Terence Samuel has seen the societal effect of the decline of local news. 

Samuel, vice president and executive editor at NPR, has watched the rise of disinformation and the threat to democracy grow as local news operations fold, reduce operations, and layoff journalists. 

“Those problems are likely to grow more dire without concerted efforts to find solutions,” Samuel said. 

Samuel hopes to discuss some of those solutions with AU students as a fellow of the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics Class of 2023. Samuel joins an esteemed group of industry leaders and changemakers in the class, which kicks off in February. It includes actor/playwright Anna Deavere Smith, a bipartisan group of politicians representing city, state, and national government (Bill de Blasio, Doug Ducey, Mimi Walters), and immigration reform advocate Alida Garcia. 

Samuel worked in local news as a reporter in Roanoke, Virginia, early in his career before moving off to national assignments at the Philadelphia Inquirer, St. Louis Dispatch, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Post. Now at NPR, he is responsible for leading all news gathering teams. 

A decorated playwright, Smith won two Drama Desk Awards and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards. She holds a MacArthur Fellowship and the 2012 National Humanities Medal. Smith, a Baltimore native, acted in DC-based dramas Madam Secretary; The West Wing, as National Security Advisor Nancy McNally; and The American President, as White House press secretary Robin McCall. She more recently appeared as a series regular in Nurse Jackie and in the Netflix miniseries Inventing Anna. 

De Blasio served as the 109th mayor of New York City from 2014-2021. He was New York City’s public advocate on the city council from 2010-13 and a city council member from 2002-2009. As mayor, de Blasio pushed for police reform and universal pre-k. He ran in the Democratic primaries in the 2020 presidential election. 

Following a career as CEO of Cold Stone Creamery, Ducey entered politics as the Arizona state treasurer from 2011-15 before winning election as the state’s governor. He was chair of the Republican Governors Association in 2021. 

Walters served as the US representative for California’s 45th congressional district as a Republican. She previously was a mayor of Laguna Niguel, member of the California State Assembly, and  California state senator. Walters’ seminar will focus on mental health issues. 

“My seminar series will focus on the nation’s and the world’s mental health crises, and I’m excited to work with AU’s exemplary student body, experts, and practitioners to explore the history, causes, and potential solutions to these challenges,” Walters said. “I’m thankful for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to work with the AU community to help build consensus and make progress on this critical health issue.” 

Garcia is vice president of advocacy for FWD.us, a group that lobbies for prison reform and immigration reform. She joined the White House as a senior advisor for migration in 2021. 

The Sine Institute also welcomes as distinguished lecturers David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, and Horacio Rozanski, chief executive officer of Booz Allen Hamilton. 

As a non-partisan platform for policy innovation and discussion of some of the nation’s most pressing challenges, the Sine Institute plays an essential role in American University’s commitment to prepare the next generation of changemakers. The Sine Institute was made possible through a $10 million gift from AU alumnus, trustee, and entrepreneur Jeff Sine, SIS/BA ’76, and Samira Sine, a seasoned journalist and an advocate for women and children. The Sine gift was a milestone in American University’s Change Can’t Wait campaign, which has raised $356 million to date. 

“I am thrilled to welcome this outstanding cohort of leaders to the Sine Institute and to American University,” said Amy Dacey, executive director of the Sine Institute. “Each of our 2023 Sine Institute fellows brings diverse experience and expertise from across a wide variety of fields and issue areas. I am grateful to them for sharing their invaluable expertise with the Sine Institute and with students, faculty, partners, and our entire AU community as we come together to take on today’s challenges.” 

In 2022, the Sine Institute hosted seminars on national security, women’s empowerment, race and identity, environmental justice, infrastructure, housing, and gun violence prevention. The new cohort of fellows will convene conversations on issues that include education, mental health and addiction, the arts, civics, emergency preparedness, immigration, the spread of misinformation, and more. 

“Each year, I’m inspired by the outstanding contributions made by Sine Institute Fellows and I’m happy to welcome the 2023 cohort to American University,” said Jeff Sine. “The diverse perspectives and knowledge these experts bring will help foster new dialogue, ideas, and solutions to pressing problems. I thank each of the Fellows for coming on board to help the Sine Institute continue its mission of bringing the best minds together and I look forward to their contributions.” 

The new fellows will be introduced to the AU community, reporters, and the public at large during a special event on February 1, 2023.