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Faculty Leader: Dr. John Splaine, University of MarylandDr. John Splaine earned his bachelor's and master's degree in American History from the University of New Hampshire, and holds a doctorate in education from Boston University. In 1973 he joined the College of Education faculty in education policy and leadership until retirement in 2001 as associate professor emeritus. He accepted a position at the University of Denver, where he held the Amos B. Hostetter, Jr., Chair. He taught courses in political communication until his retirement from there in 2003. Since then, Splaine has taught education courses part-time at the University of Maryland.

A well-respected scholar, Splaine has been an education consultant with C-SPAN television since 1987, including C-SPAN's series on "American Presidents: Life Portraits" which won a prestigious Peabody Award in 1999. His book, A Companion to the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, was published to accompany C-SPAN's nationally televised re-enactments of the 1858 debates. He also contributed to the compact disk, "A House Divided: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates," which received the Gold Apple award from the National Educational Media Network. He has presented at a Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) seminar, and has appeared on National Public Radio (NPR). Splaine is the author of The Road to the White House Since Television. He has also co-authored such books as Critical Viewing: Stimulant to Critical Thinking, Educating the Consumer of Television: An Interactive Approach, and Politics: Communicating a Message, Issues in New Hampshire Government.

This section will be continually updated as speakers are secured. Currently, we have the following individuals confirmed:
Steve Scully, Political Editor and Senior Executive Producer, C-SPANSteve Scully, a former president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, hosts ‘Washington Journal’, a daily three-hour public affairs program among other duties at C-SPAN. Since 1990, Scully has been responsible for planning and editing C-SPAN’s campaign programming, including presidential and congressional elections. Prior to joining C-SPAN, Scully first covered politics and local government as a reporter with WSEE-TV in Erie, PA. In January 2003, he assumed the Amos P. Hostetter Chair at the University of Denver, teaching a course on media, politics, and public policy issues via cable fiber line between Washington, D.C., and Denver. Scully earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and political science from American University, and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Stephen J. Wayne, Ph.D., Professor of Government, Georgetown University Dr. Wayne is a well known author and lecturer of American presidents and the presidency. He has authored many books and articles on American politics and the presidency. He has testified before Congress on the subject of presidential elections and consulted with the national parties on the presidential nomination process. Among his best known works is the widely adopted The Road to the White House, published by Wadsworth and soon to be in its 9th edition.

Mike McCurry, Co-Chair of the Presidential Debates CommissionMike McCurry is currently CEO of Grassroots.com and a member of its board of directors. McCurry was previously on its board of advisors, where he played a strategic role in the development of the organization. McCurry served in the White House as press secretary to President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1998. Prior to joining the White House staff, McCurry distinguished himself in numerous high-profile positions. He served as spokesman for the Department of State from 1993 to 1995, where he earned accolades as chief spokesman for then Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

Prior to his government service, McCurry held a variety of communications and press relations jobs in national politics and on Capitol Hill. From 1988 to 1990, McCurry served as director of communications for the Democratic National Committee. He was national press secretary for the 1988 vice presidential campaign of Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen. He served as spokesman and political strategist in the Democratic presidential campaigns of Senator John Glenn, Governor Bruce Babbitt and Senator Bob Kerrey in 1984, 1988, and 1992 respectively.

McCurry began his political career on the staff of the United States Senate, working from 1976 to 1981 as press secretary to the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and to the Committee's chairman, Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. From 1981 to 1983, he served as press secretary to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. McCurry remains a principal of Public Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs and strategic communications consulting firm where he has practiced since leaving the White House. McCurry also serves on boards or advisory councils for Share Our Strength, the Center for International Private Enterprise, the Council for Excellence in Government, the Junior Statesmen Foundation, and the Wesley Theological Seminary.