Public policy program supported by Governors Hickenlooper, Owens and Ritter introduces its second class of Fellows
Andréa Benton-Maestas celebrates her daughter’s, Mianna, graduation from Adams State at the Fall 2016 ceremony.
Andréa Benton-Maestas, Adams State University Title V PPOHA activities director, was recently named a Colorado Governors Fellow. “When I received notification that I had been selected, I was both humbled and enthusiastic. Now is the perfect time in my life to engage with public service.”
Quarterly Forum (QF) and The Leaders Initiative (TLI) are proud to announce the 2018 class of Colorado Governors Fellows. Representing a diversity of industries, backgrounds, gender and geography, the 2018 Fellows will participate in the second year of the Colorado Governors Fellowship Program, a nonpartisan public policy program inspired by the White House Fellows Program and Dr. Geoff Smart’s best-selling book, Leadocracy.
Supported by Governors Hickenlooper, Owens and Ritter, the Colorado Governors Fellowship Program operates on the premise that government is only as good as who is in it, and that the best executives from the private and nonprofit sectors can elevate the brand of government by applying their skills and experience to the public sector. Through a blend of education, experience and exposure, the Fellowship Program engages our state’s best and brightest leaders in an 8-month program aimed to inspire them to make a difference through public service.
The 2018 class of Colorado Governors Fellows includes 24 executives and community leaders from Alamosa, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Fruita and Grand Junction. Candidates for this second class had the opportunity to apply directly to the Program or accept a nomination from a colleague or mentor. All finalists are approved by Governor Hickenlooper.
Benton-Maestas has worked at Adams State since 1996. She received her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from Adams State in 2012. The Boettcher Foundation reached out to her regarding the fellowship. “They were particularly recruiting from rural Colorado and believed I would be a good fit for the program.”
“We continue to be amazed, encouraged and inspired by the level of interest we are seeing from Colorado’s leaders in engaging in public service,” states Meegan Moszynski, Executive Director of The Leaders Initiative and President of QF Group, Inc. “It is an honor and a privilege to provide this opportunity for our state’s best and brightest to shape the future of public service through the Colorado Governors Fellowship Program.”
Through educational sessions at The Commons on Champa, lunches with the Governor, shadow sessions with public officials and interactive conversations with renowned speakers, the Fellowship Program prepares Fellows to apply their innovative skills and experiences toward solving the state’s most challenging issues. The final Civic Intensathon event is modeled after tech sector “hackatons” and provides an opportunity for Fellows to address real-time policy challenges and present potential solutions to the Governor and his senior administrative team.
“The Colorado Governors Fellowship Program inspires our community of leaders to recognize that we need a government that works,” says Governor John Hickenlooper. “Colorado is leading the way in shaping how we engage these emerging leaders in government.”
The 2018 Fellows will be inducted into the program by Governor Hickenlooper on Wednesday, June 21, at McNichols Civic Center Building, alongside Mayor Hancock and other community leaders. The celebration also will include the Commencement Ceremony for the 2017 class of Colorado Governors Fellows.
The 2017-2018 Fellowship Program will be executed with the support of the Boettcher Foundation, Quarterly Forum and the Jenny and Greg Baldwin Charitable Fund, and in partnership with the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs, the Governor’s Office and The Commons on Champa.
For more information about Quarterly Forum, The Leaders Initiative or the Colorado Governors Fellowship Program, and a complete list of all 2017 2018 Colorado Governors Fellows, please visit Quarterly Forum or info@quarterlyforum.org.
