The Fellows

Building a Stronger Executive Pipeline

About the Fellows

The Fellows is a year-long cohort program designed to provide skills training and mentoring for emerging public affairs leaders from diverse backgrounds to grow and sustain a career in public affairs.

Program Information

Program Requirements:

Attend (4) in-person professional development events, including the in-person orientation held May 8, 2025 from 1:00-4:00pm in Washington, D.C.
Connect with Mentor Leader on a quarterly basis, at minimum.
Participate in 10 hours’ worth of Public Affairs Council professional development programming (workshops and webinars)

Program Benefits:

Access to all Public Affairs Council resources and membership benefits
Access to a fellows-only virtual community
Complimentary registration to one Public Affairs Council signature event
Promotion on Public Affairs Council social media
Small group mentorship from seasoned public affairs professionals
Social gatherings and networking receptions with cohort members and public affairs professionals

Applications for the 2025 cohort are now closed

Meet the Fellows

Hamza Akhtar
Senior Account Executive
ROKK Solutions

Cynthia Chen
Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy
Creative West (formerly WESTAF)

Inderia Falana
Government Relations Representative
City of Minneapolis

Tenesha Hare
Program Manager, Policy and Legislative Affairs
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Sam Harris
Government & Public Affairs Manager
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI)

Ethan Lott
Director of Advocacy
Construction Management Association of America

Ben Melano
Deputy Director, Federal Affairs
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Linda Pham
Manager, Government Affairs and Public Policy
S&P Global

Roberto Rosas
Director of Global Advocacy
The Institute of Internal Auditors

Lein Soltan
Advocacy Manager
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) USA

Joshua Thomas
Sr. Manager, Federal Government Relations
The Home Depot

Christina Valentine
Government Relations Analyst
Plains All American Pipeline

Hear from 2023 Fellow, Erica Woods

Sponsorship

Download the Sponsorship PDF

Questions about sponsoring the Fellows? Contact [email protected]

News and Resources

Foundation for Public Affairs Announces 2024 Class of Hogans Fellows

New cohort of diverse leaders selected to help advance the public affairs profession.

How the Affirmative Action Ruling May Affect the Business Community

Executive Director of the Foundation for Public Affairs Amy Meli looks at the possible challenges ahead for companies prioritizing diversity in their leadership pipelines and why programs like the Hogans Fellowship are so vital right now.

Hogans Fellowship Looks to Build Executive Pipeline

Named for Mack Hogans, the Council’s first Black board chair, the Hogans Fellowship is designed to support emerging professionals from diverse backgrounds as they prepare for leadership tracks, with a strong focus on talent retention in public affairs.

The Hogans Fellows – In Their Own Words

From tackling polarization to figuring out how to leverage AI in smart ways to fostering a more diverse field, here’s what the 2023 Hogans Fellows have to say about the big challenges before the profession, as well as the paths they’re planning for the next five years.

Foundation for Public Affairs Announces Inaugural Class of Hogans Fellows, a Diversity-Focused Cohort

Emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds selected to help advance the profession.

Meet the 2024 Fellows Cohort

Aaron Benavides
Senior Account Executive
GMMB

Uzoma Ekenna
Government Relations Manager
Athene

Tajah Franklin
State Affairs Manager
American Physical Therapy Association

Emmi Navarro
Senior Education Advocacy Advisor
Third Way

Valeria Sabate
Senior Media and Public Affairs Manager
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Dominic Sanchez
Federal Affairs Manager
Grubhub

Samira Schreiber
Manager, State Legislative Analysis
National Alliance on Mental Illness

Nicholas Scoufaras
Deputy Director of Government Relations
US Tire Manufacturers

Justin Strength
Senior Consultant
APCO Worldwide

Kandi Walker
Manager of Political Programs
College of American Pathologists

Uyen Vong
Public Affairs Associate Director
National Conference of State Legislatures

Meet the Fellows Inaugural Cohort

Brooklyn Bass
Senior Public Affairs Associate
JPMorgan Chase
Washington, D.C.

Niko Davis
Sr. Manager, Industry and Strategic Communications
Nuclear Energy Institute
Washington, D.C.

Alfredo Gonzalez Alfonzo
Senior Associate
DDC Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.

Sierra Grimes
Senior Manager, Government Affairs
National Business Aviation Association
Washington, D.C.

Juan Manuel Martinez
Manager, Program Partnerships
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Washington, D.C.

Maha Nafees
Community Relations Coordinator
Fidelity Investments
Boston, MA

Bernice Ogbondah
Government Affairs Analyst
National Association of Dental Plans
Dallas, TX

Daniel Pino
Manager, Media Relations & External Engagement
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Washington, D.C.

Marisa Sanchez
Manager of Government Affairs
Ferox Strategies
Washington, D.C.

Brittany Van Pelt
Senior Advocacy Specialist
Child Care Aware of America
Alexandria, VA

Kaade Wallace
Director of Government Relations
Consumer Brands Association
Washington, D.C.

Erica Woods
Head of State & Local Public Policy
Stripe
Washington, D.C.

Questions

Kristin Brackemyre
Senior Director, Public Affairs Practice
202-787-5969 | [email protected]

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