GSPIA alum and current Board of Visitors member Betty Cruz (MPA ‘11) talked to the Pittsburgh Business Times about her role as the CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.
With deep roots in the region, the World Affairs Council has been “helping Pittsburgh see the big picture since 1931.” The nonpartisan nonprofit is committed to informing opinion leaders and decision-makers about developments around the world as they unfold, and to educating them about the relevance of such developments to Pittsburgh.
Cruz took on the role in 2020, and she found that the move to virtual (and now hybrid) events have increased inclusivity and accessibility to accommodate both regional and worldwide education. “We made the choice to make programs free to reach as many people as possible. We’re continuing to offer a digital option so that, for example, if someone hears about our program and we’re doing something on Japan-America relations, and there are folks in Japan who want to join, they can,” said Cruz.
The daughter of two immigrants from Cuba, Cruz also was appointed in 2015 to the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. “Being the daughter of immigrants has shaped every part of me,” says Cruz. “It is central to not just who I am, but how I work and what I value.”
Read the full interview here at the Pittsburgh Business Times, by Jordyn Hronec.