The Foundation for Public Affairs Fellows just announced their 2025 Fellows Cohort and the School of Music’s alumna Cynthia Chen (Music BFA in Flute Performance with Honors ‘16, Political Science Minor ‘16) is one of the 12 professionals selected by Council board members to receive targeted skills training, access to mentorship and opportunities to expand their professional networks.
Two years ago, The Foundation for Public Affairs Fellowship was established to support the retention and advancement of rising leaders in the public affairs field and prides itself on providing opportunities and programs that promote equity and progress within the public affairs profession.
Cynthia Chen top right (Photo courtesy of The Foundation for Public Affairs)
Cynthia Chen currently works as Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy for Creative West (formerly WESTAF). Creative West is one of six place-based nonprofit regional arts organizations that builds equitable technology, funding, advocacy, and policy systems to generate creative capacity in the West and beyond.
Chen shared, "It's a year long fellowship program focused on executive development in public affairs...and an opportunity for me to get more training in that area more broadly." She added, "At work, I'm pretty focused on government and public affairs for arts and culture only. So it will be useful to get connected to people who do similar work for other fields and industries."