The School of Media and Public Affairs has added five new members to its National Council for Media and Public Affairs, a group that functions as an advisory body for the school.
The five new members are “Meet the Press” moderator and managing editor Chuck Todd; CNN’s D.C. bureau chief and senior vice president for Washington programming Sam Feist; alumna Susan Smirnoff, B.A. ’74; political pollster Cornell Belcher; and Charles Minton, president of Minton’s Fire & Security Specialists, Inc.
“National Council members are integral to our school,” said SMPA Director Frank Sesno. “These new members reflect an effort to bring dynamic, accomplished professionals who are experts in media and politics, and dedicated to SMPA’s mission of providing relevant and innovative experiences for our students.”
Mr. Todd and Mr. Feist will bring their journalism expertise to the council. Mr. Todd attended GW from 1990 to 1994, and currently serves as the political director for NBC News. He co-authored "How Barack Obama Won” with Sheldon Gawiser and his second book, “The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House,” will be released this November. Mr. Feist is the recipient of three Emmy Awards. He coordinated and produced CNN’s Peabody Award-winning coverage of the 2008 presidential primaries and conventions.
Ms. Smirnoff is a veteran adviser for GW—she provided her guidance to the National Council for Arts and Sciences, advising the Columbian College dean for 15 years. Mr. Belcher is the founder and president of Brilliant Corners Research and Strategies, a polling firm that conducts work on behalf of the Democratic National Committee. He is also a political contributor to CNN and a premier political and corporation strategist. Mr. Minton is a leader in his community of Union, New Jersey. He and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters: Stacey Minton, B.A. ’12, and Melissa Minton, a current SMPA student.