City Management Fellowship Program 2019
The CMFP is an innovative and collaborative partnership between the MPA program and the Orange County City Manager's Association. The program provides professional, academic and financial support to several exceptional MPA students each year who demonstrate a commitment to public service and desire a career in city management. The Fellowship is designed to cultivate key competencies needed for successful leadership at the highest levels of local government management, and complements the academic coursework of the MPA program with practical skill building, mentorship, and networking opportunities within the Orange County region. Past city manager/mentors have included: Carol Jacobs (Newport Beach), Ben Siegel (San Juan Capistrano), Tammy LeTourneau (Costa Mesa), Dennis WiIlberg, (Mission Viejo), Jim Sadro (La Habra), Debra Rose, (Lake Forest), Grace Leung (Newport Beach), Aaron France (Buena Park), Maria Stipe (Garden Grove), and many others!
We are pleased to announce continuing gifts from:
- The Orange County City Manager Association, which allowed us to name two OCCMA Fellows in 2023/24.
- C.J. Segerstrom & Sons which has provided annual support since 2013, including sponsorship of two C.J. Segerstrom & Sons Fellows in 2023/24.
The program also has financial support from generous individual donors. If you'd like to donate, click here: City Management Fellowship Program Fund
Why do city managers become involved?
Participating managers enjoy their involvement and the ability to mentor the next generation of public leaders. Several have volunteered to serve again. As Bob Hall, City Manager of Fountain Valley (retired) explains, "Having the opportunity to hear the enthusiasm and excitement in the voices of these young professionals made me feel energized and very good about the future of the Public Administration profession."
If you are a City Manager, who would like to learn more, please send an email to Dr. Shelly Arsneault at: sarsneault@fullerton.edu
How does a student become a Fellow?
The CMFP is a competitive fellowship, coveted among our MPA students with career aspirations in local government management. Eligibility requires the completion of 12 units in the MPA program with a minimum GPA of 3.5. The application process opens in late spring for eligible students; winners are announced in June.
Cal-ICMA Manager-in-Residence program
In addition to the CMFP, we are proud to continue our association with the Cal-ICMA Manager-in-Residence program which allows our Public Administration programs to host a city or county manager for several days on campus each spring. Invited managers give presentations, talk with students, and provide in-depth perspectives and coaching in career development. Previous Managers-in-Residence have included Jennifer Phillips (St. Helene, CA), Jennifer Cervantes (Rancho Santa Margarita), and Jim Vanderpool (Buena Park).
