Cheryl Davis, SOC/BA '05 and CAS/BA '05, President and Founder of Spotlight Media Booking

It is hard for AU alumna, Cheryl Davis, SOC/ BA ’05 and CAS/BA ‘05, to believe eight years have passed since she was feverishly studying and socializing with her friends on campus. A lot has changed for Cheryl since her days at American, where she received her degree in Broadcast Journalism and American Studies. Upon graduation, Cheryl worked in the television news industry, where she established an impressive rolodex as a news producer for major outlets such as CNN, Good Morning America, Regional News Network, NBC, CTV, Voice of America, BBC, and the NFL Network. 

In 2006, Cheryl won an Emmy for her contribution to Richard French Live: War in Iraq. Her success as a producer drove her to challenge herself even more. Eventually, she wanted to work for herself. “In my field, there are long hours and hectic schedules and I knew working for myself I would be able to choose my own projects. I thought it would be neat to work with and for whoever I wanted to.”

Cheryl went on to found Spotlight Media Booking, a TV guest-booking agency for major news programs. Cheryl describes her average day, saying, “Every day I watch cable news and talk to my friends and former colleagues in the media to determine what the big stories of the day are, and then offer great TV guests who can add some expertise on the subject.”

Although her crazy schedule and impressive work in television keeps her busy, Cheryl has not forgotten her American University roots. “I loved going to AU because I loved being in DC with all the resources that allowed me to get great work experience on top of my great college experience. It’s a nice, smaller community within a bigger community,” she says. She has also seen the broad effect AU students have in the professional world. “AU is everywhere I go. American University students have a passion to learn about the world and reach out to one another and give back,” she adds. 

Cheryl remembers her professors and their willingness to work in a professional environment and then teach students their trade. Specifically, Cheryl remembers an important professor and strong women role model in her academic career, fellow alumna, Amy Eisman, SOC/MA ’76. Cheryl says that “giving back” that she witnessed from Eisman, among other adjunct professors, inspired her to keep in contact with her alma mater. Cheryl currently serves as the Chapter Leader for the South Florida Alumni Chapter. Cheryl Davis is certainly a WONK to be watched, as she advances in her career and volunteers her time to connect with other distinguished alumni.