Meet Derek Dunlea
Meet Derek- A Team Player Who Leads By Example
“Leadership to me is not about being in charge, but instead is being able to take any role on a team and execute. And when progress is being blocked, knowing how to step up and rally a team or manage from the middle. Leadership takes emotional intelligence, empathy , grit a lot of self reflection because nobody ever gets it all right.”
Where did you Attend undergrad & graduate school, and what was (were) your program(s) of study?
Undergrad: UMass Amherst, Political Science
Graduate School Umass Amherst MPPA and M.Ed - Graduated 2021
What inspired you to get involved, and learn more about politics and public policy?
Realizing the decisions were not being made in the room I was in, and that if I wanted my ideas heard I had to change rooms.
What year did you participate in the CAP Program? Where was your Fellowship, and what did you appreciate most about it?
I participated in 2020. My Fellowship was with the Office of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. I really liked being able to serve the MA 7th Congressional district, where I have lived my whole life, and getting to do both work for the District, while dabbling in multiple projects related to federal policy.
Derek Dunlea, MPPA M.Ed at the Robert Gould Shaw Exhibit in August 2020.
What have you been up to since your time at CAP ended? (return to school, pursue more internships, work, run for office, etc.) Be as specific and lengthy as you like!
I have been finishing the last year of my dual masters program. Just recently I started a job as the Research Director for the MA House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, and am very excited to be in the statehouse.
What policy issues and areas interest interest you?
Niche and relevant: higher education funding. Broad: I have always loved foreign policy, but have never done anything with it. More of a generalist than anything.
What does "Leadership" mean to you? Has it changed over time?
Leadership to me is not about being in charge, but instead is being able to take any role on a team and execute. And when progress is being blocked, knowing how to step up and rally a team or manage from the middle. Leadership takes emotional intelligence, empathy, grit and determination, and a lot of self reflection because nobody ever gets it all right (except Judi).
In your opinion, what are the major challenges faced by our country, state, or city? What do you think can be done to to fix it? Where would you start?
All politics are local, yet the news seems to be all national, so to any extent I can I want to support local, independent journalism. And I want to slow things down by getting people to understand that just because you are secure in your beliefs does not mean others have the same knowledge-base that you do. Getting people to absorb information that challenges their beliefs requires patience, repetition, and to stay calm whenever possible. Convincing people to join your side is not easy, is not fair, nor is it the job of any one person. But collectively we all do better if people buddy up and have those difficult conversations.
Self Care is important, but not often discussed. How do you decompress after a challenging day or week? What do you do to recenter yourself in difficult moments?
Food, golf, Sunday afternoon naps. Maybe an IPA. In the moment, a big deep breath.
Who are your role models? and Why?
Not sure if I really have any set role models, but there are a lot of people personally in my life that I look up to. If I had to pick a political role model, Jimmy Carter might be my pick.
Do you have any advice for younger leaders or innovators who are looking to make a change or get involved, but don't know where to start?
Next time you get mad at a public process, try to fix it. Next thing you know you'll have two masters degrees.
2020 was a year of challenges for so many reasons, and for so many people. What are you looking forward to in 2021?
Going to a Red Sox Game.
What have you been doing to keep busy or motivated during this time of social distancing? Have you watched or read anything worth sharing? -Any advice for those who may be alone- or without their support systems nearby?
Creating a routine made a big difference for me. Video games also helped me connect with friends even when we couldn't be together in person. Also Zillow, it's both depressing yet oddly addicting.
Ok, Lightning Round is Over, Time for Some Easy Questions.
If you could travel safely anywhere, where would you go? Who would you bring and how long would you stay?
I had a trip to Ireland to visit my grandmother cancelled in March 2020, so that will be my first international stop after all of this, with my dad, uncle, and girlfriend.
What is your go-to comfort food? Who makes it, where do you get it - why is it special?
Bubs BBQ in Sunderland MA, love that place. Good, casual, and inexpensive,
What music/artists do you listen to in tough times? What music/artists do you listen to in the good times?
John Mayer/Green Day when in that angsty mood. Kendrick [Lamar], Led Zeppelin, Kanye [West], Johnny Cash, Frank Ocean, Billy Joel and everybody in-between the rest of the time.
What is weird quirk about you that nobody knows or would guess?
I can't order the same thing as somebody I am with at a restaurant.
Where can folks contact you, follow you, or learn more about you? ( Facebook, Instagram, webpage, Twitter, etc.)
You've read enough about me already. I post once a year on twitter @d1j2d3 and three times a year on insta at derek_dunlea
