About Us

ABOUT US

One talented, passionate, well-trained individual
working in the right place can change an agency.
Many working together can change a city.

Our Mission

We are a professional network that attracts, grows, and retains a new generation and workforce that believes that local government is the most rewarding place to grow your career and positively impact communities.

Attract

Recruit top talent from leading universities to promote local government administration as a meaningful and impactful career path.

Grow

Empower and connect cities and tomorrow’s leaders to share knowledge and best practices to create resilient and innovative cities.

Retain

Cultivate national network to connect emerging talent with new leadership opportunities within local government.

OUR HISTORY

In its prior function, City Hall Fellows hosted eleven cohorts of recent college graduates in local government agencies across Baton Rouge, Houston, and San Francisco. These young professionals devoted over 150,000 hours to public service and saved taxpayers millions of dollars by implementing innovative solutions to their cities' most pressing challenges. Over 100 of these aspiring urban changemakers went through our year-long program of growth and development, each receiving over 450 hours of training in civic leadership.

This cohort model has taken permanent root within the government of San Francisco, and the next chapter of City Hall Fellows re-imagines our scope and impact by building and growing a professional network of local government leaders to bring our commitment to cities across the country. City Hall Fellows aims to invest in the professional development and mentorship of those just beginning their careers in local government, those desiring to grow their careers in local government, and those who have yet to discover what a career in local government could be.

City Hall Fellows continues to carry the same essence as its inaugural mission created by our founder in 2008. By changing our cities, we will change our future.
Recognizing the silent crisis of attracting talent to city government, Bethany Rubin Henderson founded City Hall Fellows in 2008 to support the best and brightest in working in local government to tackle our country’s greatest social challenges. Her theory of change - that one talented, passionate, well-trained individual working in the right place inside government can change an agency. Many working together can change a city.
From 2009 to 2016, City Hall Fellows organized one-year, immersive cohort experiences in city government. Find out more about our fellows cohorts here

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

The City Hall Fellows Board of Directors is made up of entirely volunteers who believe in investing in the next generation of local government leaders.

Kelsea Vaughan

Board Member

Development Manager
SHE-CAN

Laura Medina Quintanar

Board Member

Director of Programs
SMART

Tim Gowa

Board Member

Senior Management Officer
U.S. Department of State

Marie Valdez

Board Member

Fiscal & Policy Aide
San Francisco Mayor’s Office

Michael Cox

Board Member

Performance Analyst
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Lin Rui Li

Board Member

Graduate student in Business Administration and Public Policy at the University of Texas

Jessie Cassella

Board President

Associate Attorney
Klein Hornig

Jennifer Lee

Board Secretary

Environmental Regulatory Compliance Manager
City of Burlingame

Thomas Gonzales

Board Member

Analyst
Carmel Partners

Jamie Querubin

Board Treasurer

Deputy Director
San Francisco Controller’s Office of Public Finance

JOIN OUR BOARD

The City Hall Fellows Board of Directors are currently looking for passionate leaders to join our Board. Learn more about how you can get involved with City Hall Fellows by joining our board.

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