UTSA alumnus receives prestigious fellowship with City of San Antonio

Chris Anderson '11

By Jesus Chavez
Marketing Associate

(June 3, 2013) -- UTSA College of Public Policy alumnus Chris Anderson '11 has been named a fellow in the nationally recognized City of San Antonio Management Fellows program. Beginning July 3, he will sharpen his city-management and administration skills with four-month stints in the city manager and management and budget offices, and a department yet to be determined. Anderson is the first UTSA graduate to achieve this placement.

"We are very excited to have a UTSA alumnus accepted into the City of San Antonio Management Fellows program," said Francine Romero, associate dean of the College of Public Policy. "This exceptional opportunity is highly sought after by some of the most accomplished individuals in the nation. We're very proud that Chris will be able to benefit from this fellowship, just as the city will benefit from the strengths and knowledge he will bring to position."

Established in 2007, the 12-month program exposes its fellows to the challenges that city governments face every day, while teaching them innovative methods to deal with those challenges. Each Management Fellow must complete a rotation of four months in three City of San Antonio departments.

Upon completion of the program, the Management Fellows will be given help by city staff in finding a fulltime position that matches their career interests. The program's selection process is rigorous and competitive; applicants from across the country vie for one of three available fellowships. During the initial round of interviews earlier this year, approximately 167 applications were screened until this year's Management Fellows were chosen.

"I'm very proud to have been chosen to participate in the 2013 Management Fellows cohort," said Anderson. "There were some impressive applicants with degrees from very prestigious universities in my competition, and I am thrilled to be able to represent the quality of education I received at UTSA."

Anderson received his master's in public administration in the UTSA College of Public Policy. The Master of Public Administration degree program serves more than 160 students annually. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA -- The Global Standard in Public Service Education).

"As San Antonio moves forward, it is imperative that we help prepare the best and the brightest from across the country to become the future leaders of our team," said Sheryl Sculley, San Antonio city manager. "This year, we had a highly qualified pool of candidates, and I am very excited about those we have chosen. The opportunities the fellows will have throughout this program will be invaluable."

Anderson applied for the program because of his lifelong interest in public service. Before being accepted into the fellowship program, he worked as a case manager for the San Antonio Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency program. Throughout his formative years, he often traveled with his family on summer mission trips throughout Texas to help build, fix or reconstruct homes for the less fortunate. Those experiences, he said, are what drove him to dedicate his life to local government and helping the public.

"My experiences during those summer mission trips shaped my view of public service, policy change and advocacy," said Anderson. "I am interested in the positive impact I can make on others through service. This fellowship is the perfect way to not only prepare myself for the next stage of my career but also sharpen my skills as an adaptable and dependable leader in my community."

Applicants for the Management Fellows program must have completed a master's degree in public administration, public policy, business administration or a related field to be eligible. For more information about the City of San Antonio Management Fellows program, contact Adriana Garcia, executive recruiter with the City of San Antonio, at 210-207-5173.

>> Learn more about the UTSA Master of Public Administration program.