Mayor-Elect Helen Tran Participates in Harvard Program for New Mayors

Twenty-five US mayors were selected for an intensive Harvard University program, gaining world-class executive training to help them deliver results for cities and residents. San Bernardino, CA – Mayor-elect Helen Tran was one of 25 mayors selected to participate in the Program for New Mayors last week, offered by the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University together with Harvard’s Institute of Politics and the US Conference of Mayors to build on the longstanding tradition of a seminar for new mayors that originated at Harvard in 1975.

“I’m grateful to the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, Harvard’s Institute of Politics, and the US Conference of Mayors for giving me the opportunity to participate in this informative program,” Tran remarked. “San Bernardino voters elected me to change the direction of our city, and this program will help me focus my leadership and my team to start strong.”

Tran joined a select group of newly-elected mayors to attend in-person and virtual classes taught by Harvard University faculty. Professors from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Medical School/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health led in-depth classroom discussions.

The coursework was designed to help new city leaders make the most of their new roles, gaining strategic insights for leading cities and building out their city hall team and organization in the first days and months of their administrations. The program specializes in leadership, management, and building the capacity to solve problems. It does not offer specific policy recommendations, and it is non-partisan. The program offers insights to mayors after the in-person sessions and into the first months of 2023.

Tran’s tuition, accommodation, airfare, and meals came at no cost to the city thanks to a gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Helen Tran will be sworn into office on Wednesday, December 21.