WASHINGTON – Today, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute and the David Bohnett Foundation announced Santa Clara Chief of Police Diana Bishop as a graduate of the David Bohnett LGBTQ Leadership Fellowship. Bishop was one of three fellows for the July 2014 class where she spent three weeks in intense state and local government programing at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Mass. The program helps senior executives hone their skills and furthers the leadership potential of already accomplished public servants.
“I congratulate Diana on this accomplishment – this intense program for senior executives at the Harvard Kennedy School is transformational,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute. “It provides a continuum of leadership development that bridges personal and professional growth with the skills necessary to address challenges that affect her community.”
“The current graduates from the Leadership Fellows program will join their alumni colleagues in leading exemplary lives of public service as open LGBTQ American citizens,” said David Bohnett, chairman of the David Bohnett Foundation. “The Fellow program empowers LGBTQ leaders who are making a difference in the world, honing skills and furthering their leadership potential.”
“The Bohnett Fellowship has allowed me to continue my development as a leader, specifically as a visible LBGT leader in my community. The Harvard Kennedy School experience cannot be quantified,” said Santa Clara Police Chief Diana Bishop. “The visibility of the Bohnett Fellows in the class and the discussions our attendance created added much to the experience.”
Bishop has led the San Rafael, California police force since 2012, where she leads of team of 87 and serves the largest community in Marin County. Bishop began her career in 1985 in the Santa Clara Police Department, rising to through the ranks to retire as a Captain. She has an Executive Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. She is also a graduate of the 219th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.
Since 2002, the David Bohnett Foundation in partnership with the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute has sent a select group of LGBTQ fellows to participate in the summer program. The intensive, three-week session offers a balance of traditional and hands-on learning experiences to help public officials meet the changing needs of their communities. Bishop joins a distinguished group of alumni, including some the country’s top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political leaders – Houston Mayor Annise Parker and New York State Sen. Tom Duane (Manhattan).
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