Charlene “Charlie” Fern
University of North Texas
Charlene “Charlie” Fern spent 26 years as a journalist in Texas and California, press attache, media adviser for elected officials and business executives in Texas, Washington, DC, and New Jersey, adjunct professor and founder/principal of a strategic communications consultancy. She was a speechwriter in the Texas governor’s Office, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and the White House and director of communications for Merck & Co., Inc. Her written speeches include the first Presidential radio address delivered by a U.S. First Lady and a Radio Free Afghanistan address after 9-11. She has written speeches for the U.S. Navy, heads of state, White House conferences, Congressional testimonies, United Nations hearing sand the OECD. She received the Distinguished Service Award for Service to the White House and Executive Office of the President following the Sept. 11 attack on the United States.