Cynthia Chen
Cynthia Chen graduated from Sciences Po Paris in 2021 with a Master of Public Policy. She now works in Washington DC for the Western States Art Federation as a public policy and advocacy manager.
Why France ?
Choosing to complete my master’s degree in France was somewhat of an indirect journey. I didn’t have much personal connection to France growing up in Utah, but I took French as a foreign language in middle and high school. When I went to college at the University of Utah, I took a few more semesters of French, but I neither majored, nor minored in it. My true passion was in arts and culture. I graduated with an undergraduate degree in flute performance and political science, but always had a desire to see the world outside of Utah.
After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I was accepted to be an English teaching assistant with the TAPIF program. This was my first big step in what has now become a meaningful relationship with France. I lived and worked in Nancy, France at Lycée et Collège Frédéric Chopin. It was my first time going to France and at the time I barely spoke French. My years of taking French as a foreign language only helped with reading and writing. This experience was difficult, but extremely rewarding. I eventually improved my language skills, made new friends, and gained an appreciation for France. It completely changed the way I saw myself as an American in the world.
How did you find your degree ?
I started my master’s degree at Sciences Po Paris in 2019. My experience was deeply affected by the 2019 transportation strikes as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I found that overcoming these situations while persisting to complete my academic and professional goals taught me more than I could have ever imagined. During my master’s, I was able to perfect my French, work on projects with the Musée d’Orsay, and complete an apprenticeship at the Centre Pompidou working on cultural projects between the Centre and their partner the West Bund Museum in Shanghai.
What are you doing now ?
After this experience, I went back to Salt Lake City to work in arts administration as a fundraising professional in a non-profit organization. During this time, I couldn’t help but think back to the cultural experiences I had. I decided that I wanted to go back to France and pursue a master’s degree in public policy with a specialty in cultural policy at Sciences Po Paris because I wanted to gain a deep comparative perspective on how policy shapes arts and culture in France and how it differs from the US.
