Dole Institute announces fellows

Jennifer Schmidt, former chief of staff to the speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives and an advisor on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., and Jerry Austin, a campaign consultant who ran Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign will be the two fellows at the Dole Institute of Politics this semester.Schmidt will lead a study group on the role of women in politics and public service. Her event will feature a variety of speakers including Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Connie Schulz.Austin will focus his study group on the presidential campaign itself. He said with the rise of the Internet, it’s easy to keep up with the happenings in early campaign states like Iowa and New Hampshire. He’ll also bring in guest speakers, including columnist Jules Witcover.