Meet the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Fall 2025 Fellows cohort. Our Fellows spend the semester leading study groups, as well as hosting office hours, roundtable discussions, and dozens of bi-partisan CPF political conversations and conferences throughout the year.
Jim DeBoo
Founder of DeBoo Strategic Affairs and the former Chief of Staff to Gavin Newsom
“Politics by Algorithms”
Wednesdays, 12-2PM
Frank Lavin
Former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore
“Statecraft: How Leaders Drive Policies and Policies Drive Outcomes”
Wednesdays, 2-4PM
April Ryan
Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent
“Fact-Based Reporting and the Rise of Independent Journalism”
Mondays, 1-3PM
David Simas
Managing Director at Emerson Collective and the former President of the Obama Foundation
“Trumpism After Trump: Rebranding the Revolution for a New Political Era”
Tuesdays, 2-4PM
Helen Torres
CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE)
“Democracy Rewritten: Build Your Own Country (Without Breaking Everything)”
Thursdays, 2-4PM