Cheryl F. Halpern
Member
Cheryl Halpern has a long record of public service in broadcasting, women's issues, education, and international affairs.
Mrs. Halpern has been nominated to the boards of both national and international public broadcasting organizations by Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
In 1990, Mrs. Halpern was confirmed as a member of the Board for International Broadcasting and as a director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). From 1995 through 2002, she served on the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) overseeing Voice of America, Radio and TV Marti, RFE/RL, Worldnet, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Iraq. While serving on the BBG she helped create Radio Sawa, America's Arabic radio service to the Middle East. In August 2002, Mrs. Halpern was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a director of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). In September 2005, she was elected to be chairman of the CPB.
As a Presidentially-appointed U.S. delegate to the OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism in 2003, Mrs. Halpern spoke before the plenary council on children's programming and textbook development. She has supported the development of "Sesame Stories," a program produced by the Sesame Workshop for Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian children. In 2005 she helped bring the exhibit "Children of Jerusalem Painting Pain, Dreaming Peace" to the Palace of Westminster in London.
Mrs. Halpern was a delegate from the Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations to the 4th United Nations World Conference on Women's Rights in 1995 in Beijing. In April 2005, she participated in the Iraqi Women's Educational Institute conference in Jordan and addressed the importance of developing democratic values through education. In 2006 she became a member of the Women's Democracy Network.
Mrs. Halpern's civic involvement includes participation on the boards of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, the President's Advisory Council of Barnard College and the International Republican Institute. She also chaired the character education program of the Words Can Heal organization, a national campaign to curb gossip, fight verbal abuse and promote ethical speech.
In March 2005, she was honored by the Essex County (New Jersey) Board of Chosen Freeholders for "her outstanding career in broadcasting, her civic involvement and advocacy on behalf of women's rights, and for embodying the spirit and accomplishments of women everywhere." In May 2006, she received from the New Jersey Network the Littell Award for distinguished public service.
Mrs. Halpern has an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from New York University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Barnard College of Columbia University. Mrs. Halpern lives in New Jersey with her husband Fred.
Photo: Dave Scavone
Statements
Remarks Before the CPB Board of Directors
September 18, 2006
Remarks Before the CPB Board of Directors
November 15, 2005
Remarks upon election as CPB Chairperson
September 26, 2005