|
|
| |
| |
Tali Paransky is an Assistant Director of Annual Giving at the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she oversees the direct appeal and telemarketing program, and leads select reunion and annual giving campaigns. As a 2004-2005 Dutko Fellow, Tali worked at Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading arts advocacy and arts policy organization, in development and the office of the president. After her fellowship, Tali remained at Americans for the Arts for an additional six months as the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO before moving to the West Coast.
At Tufts, Tali majored in Political Science with a minor in Drama and Dance, and was very active in the student-led drama programs Torn Ticket Too and 3Ps. In addition to her work at Stanford, Tali is currently a fellow in the American Jewish Committee Leadership Institute which educates future Jewish leaders to be effective advocates advancing democracy, pluralism and tolerance.
Participating in the Dutko Fellowship has been an invaluable experience for me, instilling in me a lifelong commitment to civic engagement.
For much of my undergraduate experience, I focused my academic studies towards one-day pursuing a career in defense analysis and international relations. After spending much of my extra-curricular time in the theater and working with community children in theater camp, I realized the importance of the arts and arts education in society.
I wanted to find a way to marry my interests in public policy with my interests in the arts.
The Dutko Fellowship afforded me the opportunity to work at Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading arts advocacy and arts policy organization. The mission of the organization is to create an environment in which the arts can thrive and every American has access to the arts. With a strong government affairs department and a sector-leading policy research department, Americans for the Arts is one of the strongest advocates for the arts in the nation.
At Americans for the Arts, I worked briefly in the Development Department, learning the intricacies of how non-profit organizations seek funding and the challenges they face, in an increasingly competitive funding environment. For the majority of my time with the organization, I worked with the Executive Office, supporting Bob Lynch, the President and CEO. My responsibilities were widespread, including spearheading a National Mapping Project, researching the creation of an annual blue-ribbon panel on arts policy, and producing presentations that were delivered across the world.
The most influential part of the Fellowship was the relationship I have formed with the President of Americans for the Arts and the entire staff, who served as incredible mentors for me. To participate in high-level meetings with the most influential players in the arts field was incredibly eye-opening experience. I felt privileged to have seen many of the issues facing this sector from the inside; I must admit though that this inside view was not without its frustrations. I learned that the field of arts advocacy is much smaller than I had once imagined and that non-profit organizations often face struggles that you cannot learn in a classroom.
The Dutko Fellowship instilled in me the desire to work with an organization that possesses responsible non-profit management, a desire to influence our nation, and a commitment to the community. Since moving to the West Coast in 2005, I am happy to say that I have found just that fit in the development office at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). The School's mantra – Change Lives. Change Organizations. Change the World. -- speaks to the heart of the Dutko Fellowship.
Beyond the workplace, the Dutko Fellowship taught me the importance of being an engaged and compassionate community member. Despite the distance to DC, I model my life on many of the principles of Dan, Deb, and the entire Dutko family – the door is always open, my connections and friends are yours, and together anything can be achieved.
|
|
 |
