Meet the staff who run the IOP's day-to-day work as a lab for democracy — from programming and civic engagement to career development.
John F. Kirby is a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Navy and former senior spokesman for the Pentagon, State Department and White House with experience spanning six administrations. He most recently served as White House National Security Communications Advisor on foreign and defense policy issues from 2022 to 2025.
Zeenat manages day-to-day operations at the IOP, overseeing budget development, financial operations, human resources, fundraising, and program execution. She works closely with the director to establish and implement the overall strategy and goals of the Institute, including short- and long-term planning and developing new initiatives.
Zeenat comes to the IOP with more than two decades of experience in the public and social sectors working to strengthen democracy and civil society. She previously served at the U.S. State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Emma oversees production of the IOP’s Speaker Series events, which are free and open to the public! She works closely with local vendors, speakers, and students to ensure quality programming featuring a range of diverse perspectives each academic year. Prior to joining the IOP, Emma worked in the food and beverage industry and in arts administration at Bard College, her alma mater.
Before joining the IOP, Max produced events across Chicago’s civic, cultural, and nightlife communities, including programs at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and independent venues throughout the city. Max holds a master’s degree in information design and strategy from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in communication and French from Denison University.
Ashley manages the daily operations of the Pritzker Fellows program. She also oversees the student volunteers who are part of the Fellows Ambassador program. Before joining the IOP in 2015, Ashley worked in education as a teacher, tutor, and coach.
Ella manages programming for Civic Engagement at the IOP, developing opportunities that connect students with public service, policy, and civic life. Before joining the Civic Engagement team, she coordinated public events and outreach for the IOP’s Speaker Series and Pritzker Fellows. Prior to the IOP, Ella taught English in elementary schools in Taiwan, supported college-in-prison initiatives, and worked as a line cook in Chicago. She holds a degree in Sociology and Chinese from Grinnell College.
Laresa coordinates 300+ annual IOP internships in politics and public service. She also runs career workshops and provides one-on-one student career advising sessions. She previously worked in higher education and the conservation field. She holds degrees in History and Business from Indiana University. Laresa serves on the board of Coppin Community Center, a food pantry located just across Washington Park from the IOP.
Valerie McMakin joined the Institute of Politics in 2026 as Special Advisor for Strategy and Advancement. Before joining IOP, McMakin was chief of staff for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, providing support for the CEO. Prior to the Council, she was chief of staff for congressional relations at the United States Department of Agriculture, where she managed the Farm Bill legislative process and helped execute USDA priorities, including rural economic development, advancing equity, climate change, and building resilient supply chains. She has also served as a legislative assistant for Senator Jon Tester of Montana, providing policy support for commerce, trade, and agriculture. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and ethics from Emory University.
Katrina oversees all budget, human resources, and facilities matters for the IOP. Katrina has a been a career public servant, working at the Illinois State Board of Education and in the narcotics unit of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office before joining the IOP in 2012. Katrina has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and urban studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a master’s degree in counseling from Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Rebekah Raleigh leads strategic communications for the IOP. She began her career as a photojournalist — winning awards from the Associated Press and the Illinois Press Photographers before spending two years working across Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. That fieldwork first raised the questions about representation and narrative control that continue to drive her research, most recently published in Visual Communication Quarterly in 2025. She is an Emerging Leader at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an Expert-in-Residence at the Rippleworks Foundation, and serves on the Board of Directors at WorldChicago.
You'll see Dani taking photos and videos at most of our events. They are also responsible for designing graphics and creating multimedia content for the IOP's social media. Before coming to Chicago, they worked as a videographer in Florida, where they were also involved in community organizing.
Mark works to place 300 students each year in internships nationwide and runs career workshops to teach students how to prepare for jobs in public service. He previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-IL. Mark is an attorney and practiced law in Chicago in addition to working as a journalist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Chicago Lawyer magazine.
Jennifer programs our large public events and assembles a cohort of Pritzker Fellows each quarter, drawing from a broad array of political figures, activists, journalists and policy experts. Previously, Jennifer was a long-time reporter at The New York Times and has written two cookbooks, a novel and a chronicle of the first year of the largest female Congressional class.
Ravy manages the IOP’s civic engagement programming, which provides students with training, resources, and experiential opportunities to engage in their communities and beyond. Before joining the IOP, he was an international development professional in the democracy and governance space, most recently leading projects at the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative focused on free expression, digital rights, environmental justice, and justice sector reform across Africa and Asia.
Lindsey is a member of the IOP's executive team and provides administrative support for the institute's director and executive director. Prior to joining the IOP, Lindsey worked for Cook County as an office manager for the Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th District.
In all job openings, we seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join a vibrant, mission-driven organization. The IOP encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and ideas to engage with students, stakeholders, and the broader community.