Cynthia Robinson

Cynthia Robinson is a strategic senior leader with more than 25 years of experience directing U.S. and international social impact programs across academic, government, nonprofit, and philanthropy sectors. She has particular expertise in public service engagement and initiatives at the intersection of science, technology, and policy. Cynthia launched Boundary Spanning Strategies in June 2025 to support purpose-driven organizations to expand capacity, scale, scope, and results. 

Most recently, Cynthia directed the USAID Science for Development Fellowships program, an applied research-innovation-technology initiative to recruit, onboard and train STEMM professionals and mobilize their expertise for evidence-informed decision-making, policies, and programs for improved global development results.

Previously, she was executive director of the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund, and president of the Robertson Foundation for Government. Cynthia spent 13 years at the American Association for the Advancement of Science directing the Science & Technology Policy Fellowships, a nationally recognized STEM public service and career development program that places more than 275 fellows annually in the executive, judicial and legislative branches of U.S. federal government to support evidence-informed policymaking. She also served as senior policy advisor in the AAAS Center of Science, Policy and Society Programs, advising on the creation and operation of fellowship programs in the U.S. and internationally.

Before joining AAAS, Cynthia directed fellowships focusing on the environment and conservation, running the Pew Marine Conservation Fellows program and the Leopold Leadership Program. She also worked in the sustainability for education realm, as manager of outreach and member services for the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, which operated the Tufts Environmental Literacy Institute.

Cynthia holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, a certificate in ocean studies from the Sea Education Association, and a master's degree in urban and environmental policy from Tufts University. She served in the Peace Corps in Thailand and The Gambia. Cynthia is a recipient of a UNEP Fellowship in International Environmental Management and a Switzer Foundation Environmental Fellowship. She has held numerous volunteer leadership positions, including trustee and board chair of the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation, trustee and overseer with the Sea Education Association, chair of the Outreach & Education Workgroup of the Cheverly Green Plan Infrastructure Committee, and advisor to the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship Program.