The Columbus School of Law’s impact on the FCC is as strong as ever, with Chairman Brendan Carr a 2025 Juris Doctor recipient and Danielle Thumann Severs — President Trump’s nominee to serve as a Commissioner — a 2016 graduate. Also a graduate of the Catholic University of America’s law school is a woman who once played women’s soccer for the American University Eagles, across town.
Now, she’s serving as the Legal Advisor to Chairman Carr.
Earning the role is Keelin Ferris, and she takes position held until Callie Coker’s move into the private sector earlier this summer.
Ferris will join the Office of the Chairman to focus on matters before the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
“The FCC works day in and day out on issues ranging from emergency alerts to protecting consumers from scams callers, from disaster recovery to modernizing our communications networks,” Carr said. “Keelin brings her talents and work ethic to the FCC to help us do this critical work for the American people – and it doesn’t hurt that she’s a graduate such an esteemed law school. I am happy to welcome her to the great FCC workforce.”
Prior to joining the FCC, Ms. Ferris was a litigation associate at creditor’s rights law firm Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A.
Ferris earned her Juris Doctorate from Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law in May 2025 and was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Law and Technology. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science and data science from American University in December 2021 and wore No. 18 on the women’s soccer team with action as a freshman through her junior year. Ferris earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in each of her year’s at AU.
Ferris is from Rockville, Md., and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Editor’s Note: RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson is a graduate of American University’s School of Communication, with studies at its Washington College of Law.
