NBC’s Chuck Todd appointed inaugural USC Capital Campus scholar-in-residence

Charles “Chuck” Todd has been appointed the inaugural USC Capital Campus scholar-in-residence.

Todd, a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist who currently teaches classes as part of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Washington, D.C., program, will expand his relationship with USC as the university continues to build on its programs in the nation’s capital.

“Throughout his career, Chuck has demonstrated his keen ability to translate complex topics to worldwide audiences,” USC President Carol Folt said. “The Capital Campus, our students and USC at large will benefit greatly from his deep knowledge of Washington and his invaluable counsel.”

Todd is chief political analyst for NBC News and was previously the host and moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press from 2014 to 2023. He was also NBC News’ chief White House correspondent and host of MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown. Todd also authored The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House and co-authored How Barack Obama Won: A State-by-State Guide to the Historic 2008 Presidential Election. Todd writes a weekly column for NBC News and hosts the podcast The Chuck ToddCast.

As the USC Capital Campus scholar-in-residence, Todd will advise leadership and participate in engagements at the D.C. campus, including continuing to teach classes. He will also host events, including moderated discussions with high-level speakers, guest lectures and even “movie nights” with students. Additionally, throughout his two-year appointment, he will participate in events and activities at USC’s University Park Campus in Los Angeles, including with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.

Chuck Todd and USC: ‘Thrilled to serve’

“I am thrilled to serve as the inaugural USC Capital Campus scholar-in-residence,” Todd said. “USC is uniquely viewed as a trusted institution for bipartisan dialogue at a time when it’s desperately needed. The academic freedoms that underpin USC’s mission illustrate that academia can contribute positively to the nation’s political dialogue.”

“Our students have greatly enjoyed learning from Chuck, and we look forward to leveraging his political and journalistic expertise to expand USC’s presence as a thought leader in D.C.,” said Elyse Levine, executive director of the USC Capital Campus.

The Capital Campus is USC’s anchor on the East Coast, where students, faculty, staff and the Trojan community come together to address the most pressing and complex matters of the day. With USC offering a range of academic programs from public policy to science and the arts, as well as hosting multiple research institutes and a community of more than 11,000 alumni across the region, Todd believes that “USC’s Capital Campus will serve as a hub and the business and political nexus between California and D.C.”