Cleo Hirsch serves as a Senior Fellow for the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement’s Effective Government Transitions Project.  In addition to this role, Cleo is the Deputy Director of Public Health AmeriCorps, a groundbreaking new partnership between the CDC and AmeriCorps to build the next generation of public health leaders through national service. Cleo joined AmeriCorps after serving as the Transition Director for Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore, where she led a historically inclusive transition process that engaged approximately 10,000 Marylanders in civic dialogue and public service. 

Previously, Cleo served as the Executive Director of COVID Response for Baltimore City Schools. In this role she led the district’s pandemic response and pioneered strategies to reopen schools and keep schools operating safely as community conditions changed. Previous roles include serving as the Director of Priority Initiatives for Baltimore City Schools, an education policy consultant, a Mayoral Fellow for the City of Chicago, and a middle school teacher.

Cleo holds a Master's Degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, and a BA in Political Science and American Studies from Tufts University.

Hirsch Headshot