GU Politics fall 2025 fellows class includes former U.S. senator, leading political strategists and journalists
The Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service’s 10th anniversary class of fellows brings decades of expertise in public policy, foreign service, politics and law.
The Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service (GU Politics) at the McCourt School of Public Policy is pleased to announce the fall 2025 fellows cohort .
Over the course of the semester, members of the McCourt School and Georgetown University community at large will have the opportunity to connect with the fellows through discussion groups, case studies, one-on-one conversations, and site visits — gaining an exclusive, up-close look at how Washington, DC operates and engaging with some of the most pressing political challenges today.
While the individual fellows have their unique and respective areas of expertise, the 10th anniversary fellows cohort is united in the common goal of working directly with McCourt School and Georgetown University students to advance the common good, strengthen democratic institutions and encourage thoughtful dialogue across campus.
Meet the Fall 2025 GU Politics Fellows
Jamelle Bouie
Opinion columnist, The New York Times
Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Jamelle Bouie is a columnist for The New York Times. He covers history and politics. He also co-hosts the “Unclear and Present Danger” podcast on the political and military thrillers of the 1990s. Previously, Jamelle was chief political correspondent for Slate magazine. He began his career at The American Prospect magazine and also spent time as a writer for The Daily Beast. Jamelle has also contributed essays to volumes such as Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 and The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. In 2021, he received the Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism and in 2024 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Discussion Group Topic: Constitutional Crisis and Revival
Laphonza Butler
Former U.S. senator, D-California; former president, SEIU Local 2015
Former director of public policy, AirBnB
A trailblazing figure in American politics, Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) completed the term of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Butler has a storied career as a trusted advisor to top elected officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign, championing transformative public policies that reflect her lifelong commitment to justice and fairness for all communities. Named as “Champion of Change” by President Barack Obama, Senator Butler was president of EMILY’s List before she was named to the U.S. Senate, and served as president of SEIU Local 2015, California’s largest labor union. Senator Butler is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has served as a director on the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles branch of the Federal Reserve System, as well as a member of the University of California Board of Regents.
Discussion Group Topic: AI, Labor, and the Politics of the Future of Work
Rob Flaherty
Former assistant to the president and White House director of digital strategy for the Biden administration
Former deputy campaign manager, Harris for President
Rob Flaherty is a political strategist and former deputy campaign manager for President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign. He previously served as assistant to the president and director of digital strategy at the White House, overseeing the administration’s digital communications team. Flaherty has also worked as digital director for Beto O’Rourke’s presidential campaign, creative director at Priorities USA, and deputy director of digital communications for Hillary for America. A 2013 graduate of Ithaca College, he began his career working on local campaigns in New York.
Mark A. Gre en
Former USAID administrator in the Trump administration
Former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania
Former member of congress (R-WA)
Ambassador Mark Green (ret.) is an innovative thinker on foreign policy in general and global development in particular. He is president emeritus of The Wilson Center, an active board member of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation, and the author of both the “Stubborn Things” and “Moments Along the Way” blogs. Green served as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2017 to 2020. Before that, he served as president of the International Republican Institute, one of the world’s leading democracy promotion organizations. Green served as the U.S. ambassador to Tanzania from mid-2007 to early 2009, as well as four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (WA-R). He has also served as president of the Initiative for Global Development and senior director at the US Global Leadership Coalition.
Discussion Group Topic: A Crossroads Moment for American “Soft Power”
Amy Howe (MSFS’94, L’98)
Co-founder & primary reporter, “SCOTUSblog”
Amy Howe is the co-founder of “SCOTUSblog,” a website devoted to comprehensive and nonpartisan coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court since 2002. Since 2016, she has served as the primary reporter for the blog, covering everything from retirements and confirmation hearings to oral arguments and opinions. She tries to make the Supreme Court’s work accessible to lawyers and nonlawyers alike. Howe was part of the SCOTUSblog team that won a Peabody Award in 2013 — the first blog to do so — as well as a National Press Club Journalism Award for Breaking News. She has appeared on the BBC, CNN, C-Span, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and NPR. Since the spring of 2025, she has served as the Supreme Court analyst for the PBS NewsHour.
Discussion Group Topic: The Supreme Court in the Age of Trump
Scott Jennings
Republican strategist
Political commentator, CNN
Former special assistant to President George W. Bush
Scott Jennings is senior political contributor for CNN and is one of the nation’s most well-known conservative commentators. He appears daily on the network’s various shows, including “Newsnight with Abby Phillip,” where clips of his 4-on-1 exchanges go viral on a weekly basis. Scott is the Founding Partner of RunSwitch Public Relations in Louisville, Kentucky, a full-service communications firm handling corporate and political clients. He has been a longtime political confidante of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and served as special assistant to President George W. Bush after working on both of Bush 43’s successful campaigns. Scott hosts a daily national radio show on the Salem Radio Network called “The Scott Jennings Show.” He is also the author of a forthcoming book titled, A Revolution of Common Sense: How Donald Trump Stormed Washington and Fought for Western Civilization.
Discussion Group Topic: American Institutions: A Crisis or an Opportunity?
Want to get involved with the fall 2025 fellows?
The GU Politics Fellows offer students a rare peek behind the curtain into the way politics and public service actually work. Students will be challenged, informed and inspired through weekly discussion groups, office hours and small group conversations.