Onel Abreu
University of Chicago
MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy
Onel is an Master in Computational Analysis and Public Policy candidate at the University of Chicago, focusing on the intersection between equity strategy and data analytics, particularly within urban education. Prior to graduate school, Onel was an educator directly supporting youth, engaging community, and leading staff as Assistant Principal at Chicago's Noble Network of Charter Schools. Born in Brooklyn to immigrant Caribbean parents, he received a B.S. in Psychology and Biology, concentrating in Neuroscience, from SUNY's University at Buffalo. In his free time, Onel is an avid traveler, loves cooking, trivia, and gaming, and serves on the board of a mentorship non-profit for Black and Brown boys across Chicago.
Christopher Carroll
Northwestern University
Master of Business Administration
Chris is an MBA student at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University focusing on finance and social impact. Prior to business school, Chris worked in Washington, D.C. as a management consultant at Oliver Wyman, where he was a member of Oliver Wyman's Pricing, Sales, and Marketing practice. Chris has worked extensively across the private, public, and social sectors and has a passion for equitable transit policy. Chris holds a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University and enjoys downhill skiing, country line dancing, and jazz saxophone in his free time.
Jocelyn Dillard
George Washington University
Master of Public Health
Jocelyn Dillard is a Master of Public Health candidate at The George Washington University. Throughout her tenure, Jocelyn has served in various leadership and community-oriented roles contributing to knowledge and unique skills in grant writing, data analysis, and community organizing. With a fiery passion for health equity and policy reform, Jocelyn is committed to empowering communities on the margins through cross-sector collaboration and capital investment.
Leslie Grueber
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy
Leslie is a Master in Public Policy candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School, where she is focusing on economic and social justice. Prior to graduate school, she spent four years as a management consultant in Chicago and two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, where she worked on economic inclusion projects with women. Leslie holds a B.S. in Finance and Information Systems from the University of Minnesota. She spends her free time doing crossword puzzles, mining Spotify for new jams, and attempting to persuade anyone who will listen that the Midwest is the best.
Isabelle Hirschy
University of Chicago
Master of Public Policy
Isabelle is an MPP candidate at the University of Chicago focusing on urban policy and community development; she is also getting a Certificate in Data Analytics. A born and bred North Carolinian, Isabelle received her B.A. in Political Science and Peace, War, and Defense from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to relocating to Chicago, she did rural development work for the Conservation Fund. She is passionate about helping communities create solutions for themselves, and helping them stay nimble and adaptable through technology, process, and people. In her spare time, Isabelle enjoys exploring her new home, knitting, and embroidery.
Lea Hunter
Princeton University
Master of Public Affairs
Lea is a Master in Public Affairs candidate at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs where she is focusing on domestic policy. She is passionate about community-driven public safety and violence prevention policy. Prior to graduate school Lea was a Research Associate for Criminal Justice Reform at the Center for American Progress and President of the CAP Employees Union. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, she loves trying new restaurants and adventuring in the great outdoors.
Bura Jap
University of Chicago
Master of Public Policy
Bura is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Chicago. She was born and raised in Kachin State, Myanmar and immigrated to the United State at the age of nine. In the U.S. she calls Jacksonville, Florida her home. Bura is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she studied Advertising and Political Science. Bura served as a Peace Corps volunteer back in her home country where she taught English to students at the public school. In her free time, she loves to try new skincare products, keep up with current fashion trends, go to national parks; currently Arches National Park is her favorite, bake, bike and talk to other immgrants or children of immigrants about what it means to exist in the U.S. with a hyphenated identity.
Michaela Johnke
University of Chicago
Master of Public Policy
Michaela is a Master in Public Policy candidate at the University of Chicago with a certificate in Policy Analysis. Prior to graduate school, her work focused on project management and donor relations in an International Development Organization based in Lima, Peru. Michaela holds a B.S. in Community & Nonprofit Leadership and a B.A in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her free time, she enjoys fitness, cycling, exploring parks and walking her dog.
Nicholas Kohler
Chicago Kent College of Law
Juris Doctor
Nick is a second-year law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law with a concentration in Public Interest, Health, and Labor & Employment Law. Before attending law school, he worked for eight years as a project manager, consultant, and team lead for Epic Systems, which is a medical software company. Additionally, he volunteers at the Lakeview Pantry where he helps glean incoming food donations, setup for home delivery, and assemble orders for the clients. He is passionate about fighting for universal healthcare, ending food insecurity, and putting vacant land to more productive use. Nick holds a B.S. in Economics and Political Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and enjoys cooking, hiking, playing beach volleyball, and watching Survivor and Top Chef.
Neethi Nayak
University of Chicago
Master of Public Policy
Neethi is an MPP/MBA candidate at the University of Chicago, pursuing an interest in public private partnerships. Previously, she worked as a management consultant at Accenture Strategy, as a sustainability and responsible business practitioner. Neethi is a graduate of Rice University, where she studied Public Policy and Sociology. Passionate about youth civic engagement, she volunteers with the Texas Girls State program every year, training and educating young women on government and advocacy. Outside of the office, Neethi is a classically trained vocalist and enjoys exploring the local arts scene and spending time in Chicago's lovely public parks and libraries.
Beau Scott
University of Michigan
Master of Public Policy
Beau is an MPP candidate at the University of Michigan, where he is focusing on public management and the pursuit of good governance. Prior to graduate school, Beau worked in San Francisco as a Public Affairs Fellow with Coro Northern California, serving in several roles across multiple sectors. Beau is a life-long learner and enjoys seeking out new experiences that challenge his perspective. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Santa Clara University.
Adarsh Shah
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy
Adarsh Shah is a Master in Public Policy candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School where he is passionate about issues of economic and racial equity, particularly as they relate to access to healthcare. Prior to graduate school, Adarsh worked on clinical program evaluation, economic analysis, and universal health coverage policy efforts in the global health space. Before that, he worked as a community organizer and professional actor. Adarsh holds a B.A. in Theatre & Political Science from Northwestern University. Adarsh loves cooking with friends, loudly singing along to his favorite songs, and reminiscing about the 2004 Detroit Pistons starting lineup.
Linh Tran-Phuong
University of Michigan
Master of Public Policy
Linh is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Michigan, with an interest in gender-based violence policy and insitutional accountability. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a crisis intervention manager for sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking responses. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Harvard College because once upon a time she wanted to be a therapist. She now realizes that systems advocacy is more suited to her outspoken personality. In Linh's free time, she loves cooking, eating, and playing Puzzles & Dragons.
Andre Vasilyev
Princeton University
Master of Public Affairs
Andre is a Master in Public Affairs candidate at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. He is interested in economic policy, especially anti-poverty policy, and holds a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University. Prior to graduate school, Andre worked as a senior analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Andre comes from a Russian family, was born in Ireland, and grew up in Los Angeles. He is fluent in Russian and Spanish. In his free time, Andre enjoys anything active including boxing, calisthenics, exploring national parks, long-distance biking, and playing in New York City's LGBTQ flag football league.
Sylvia Wolak
Chicago Kent College of Law
Juris Doctor
Sylvia is a law student with work experience in immigration law and education. Before attending law school she worked for the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) as a DOJ-Accredited representative and Pro Bono Coordinator of domestic violence programming. She also taught English at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She received her Master’s in English from UIC and her Bachelors in English and Political Science with a minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is passionate about immigration reform, corporate and business issues, and community engagement. Sylvia is a lifelong Chicagoan, the daughter of Polish immigrants, and is fluent in Polish and Spanish.
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