NEW YORK — Cultural Vistas is pleased to announce the 13 emerging leaders of the 37th class of the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program.

The latest cohort of Fellows have backgrounds in the fields of law, government, international security, urban and regional planning, cultural management, and the NGO sector, among others. Upon arriving in Germany, they will join a prestigious group of more than 600 young Americans who have completed the transatlantic journey as Bosch Fellows since the inaugural program in the summer of 1984. This 37th class also marks the final year of the Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program.

The program is fully funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, one of the largest foundations in Germany—which is committed to enhancing transatlantic relations in an effort to help create joint solutions to global problems.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program structure has been altered to a nine-month model, starting on October 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2021. After two months of intensive private language tutoring in their hometowns, the Fellows will take group language classes in Berlin in October. The Fellows will then participate in a series of three professional seminars beginning in December and complete one or two high-level practical assignments at leading German institutions starting in January 2021.

Each seminar will last 3 to 5 days and is designed to expose the fellows to an array of German and transatlantic issues, as well as enhance their leadership development. During the professional assignments, Fellows will work directly in their field of expertise alongside key decision-makers from Germany’s public and private sectors.

Introducing the 37th Class of the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship, including:

Natalia Aguirre
Annandale, Virginia

Education: MPA, University of Southern California; BA in International Affairs, The George Washington University
Professional Experience: Director of Family Justice Center Alliance, Alliance of HOPE International; Director of Polyvictimization Initiative, Alliance of HOPE International
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Public Policy and Administration

Andrew Beeler
Nashville, Tennessee

Education: JD, American University; BA in Government and German Studies, Centre College
Professional Experience: Legislative Attorney, Tennessee General Assembly; Legal Research Specialist, Bloomberg BNA
Fellowship Field: Law
Fellowship Focus: Comparative Law

Elizabeth Bieber
Brooklyn, New York

Education: MA in Urban Planning (Housing Design), University of California at Los Angeles; BA in Anthropology, Smith College
Professional Experience: Director of Special Projects, NYS Homes and Community Renewal; Housing Fellow, NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development and NYC Housing Development Corp.
Fellowship Field: Urban Planning
Fellowship Focus: Urban Planning and Housing Policy

Peter Bird
Nashville, Tennessee

Education: Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Colorado Denver; BA in Linguistics, Brigham Young University
Professional Experience: Active Transportation Planner, Metro Nashville Planning Department; Planning and Policy Manager, BikeDenver
Fellowship Field: Urban Planning
Fellowship Focus: Urban Planning and Transportation Policy

 

Colin Brush
Washington, District of Columbia

Education: Master of Music in Opera, University of Maryland; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance, Carnegie Mellon University
Professional Experience: Artistic Administrator, Washington National Opera, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Aptitude Consultant, Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation
Fellowship Field: Arts Administration
Fellowship Focus: Arts Administration and Social Impact

Brittany Ford
Toledo, Ohio

Education: MA in International Educational Development, Columbia University; BA in Political Science and History, Eastern Michigan University
Professional Experience: Co-Lead, Vibrant Ohio & Welcome Toledo-Lucas County; Policy and Program Analyst, Lucas County Department of Planning and Development
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Migration and Integration

Melissa Hanlon
Arlington, Virginia

Education: MA in Security Policy Studies, The George Washington University; BA in International Politics, The Pennsylvania State University
Professional Experience: Deputy Director for North and West Europe, U.S. Department of Defense; Country Director for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, U.S. Department of Defense
Fellowship Field: International Security
Fellowship Focus: Regional Security Policy

Lyle Leitelt
Alexandria, Virginia

Education: Master of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina; BA in Geography and Political Science, The George Washington University
Professional Experience: Community Planner Lead, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; Transportation Planner, AECOM
Fellowship Field: Urban Planning
Fellowship Focus: Urban Planning and Transportation Policy

Oksana Mironova
New York, New York

Education: Master of Urban Planning, Hunter College, City University of New York; BA in Liberal Arts, The New School
Professional Experience: Housing Policy Analyst, Community Service Society of New York; Development Writing Manager, Enterprise Community Partners
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Public Policy and Urban Planning

Deeneaus Polk
Pascagoula, Mississippi

Education: MPP, Harvard University; BA in International Studies, German, University of Mississippi
Professional Experience: Founding Director, Mississippi Apprenticeship Program; Policy Analyst, Mississippi Economic Policy Center
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Workforce Development

Wendy Serrano
Portland, Oregon

Education: MBA in Organizational Strategy, George Fox University; BS in Communication Studies, Portland State University
Professional Experience: Senior Coordinator for Community Engagement, TriMet; Field Representative, Office of US Representative Earl Blumenauer
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Public Policy and Administration

Kerensa Wood
Brooklyn, New York

Education: MS in Urban Planning and Historic Preservation, Columbia University; BA in Art History, Rutgers University
Professional Experience: Planning Team Leader, NYC Department of City Planning; Policy Fellow, New York City Council
Fellowship Field: Urban Planning
Fellowship Focus: Urban Planning and Policy