CPA Senior Fellows

By Ann Beaudry, CEO

As devolution places greater responsibilities in the states, CPA faces greater challenges in meeting the needs of the (mostly) part-time, understaffed citizen legislators who are dealing with our nation’s most difficult problems. To help us, we’ve engaged some extremely talented, very senior people as CPA Senior Fellows—each of whom is making a very valuable contribution to achieving our mission for the period of time they are joining our staff. We’re not Brookings (or Heritage) and can’t endow permanent "chairs"—so it’s taken a very entrepreneurial approach, including more titles than money. But the real key to getting CPA’s Senior Fellows program underway has been finding individuals with a passion for progressive change who are at a point in their careers and lives to be able to make this unique commitment to our joint endeavor. They will help CPA widen the lens in the search for solutions—and move ideas to action.

We are very pleased to announce the first CPA Senior Fellows and to thank them publicly for their passion and commitment to achieving progressive change across the states.

Donna Callejon, the former Senior Vice President at Fannie Mae, has joined the CPA team as a Senior Fellow on a one-year executive loan from Fannie Mae. Rarely does any nonprofit have the benefit of Donna’s level of expertise in strategic planning and we are very grateful to have her so engaged at this point in CPA’s institutional growth. She has already helped us embark on a process of "alignment," assuring that all CPA activities and staff responsibilities are clearly aligned with our mission. In addition to serving on CPA’s Board, Donna is also a board member of Business for Social Responsibility. She is one of the founding members of CPA’s Corporate Women’s Council and will play an important role in expanding the Council.

Chellie Pingree (Flemming 1996) is the Majority Leader in the Maine Senate, a skillful bridge builder who has been at the forefront of many progressive initiatives in the state—and throughout New England in her role on the Board of Northeast Action. Chellie has played a leadership role on our Board and in many of CPA’s programs, and she is escalating that involvement to a half-time commitment as a CPA Senior Fellow. Chellie was an inspiring member of the U.S. delegation to the CPA-led transatlantic Downing Street Summit and our political and policy leadership training for women of Northern Ireland last Fall. Her vision and political skills will be an invaluable asset as CPA forges its international program and the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Leadership Institute. Chellie will also serve as a senior advisor in shaping CPA’s 2000 campaign on the progressive economic agenda.

Dr. Ron David is a pediatrician by training, and his activism is fueled by a passion for issues related to women’s and children’s health, including at its roots, social and economic justice issues. He was a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Kennedy School for six years and continues to teach in the JFK School’s Senior Executive Program for state and local government officials. He is a deeply thoughtful and wise man who will help CPA grow our values-based leadership development initiatives. Ron participated in our first 2000 Flemming retreat and called it "transforming—the most hopeful sign I’ve seen for democracy and social change." He will also be actively engaged with our Health Policy Program and a resource for CPA’s regional Policy Leaders Forums.