Mat-Su Rep. DeLena Johnson selected for prestigious fellowship

The Council of State Governments has chosen Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Mat-Su, to participate in the Council’s 2022 Henry Toll Fellowship. Bringing together 48 individuals representing 32 states from several sectors of state government, the Henry Toll Fellowship is the nation’s premier leadership development program for state government officials.

“I am honored to be selected to participate in the prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship,” Johnson said. “I look forward to the challenge, learning and enhancing my leadership skills to better serve the constituents of House District 25.”

Each year, the Council’ Henry Toll Fellowship brings up to 48 leaders from all three branches of state government to its national headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky, for an intensive, five-day leadership “boot camp.” The program sessions are designed to stimulate personal assessment and growth while providing networking and relationship-building opportunities.

“While the Henry Toll Fellows come from every region of our nation, from both political parties and all three branches of state government, they share one thing in common— they are all people of purpose with a passion for public service,” said the Council’s Executive Director and CEO David Adkins, a former Kansas state senator and 1993 Toll Fellowship alumnus.

“Toll Fellows are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to solve problems, to work collaboratively to get things done, and their belief that state government can and must be a force for good.”

There are more than 1,300 graduates of the Toll Fellowship, which began in 1986. Distinguished alumni of the program include five state or territorial House speakers, three sitting state supreme court justices, 10 sitting members of Congress and five sitting governors. Also, 200 Toll alumni currently serving as state/territorial legislators.