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Faculty can get involved with The Washington Center’s Academic Seminars in a number of ways:

• Promote TWC programs on your campus to students who are particularly interested in the topics covered by our seminars or to students just looking for a short, in-depth experience in Washington, D.C.
• Include The Washington Center seminars in the curriculum of one of your classes and bring that class to Washington, D.C., for one or two weeks (or in a customized program through Washington Connection).
• Apply to act as a Faculty Leader. As a Faculty Leader you will be assigned to work with a group of about 15 students during the seminar. The students can be either your own students or students from other institutions.
• Apply to participate in the seminars as a Faculty Fellow, taking advantage of the programming with the freedom to choose sites among the arranged site visits Faculty fellows receive a discount on the cost of the program.

Faculty LeadersFaculty leaders are chosen for their exceptional teaching skills. They are assigned to work with 10-15 students for the duration of the seminar. Responsibilities include:

• Facilitating small group discussions.
• Serving as advisors and mentors for seminar participants.
• Recommending a grade for each student.
• Work with their own students if they bring a minimum of 10 students from their school.

Leaders receive a stipend for their work during the seminars. Additional information is available here.
Faculty FellowsCollege faculty and secondary education teachers are eligible to be involved in program activities as a participant, without the responsibilities associated with being a faculty leader.

Faculty DirectorFor each seminar, a faculty director oversees the academic component the seminar. Faculty Directors select readings, advise on speakers and present lectures on relevant topics. Faculty directors are selected for their unique expertise and experience and provide analysis and insights into the various topics presented.

Recent faculty directors have included:

• Ross K. Baker, Ph.D. professor of political science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Presidential Inauguration 2009; Inside Washington 2002-2010; Congress and the Obama Presidency)
• Steve Bell, professor emeritus of telecommunications, Ball State University, former news anchors on Good Morning America (Presidential Inauguration 2009, Politics and the Media1998-2010: Politics and the Media)
• Thomas E. Cronin, Ph.D. McHugh Professor of American Institutions and Leadership, Colorado College (2008 Democratic National Convention)
• Hon. Mickey Edwards, J.D., Former Member of Congress (R-OK), Executive Director, Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowships in Public Service (2004, 2008 Republican National Convention)
• Juan Zarate, J.D., Senior Adviser, Transnational Threats Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Deputy National Security Advisor (2005-2009) (2010: Top Secret: Challenges to National Security in a Global Environment)

Scholars-in-ResidenceScholars-in-Residence are national or international experts on topics related to a particular seminar who are invited to give periodic lectures and presentations during a seminar program.  Often Scholars-in-Residence are chosen to be a part of the national political convention seminars.  Among those recently involved were:

• Meena Bose, Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies, Hofstra University (Republican National Convention 2008)
• Michael A. Genovese, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Loyola Chair of Leadership Studies, Loyola Marymount University (Democratic National Conventions 2000-2008)

Request More Information About:

• Democratic and Republican National Conventions