{"id":517,"date":"2023-02-22T15:57:49","date_gmt":"2023-02-22T23:57:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/?page_id=517"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:27:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:27:55","slug":"fellows-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/fellows-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Fellows Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p style=\"text-align: left\">The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF) and its Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics invite prominent political professionals to become CPF Fellows and lead study groups for USC students in Los Angeles. They hold office hours, host lunchtime discussions, bring in guest speakers, and participate in high-profile events and conferences throughout the year. These resident Fellows expose students to a wide array of perspectives, broadening and challenging their understanding of government while strengthening civil dialogue on campus and within the community.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-embed\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cTWXnabZEZE?si=083iBfgFThGnNAhE\" title=\"USC Dornsife Fellows Program\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"Media__TextTitle-sc-3oci5t-0 dVotKc\"><\/h2>\n<p>Study groups are the cornerstone of the <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/1epuq-gNDulkbak43_I0-2cQJZTruMfJaOtUu0znkw0g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPF Fellows Program<\/a>. These in-depth seminars focus on the ins and outs of practical politics, and are coordinated in partnership with the Jesse M. Unruh <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/jesse-m-unruh-institute-of-politics\/\">Institute of Politics<\/a> to include immersive experiences beyond political theory and academic journals. Each study group runs once a week for 4-10 weeks and is jam-packed with VIP guest lecturers, <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/fellows-program\/fellows-office-hours\/\">office hours<\/a>, unprecedented career and internship opportunities, and access to Center Fellows in and out of the classroom. Students learn from top professionals, receive invaluable mentorship, and even become friends with CPF Fellows over the course of the experience. Max 20 students per study group. All USC students are eligible to apply. <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/1epuq-gNDulkbak43_I0-2cQJZTruMfJaOtUu0znkw0g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Click here to sign up for a CPF Fellows study group<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are unable to attend a CPF Fellow&#8217;s study group, please fill out the <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/qutQoNqN5YbpFurT8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPF Study Group Absence Form<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/meet-our-fellows\/\"><strong>Meet Our Current Fellows<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<strong>&#8211;<\/strong> The Fellowships are offered by invitation only. Potential Fellows are invited to apply based on a number of factors, including their current national stature, commitment to the CPF mission, ability to attract students to their study group, prior teaching experience, recommendations from former Fellows, advice from our CPF Board of Councilors, and ability to provide USC students with an exciting study group on practical politics. The Fellows roster is normally booked for the next 2-3 semesters.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7694\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7694\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7694 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2026\/01\/Spring-2026-CPF-Fellows-web.jpg\" alt=\"Spring 2026 CPF Fellows: Mark Campbell, Yemisi Egbewole, Garret Graves, and Seema Mehta\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2026\/01\/Spring-2026-CPF-Fellows-web.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2026\/01\/Spring-2026-CPF-Fellows-web-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2026\/01\/Spring-2026-CPF-Fellows-web-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2026\/01\/Spring-2026-CPF-Fellows-web-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2026\/01\/Spring-2026-CPF-Fellows-web-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2026\/01\/Spring-2026-CPF-Fellows-web-1280x720.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7694\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spring 2026 CPF Fellows: Mark Campbell, Yemisi Egbewole, Garret Graves, and Seema Mehta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pizza and Politics Series &#8211;<\/strong> Join CPF Fellows for FREE pizza and small group conversations. Fellows go deep on current events, their careers, and whatever is on your mind. These lunch events are for USC students, faculty, and staff only. Pizza and Politics are held on select Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. \u2013 2:00 p.m. PT in SOS B15. See you March 3, March 10, March 31, April 7, and April 14.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Questions? Contact <a href=\"mailto:cpf@usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cpf@usc.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5139\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5139\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5139 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2024\/02\/CPF-Pizza-and-Politics-Series-web-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"CPF Pizza and Politics event with CPF Fellows Noelia Rodriguez (former Press Secretary for First Lady Laura Bush), Jessica Lall (former CEO of Central City Association), and Ira Reiner (former LA District Attorney).\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2024\/02\/CPF-Pizza-and-Politics-Series-web-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2024\/02\/CPF-Pizza-and-Politics-Series-web-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2024\/02\/CPF-Pizza-and-Politics-Series-web-1024x624.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2024\/02\/CPF-Pizza-and-Politics-Series-web-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2024\/02\/CPF-Pizza-and-Politics-Series-web-1536x936.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/135\/2024\/02\/CPF-Pizza-and-Politics-Series-web-2048x1248.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5139\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">CPF Pizza and Politics event with CPF Fellows Noelia Rodriguez (former Press Secretary for First Lady Laura Bush), Jessica Lall (former CEO of Central City Association), and Ira Reiner (former LA District Attorney).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h2>Fellows Program: Hear From the Students<\/h2>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;As someone deeply interested in both journalism and politics, the Fellows Program has been a valuable and unique opportunity for me as a USC student. I was able to engage with, and learn from, renowned guest speakers who joined our class each week to discuss the Democratic debates and the future of both parties. I can&#8217;t express enough how incredible it was to have access to these leaders in the media and politics and to have candid, open conversations. Adam Nagourney was a great Fellow who actively encouraged our participation in the class and created an environment where students and guest speakers felt safe to discuss, debate, and question current events in real time.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><strong>Chandra Ingram, Journalism and International Relations and Global Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Having the opportunity to be a part of the Center for Political Future\u2019s Fellows Program was the highlight of my first semester at USC. My experience centered around taking a ten week course on the role of interest group politics in our federal government taught by Ron Christie, the former advisor to President George W. Bush. Throughout the ten weeks, our class got a behind-the-scenes look at the orthodox and unorthodox mechanisms of lawmaking in the lobbying process, legislative branch and executive office. With over thirty years of experience, Professor Christie\u2019s was able to bring the subject matter and readings to life. I am extremely thankful for the Center for Political Future for providing me with this experience and I hope to continue to use it as a resource as I progress in my academic career.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><strong>Adam Jackman, Political Science<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;While the American people continue to grow closer to online identities and virtual networks, it is strange that many have come to distrust journalists who, for decades, have packaged hard-hitting truths into \u201cbyte\u201d sizes for the public. Through quite serious but feel-good storytelling, Ann Klenk revealed that what lies behind TV screens is the same as what lies behind your front door. With her rolodex of industry pioneers, she taught meaningful journalism through the eyes of people who are skeptics. Going into this class, there was so little I understood about the political world. And while I still do not know everything, this class taught to never be satisfied until I do.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><strong>Julianna Montano, Philosophy, Politics and Law<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":271,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-517","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fellows Program - USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Overview of the CPF Fellows Program, including student study groups, current Fellows, and Pizza and Politics series.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/fellows-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fellows Program - 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