About the Institute

An institute for the
2025–2045 horizon.

Horizon Search Institute is an independent research institute focused on the institutional architecture required for the major transitions of this century.

The Institute treats the major transitions of our time — human performance, responsible AI, planetary futures, and governance and diplomacy — as faces of the same civilizational shift. Across these four pillars, HSI produces applied research, convenes practitioners, and publishes open-methodology governance tools.

Leadership

Strategic guidance and disciplined execution.

HSI is led by a small operational team and guided by senior advisors with institutional standing in the fields the Institute touches.

Executive Directorate

David Lovejoy

Founding Executive Director. Leads HSI's research agenda across responsible AI, human performance, planetary futures, and governance and diplomacy.

Strategic Council

Ramu Damodaran

Architect of the United Nations Academic Impact initiative under Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Senior advisor to HSI on institutional design, multilateral governance, and Track II diplomacy.

Advisory Board

Isaac Dakota Casados

Sovereign infrastructure and energy advisor with engagements across more than 100 Native Nations on self-determination, economic development, and resilience.

Team

The associates who carry the work.

HSI's working team is composed of researchers, writers, and communicators drawn from leading universities. Associates contribute to original research, editorial production, partnerships, and the Institute's public-facing work.

Research & Editorial

Ashwin Telang

Northwestern University, Journalism and Economics. Co-lead, Governance Horizon Scan. Bylines in The Hill and the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology; research cited in U.S. Treasury work. Incoming summer associate, McKinsey & Company.

Cynthia Chen

Georgetown University, Economics (First Honors). Co-lead, Governance Horizon Scan. Deputy Blog Editor at The Hoya; joining Bain & Company.

Gloria Chen

New York University, International Relations. Research and editorial. Freelance writer at the Washington Square News; associate editor, NYU Undergraduate Law Society.

Hernando Liu

Northwestern University, Journalism. Research and communications. Background in legislative and legal policy research.

Development

Maia AlBarrak

Lake Forest College, English and Legal Studies. Grants and development. Grant research and proposal writing at Beyond Legal Aid.

Communications

Mia McCauley

University of Wisconsin–Madison, Journalism. Communications and editorial. Editor in Chief, Humans of UW–Madison; strategic communications experience in Melbourne and Vienna.

Trevor Millies

Binghamton University, English Literature and Rhetoric. Communications and editorial. Associate editor at the Binghamton Law Quarterly; peer consultant at the Binghamton Speaking Center. Bilingual in English and Spanish, working Portuguese. Incoming media strategy intern, Capital V Strategies.

Additional associates joining through 2026.

Governance & Structure

How the Institute is governed.

Legal Structure

Horizon Search Institute operates as HSI Research Foundation, a Delaware nonprofit corporation. The Institute currently operates under 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship through Fiscal Sponsorship Allies (FSA), providing institutional oversight of financial and compliance functions during the period of board formation. HSI EIN: 42-1954110. FSA EIN: 85-0839183.

Board & Advisory Structure

A founding board of directors is in formation. The Strategic Council and Advisory Board are advisory bodies that meet to inform HSI's research agenda and institutional positioning; they hold no governance, voting, or fiduciary role. Operational leadership rests with the Executive Directorate.

Editorial Independence

HSI's research is editorially independent. Patrons and funders may support HSI's mission and pillars but do not direct research conclusions, review work prior to publication, or receive editorial input. The Institute discloses all individual and institutional contributions of $25,000 or more in its Annual Outlook. Funding from foreign government entities or state-linked organizations is reviewed under HSI's foreign-funding policy and disclosed regardless of size.

An institute for the2025–2045 horizon.