Meet the Spring 2025 GU Politics Fellows

CATHERINE HUGHES AND ADITHYA KASHYAP: Recently, On the Record spoke with the incoming GU Politics Fellows: Tony Fabrizio, Quentin Fulks, Don Graves, Cecilia Kang, Meg Kinnard, and Heather Nauert. The fellows are eager to start their discussion groups and hear from students on February 10th.

Tony Fabrizio is a veteran Republican pollster and has shaped five U.S. Presidential campaigns, notably as Chief Pollster for Donald Trump's victorious 2016 and 2024 runs. His 40-year career includes successful strategies for numerous Senators, Governors, and international leaders across 4 continents. Fabrizio's expertise earned him "Pollster of the Year" in 2017.

Having already been a fellow at UChicago’s Institute of Politics, Fabrizio values his conversations with the youth about the politics of our time. Especially given President Trump’s successful appeal to younger voters in the recent election, he is excited to engage with Georgetown students as a proud Hoya father.

Fabrizio highlights the impact of the changing media landscape on elections. He notes the fragmentation and siloing of media, the decline of traditional networks, and the rise of streaming services and podcasts. Fabrizio emphasizes the challenge of capturing young voters' attention in this evolving media environment, referring to them as the "unicorn" demographic in political campaigns.

Fabrizio’s discussion group is titled ‘America First Movement: From Political Fringe to Governing Majority’ and will meet Tuesdays at 4 PM.

Quentin Fulks

Quentin Fulks is a nationally recognized campaign manager who has served as the Principal Deputy Campaign Manager for both the Biden/Harris and Harris/Walz campaigns in 2024. Prior to this, he headed the successful reelection campaign of Senator Raphael Warnock in Georgia, his home state. Additionally, Fulks served as Deputy Campaign Manager on the 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial race and as a resident fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics.

Fulks shares in GU Politics’ mission of the Fellows Program. He believes it is important for students to have acces to practitioners in the fields they wish to pursue. He’s also excited to meet the up-and-coming talent here at Georgetown. He wants to share his interest, passion, and experiences in politics with the students. He also wants to share some of the lessons he’s learned, such as moving forward after defeat.

As someone who’s worked in diverse constituencies, he has learned to find common ground. He emphasizes the importance of finding the issues that truly matter to people. But he also recommends honesty and consistency in one’s beliefs. He mentions the importance of understanding the diverse perspectives of a constituency and approach with respect.

Fulks's discussion group is titled ‘Election 2024: Now What?’ and will meet Tuesdays at 2 PM.

Don Graves, the 19th Deputy Secretary of Commerce, has a distinguished career in public service and economic policy. He served as Domestic and Economic Policy Director for Vice President Joe Biden during the Obama administration and as Counselor to President Biden's 2020 campaign. Graves has held key roles in economic recovery efforts, including overseeing Detroit's revitalization and coordinating Puerto Rico's economic growth. His expertise spans national security, industrial strategy, and place-based economic development

Don Graves, a former Law Center student, believes Georgetown was foundational to his career and aims to give back, exploring the intersection of politics and government operations. Graves aims to impart knowledge to students about how the government delivers on its promises and whether it truly represents the hopes and goals of America.

He also stresses the importance of understanding governmental tools and their proper use. When addressing the tension between long-term policy approaches and short-term political cycles, Graves advocates for a balanced approach. He cites examples like the CHIPS Act, insulin price reductions, and infrastructure investments as initiatives that aim for both immediate impact and long-term legacy, building upon ideas from previous administrations.

Graves's discussion group is titled ‘Politics, Policy and the Realities of Trying to Deliver for the American People’ and will meet Mondays at 4 PM.

Cecilia Kang

Cecilia Kang is a Technology Correspondent at The New York Times where she works at the intersection of technology and public policy. Her focus at the moment is on artificial intelligence as well as the lobbying campaign by tech giants to resist regulations. Her reporting has led to regulatory investigations into Apple, Google, and Amazon. Her team’s coverage of Facebook was awarded the Gerald Loeb and George Polk awards and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

The fellows programs at GU Politics checked all of her boxes. She is excited to collaborate and share her wisdom with young people who are interested in public policy. She’s especially excited to learn from them and break down the barrier between journalists and the public. She cannot think of a more current topic than AI. She acknowledges that no one has all the answers about this space, but wants students to learn the ability to ask the right questions.

Kang often writes about very technical topics. However, she shares that the writing doesn’t have to be extremely technical. Instead, you have to learn to communicate what is important to readers. It requires the ability to shift between macro and micro perspectives, guiding readers in the right direction while also satisfying their curiosity.

Kang’s discussion group is titled ‘AI: Democracy and the Race for Global Domination’ and will meet Thursdays at 4 PM.

Meg Kinnard, a national politics reporter for The Associated Press, has covered two decades of presidential campaigns and elections. She played a key role in the 2024 presidential race, focusing on the GOP primary and pioneering AP's first general election livestream coverage. Kinnard's expertise spans digital political communication, breaking news, and diverse topics from Congress to natural disasters.

Kinnard is thrilled to mingle with students of her alma mater and collaborate on exploring the declining trust in media and political institutions. She stresses the importance of examining different sources and understanding the changing media landscape.

She notes that youth are increasingly turning to non-traditional outlets and "influetainment" for information. Kinnard emphasizes the need to bridge divides, suggesting that if people from different sides came together, they would find more common ground than they realize.

Kinnard's discussion group is titled ‘Judging Journalism: Exploring Trustworthiness in Media’ and will meet Wednesdays at 4 PM.

Heather Nauert

Heather Nauert has worked as a senior communications advisor to corporations and government officials. She was a reporter at Fox News and ABC News for 20 years, covering global crises in Iraq and Sudan. From 2017 to 2019, she served as the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State under President Trump. Additionally, in 2018, she was named acting under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs. In these roles she worked with the Secretary of State on negotiations with Kim Jong Un in North Korea and sanctions on Russia.

She’s excited to work with younger people. She wants to talk about their future career opportunities whether through the State Department, U.S. government, in the news, or business. Through her discussions with students, she hopes to explore questions about foreign policy in the second Trump Administration.

Throughout her career, Nauert has had to navigate complex global challenges while tailoring messages to diverse audiences. She emphasizes the importance of listening to all sides, approaching with humility, and formulating opinions based on facts. She advises that when students step into their own careers, they should be humble, open-minded, and ready to learn.

Nauert's discussion group is titled ‘American Foreign Policy in Trump 2.0’ and will meet Wednesdays at 2 PM.

Catherine Hughes (she/her) is On The Record’s Executive Director. She is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service studying international politics. She is originally from Calhoun, Georgia and wants to pursue a career in politics, government, or journalism.

Adithya Kashyap is On The Record’s Executive Editor. He is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences intending to study Government and Economics. He is from Chennai, India, and endeavors to pursue a career in Foreign Service or International Trade.