Chair Profile:
Christine Cepelak, MPP ‘25
Hi! My name is Christine Cepelak; I’m a US American from Dallas, Texas, enrolled in the Master of Public Policy program. I served as Chair of the WESP Club for two years from AY ‘22 - ‘24.
About Me
Before coming to the Hertie School, I worked in sustainable development as a Program Manager and in the private sector as a Data Analyst. My motivation for pursuing graduate studies was to combine these work experiences under digital governance principles and explore applications for the many social issues I’ve always believed are strongly related to & impacted by these topics.
Leadership Motivation
Community has always been a central part of my work. When studying sustainable development in my undergraduate program, I saw the impact of connection, visibility, and authenticity in so many aspects of society (from building design and city planning to aid and governance structure), and I carried this into my future work. From professional networks to not-for-profit groups and informal gatherings, organizing has been a consistent part of my life and is a core personal value.
Goals as Chair
I applied to become Chair of the WESP Club during my Professional Year (AY ‘22-23). My motivations were to find an outlet for my interests in topics related to social policies, create connections outside my program, and practice leadership. Specific goals included:
creating spaces for meaningful connection around existing social challenges, often not addressed by courses,
creating space for education & discussion about alternative economic models
creating an action-oriented environment for collaboration
Stay in touch with me on Linkedin!