Institute of Politics

IOP Pritzker Fellow Opal Vadhan on "Finding Your Way Into Public Service" THIS SEMINAR IS OPEN TO CURRENT UCHICAGO STUDENTS ONLY Wednesday, February 4 3:30-4:45pm Growing up in Queens, New York with parents who immigrated from India, I always felt a drive to make the world a better place. I thought I’d do that through storytelling. Instead, my path led me to public service. My first big mistake while talking to another intern? Referring to the first lady as “Michelle Obama.” “You can’t say that; you have to say FLOTUS or POTUS,” another intern informed me. I asked what those words meant, and he looked at me like I was crazy. As if I didn’t feel out of place already. Roughly 7 years later, I had a desk in the West Wing. We’ll discuss how I got my job when I didn’t have the cookie-cutter resume one would expect. We’ll explore how purpose, identity and lived experience shape our desire to serve, and why we are drawn to public service - especially at a time when politics feels deeply divisive. Pritzker Fellows seminars are off the record and open to current UChicago students only. Seating in the IOP Living Room is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Ella Kumano-Maloney (ikmaloney@uchicago.edu).