Kitty Wooley encourages federal employees to enhance the scope and impact of their work by building collaborative networks across organizational boundaries. Although she retired in 2013 after a 19-year career with the U.S. Department of Education, Wooley has maintained an active professional life. As a self-described convener, advisor, and catalyst, she co-founded Senior Fellows and Friends, an evolving multi-sector network convened periodically. 

"Senior Fellows" are graduates of the Partnership for Public Service's (formerly Council for Excellence in Government's) Fellows Program who have opted in. "Friends" are equally valued others who continue to enhance their superpowers by engaging in constructive conversation aimed at improving public service. 

In The Public Manager’s March 2016 installment of Spotlight, Wooley explains that individual and organizational adaptability and resilience will be key themes for Senior Fellows and Friends for the foreseeable future.  “I'm convinced that it's important to span locations, level the playing field, and foil low expectations by finding untapped talent and capacity wherever it is, inviting it to play with a purpose and then re-engage back at the office,” says Wooly. 

For now, this will be done via video chats and in-person events, which now occur in D.C. and Colorado Springs, but could expand elsewhere. Stay tuned!