SMPA is very excited to welcome back Karen Finney and Steve Scully as the 2020-21 Terker Distinguished Fellows. While their time was cut short this past academic year, they still played a very important role in the discussions and mentoring of SMPA students.
This past year they hosted class discussions, student brown bags, and trips to the White House press briefing room. They hosted two events in Jack Morton Auditorium; one on the topic of the 2020 election and what the political field looked like a year out from then and one on the results from the Super Tuesday primaries. In May they held a virtual town hall to discuss the job and internship market, the global pandemic, and their predictions and insight on the race to the White House.
"On so many levels, 2020 has already been a transformational year, and we are only at the mid-point! From the impeachment of a president to a global pandemic, a renewed debate on race relations in America and a historic presidential election, I look forward to joining Karen Finney this year to debate and discuss the issues which will shape our country's future. It is an honor to serve as a Terker Fellow and share our expertise with the amazing GW SMPA students."
Steve Scully
2020-21 Terker Distinguished Fellow
"It’s been an honor to be part of the SMPA community during such an unprecedented time. Now as Americans from all backgrounds are coming together in an historic moment of re-examination the question is will this moment become a transformational movement for change in American culture and society. The next generation of journalists and communications professionals have a pivotal role to play. I’m thrilled to join Steve and SMPA students to continue the conversation about what change should look like, and their place in it.
Karen Finney
2020-21 Terker Distinguished Fellow
Established by Bruce and Cindy Terker in 2010, parents of 2013 SMPA graduate Jennifer Terker, the Terker Distinguished Fellows in the Media and Public Affairs program brings exceptional professionals from the fields of media, political communication, and public affairs to SMPA each academic year.
Karen Finney currently offers her expertise in public affairs, media, crisis communications, and strategy to political and corporate clients throughout the world. Previously, Ms. Finney served as a Political Commentator on CNN and a Senior Advisor to Georgia Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. She was also the Senior Advisor for Communications and Political Outreach and Senior Spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016. Ms. Finney brings with her diverse communication and media background, from hosting her own show on MSNBC to managing crisis communication after 9/11 as the Communications Director for the New York City Board of Education.
Steve Scully is a Senior Executive Producer, Political Editor, and Primary Host of C-SPAN. He coordinates all aspects of C-SPAN’s campaign programming and manages a team of field producers who are responsible for White House editorial coverage, politics, and special projects. Mr. Scully has managed election coverage for every presidential race since 1992. His resume boasts an impressive tenure as a reporter with various NBC and CBS affiliates. Mr. Scully was elected to the president’s seat of the White House Correspondents’ Association for the 2006 to 2007 term.
With an important election year coming up and the uncertainty of COVID-19, we are looking forward to both Karen Finney and Steve Scully bringing their political communications and media backgrounds to many more events and student functions this coming academic year.