USC this morning announced that Charles “Chuck” Todd has been named the inaugural scholar-in-residence for the USC Capital Campus in Washington, D.C.
As scholar-in-residence, Todd is expected to work across USC’s campuses and schools, including both Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
The title of scholar-in-residence is given to an academic expert for a period of time in which they engage in research, teach courses and host events relevant to their field. Todd’s appointment is set to last for two years and will involve work at the University Park Campus in Los Angeles, as well.
“He will also host events, including moderated discussions with high-level speakers, guest lectures and even ‘movie nights’ with students,” the university said in a statement.
Todd, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and chief political analyst for NBC News, formerly moderated NBC’s Meet the Press. Todd previously worked as the NBC News chief White House correspondent, has authored two books, now writes a weekly NBC news column on elections and hosts “The Chuck ToddCast” podcast. Todd currently teaches the class “How Washington Works (Or Doesn’t)” as part of USC Dornsife’s programming at the D.C. campus.
In an interview with Annenberg Media, Todd said he envisions the USC campus becoming the “home” for California expats working in the nation’s capital.
“I just think that this is an opportunity to help educate Washington about California,” he said. “I think the USC campus is well-positioned to become, basically, the place for Californians to talk to Washington, whether it’s business leaders, cultural leaders, political leaders.”
The USC Capital Campus offers semester-long courses and work opportunities for students that it trademarks the “DC experience.” Courses include foreign affairs, the political process and national security and decision making. USC expert faculty members teach the classes.
The opportunities at the campus in D.C. are far more than just the Dornsife Washington, D.C. The campus is also one of two homes for the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy and Government Service, and it provides students with a space to pursue new undergraduate and graduate programs and puts USC at the center for opportunities to engage thought leaders and officials.
As a political journalist having worked on the East Coast, and an alumnus of George Washington University, Todd said he hopes to serve as an educator and facilitator for political conversations.
“Having USC as the place to host these conversations and begin these debates just makes a ton of sense,” he said.
Todd said he feels the university has been able to navigate the current political climate slightly better due to its status as a private university.
“I found the students that I interacted with [at USC] to be tremendous,” he said. “I was impressed that I had a very bipartisan class.”
“The Capital Campus, our students, and USC at large will benefit greatly from his deep knowledge of Washington and his invaluable counsel,” USC President Carol Folt said in the university statement.
Todd will continue to work as a journalist at NBC and teach classes at the USC Capital Campus while serving as scholar-in-residence.