Cook County Information Systems Director Danna MacKenzie has been named a 2011-12 Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
A letter informing her of the decision from Center for the Study of Politics and Governance Director Lawrence Jacobs states, “This year we received a large number of applications from accomplished individuals across Minnesota who have demonstrated a capacity for leadership in public affairs.” According to Jacobs, MacKenzie was one of “a diverse group of three dozen rising leaders from the nonprofit, business, and public sectors.”
A description of the program says that it is organized “to train Fellows in core leadership competencies necessary to inspire, organize, and work effectively to advance the public good.”
MacKenzie will attend monthly daylong meetings, complete assigned readings, participate in a group project, and spend four days in Washington, D.C. meeting with “officials from the highest echelons of government, lobbying, press coverage, and think tanks.” The program description says, “The Washington, D.C. trip offers Fellows an opportunity to witness policymaking first-hand and to meet with public affairs leaders from across the political spectrum.”
The cost of the program is $6,500. MacKenzie will personally contribute $2,000 and is applying for a $2,500 scholarship from the Humphrey Institute. The county board approved an expenditure of $2,000 to cover the rest of the cost, to come from the Information Systems training budget for 2011 and 2012.
At the August 9 county board meeting, Commissioner Sue Hakes congratulated MacKenzie on receiving this honor, saying it will be good for the county as well as good for MacKenzie.
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