor, and the White House. Supported by two research
grants, Blakely’s independent research examined South Carolina's education
accountability policies and analyzed themes in education finance litigation across high-
and low-performing U.S. states.

Her internships in government and nonprofit sectors at the local, state, and federal
levels have inspired her dedication to public service and education equity. Most recently,
Blakely researched and authored reports on various policy topics, ranging from the state
of play in foreign countries to education of students with disabilities, for the First Lady’s
senior staff at the White House. She also contributed to the South Carolina Appleseed
Legal Justice Center’s study on the feasibility of the pending education savings account
policy for low-income families in South Carolina.

Blakely aims to be a catalyst for legal protections, ensuring that every student,
regardless of socioeconomic status or disability, has an advocate for their right to quality
public education.