2026 Recent Alumni Achievement Award
Lindsay Powell is committed to improving the lives of Pittsburghers — one community, one policy and one program at a time. She was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in September 2023, where she has taken the lead on legislation to protect access to reproductive healthcare clinics, increase public transit funding and improve the state’s aging housing infrastructure. She also co-launched a bipartisan housing caucus aimed at increasing affordable and stable housing availability, and has secured over $80 million in grant funding for community projects in her district, including support for emergency medical services, shelters for people without housing, home repair programs and accessible social services for vulnerable populations.
Lindsay serves as the city vice chair of the Allegheny County Delegation, secretary of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus and board member of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Through these leadership positions, she works to advance policies that promote safe and dignified housing, support for working families, assist small businesses and fuel economic revitalization.
Prior to her election, she was the director of workforce strategies at InnovatePGH, where she focused on creating employment opportunities for underrepresented technologists in the Pittsburgh tech ecosystem. She also served as assistant chief of staff for the City of Pittsburgh, overseeing the creation of the first citywide digital equity initiative and the implementation of Avenues of Hope, a catalyst for small businesses to open on city main streets. Before moving to Pittsburgh, she served on the staff of Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and was a Fulbright Scholar, teaching English in rural Malaysia.
Her work in equity-driven public service, community development and effective policymaking earned her a spot on Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list in 2019. She was also featured in The Incline’s “Who’s Next: Politics” series.
Lindsay earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wheaton College and a master’s degree in public policy management from CMU’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.
Carnegie Mellon University instilled in me the knowledge and skills to dutifully serve my community in Harrisburg. I am honored to receive this award and continue to carry the lessons I learned as I serve many of our local CMU neighbors.
Lindsay Powell