Students to Attend 'Inside Washington'

Two Fairmont State students and a professor are headed to Washington, D.C., in January to take part in The Washington Center's "Inside Washington, 2005" program, a two-week educational session on the presidency, politics and the media.

Kevin Z. Smith, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Director of Student Publications, will serve as a faculty leader at the conference, which runs Jan. 8-21. He is one of about a dozen professors from around the country chosen to lead students in their studies those two weeks.

He will be accompanied by two journalism students, Kelly and Nathan Morgan of Morgantown. Previously, it was announced that two political science students and members of the Honors Program, Shane Livingston and Kristin House, were selected to attend.

Smith was chosen for the second time in his teaching career to be a faculty leader for the program that deals with politics and its relationship to the media, especially the coverage of the presidency. Smith attended in 1998 as a faculty member at Miami University (Ohio).
The former managing editor of the Times West Virginian, he has experience covering government at the city, county, state and federal levels. He once covered Capitol Hill and the White House for Bloomberg Financial News. He was worked as a freelancer for Agence' France Press during President Bill Clinton's second inauguration.

Nathan Morgan is co-editor of the Mound, Fairmont State's yearbook. He is also the yearbook's chief photographer and he serves as a staff photographer for the student newspaper, The Columns. He is a Westover native and a graduate of University High School. He is a pre-journalism major and honor student who plans to pursue a career in photojournalism.
Kelly Morgan is co-editor of the Mound and an Honors student majoring in liberal studies at FSU. A native of Falls Church, Va., she is interested in politics and is an active member of the College Republicans. Kelly and Nathan are recently married.

The Washington Center's seminar on the presidential inauguration provides students with an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at Washington in the days leading up to the second inauguration of President Bush. They will attend lectures on the politics of the day, meet with nationally know media representatives, visit important sites in the capital and talk to leaders who will share their insights into the Bush administration.

The Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., and the FSU Provost's Office have provided support to help the students.