Our Career Workshops allow for deep dives into specific fields within public service and the skills you'd need to succeed in those sectors. Additionally, students can meet with our Career Development team for career advising. For help on their resume and cover letter, students can meet with Laresa or one of our peer advisors.
Mark Schauerte manages the placement of undergraduate and graduate students in internships nationwide and internationally. He previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) for more than four years, working both in Washington, D.C., and the Chicago suburbs. Mark is also an attorney and worked as an award-winning journalist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Chicago Lawyer Magazine.
Laresa Lund helps manage the IOP’s 300+ academic-year and summer internships, with a primary focus on the Chicago-based academic-year internship portfolio. Her areas of expertise include Chicago-based internships, resume development, cover letter writing, and networking preparation. She is also excited to help rural students, folks interested in conservation work, and those searching for AmeriCorps opportunities.
Divya Mehrotra is a fourth-year in the College majoring in Business Economics and Political Science. On campus, she is involved with the University of Chicago’s Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, the Undergraduate Law Magazine, Women+ in Law, and the International Policy Program at the IOP. She can speak to her experiences working at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and for Dr. Damon Jones of the Harris School of Public Policy.
Justin Taylor is a fourth-year student in the College studying Political Science and a BA/MA student in the Masters Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS). Recently, Justin acted as the IOP Summer in Chicago intern in Summer 2024 and has experience as an intern on Capitol Hill in the office of Representative Danny K. Davis (IL-07) in Summer 2023. Justin is excited to help students draft cover letters, review resumes, assist in the internship/job application process, or chat about career goals and aspirations.
Fawwaz Hafizh is a fourth-year student at the College studying political science and economics and an MA student at the Committee for International Relations. Coming from Jakarta, Indonesia, he is interested in the intersections of international affairs, development economics, and public policy. Fawwaz had experience with research centers and NGOs conducting research, data analysis, event planning, and digital communications. As an international student, he is excited to join the IOP Career Development team to help with drafting resumes, networking, personal branding, and navigating work authorizations for international students.
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Ava Iwasko is a second year pursuing a double major in Public Policy and Statistics. Ava has interned with A Better Chicago, a venture philanthropy fund devoted to improving youth education programs for low-income Black and Latinx students across the South and West sides of the city. On campus, Ava writes for UChicago's newspaper, The Chicago Maroon, and is involved with the Institute of Politics as a member and leader of two identity-based cohorts, W+ and Spectrum, and as an intern for Career Development.
Leja Ejury is a second-year in The College majoring in Public Policy and Data Science. She is a senior columnist for The Gate and an analyst for the Society for International Relations. She can speak to her experiences working at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights as well as her broader work with immigration legal agencies and nonprofits. She has worked internationally and has a strong interest in using data science for social impact.
Abby Kodidek is a fourth-year majoring in Public Policy and Human Rights interested in global issues of human rights and justice. She has experience working in research, advocacy, and direct service with organizations such as the Department of State, Migration Policy Institute, Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and the International Rescue Committee.
Cameron Landin is a third-year in the College from Savannah, Georgia majoring in Political Science and Spanish. Cameron is a youth activist in the Democratic Party. He is returning from a gap year where he served as a Regional Organizer on the Harris-Walz campaign, running a campaign office in Georgia. Cameron has served as President of UC Dems, College Democrats of Illinois, and Political Director for the College Democrats of America and as a Delegate representing Georgia at the DNC.
Violeta Lopez Molina is a third-year international student from Argentina triple-majoring in Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology. She is also a W+ cohort member and has interned with the Argentinian Consulate in Chicago, Young Invincibles, the American Bar Foundation, and a criminal justice non-profit. Born and raised in Argentina, she is committed to public policy, focusing on the Global South and neo-colonialism, and can assist international students in understanding the process of obtaining work authorizations. Violeta also enjoys crocheting, coffee, languages, and poetry.
Taryn Murphy is a second-year from New Jersey majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Japanese language. She has experience working for numerous government relations firms (Federal Hall Policy Advisors and Tiger Hill Partners) and is an incoming summer 2025 intern at Cahill Gordon Reindel LLP in New York City. On campus, Taryn is an active participant in the Chicago Debate Society, where she competes and helps organize events for novice debaters and the UChicago community.
Originally from Port Washington, New York, Nick Parra is a second year in the College majoring in Political Science and Law, Letters, and Society. On campus, he is involved with the University of Chicago’s Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, the Chicago Forum, Chicago Debate Society, and the Bridge Civic Ed program at the IOP. He can speak to his experiences working in immigration law for Catholic Legal Services of Miami and comparative international law research for Professor Tom Ginsburg of the Law School.
Yaseen Qureshi is a second year in the College majoring in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies, with a specialization in Arabic. As a Chicago native with a background in England and Bangladesh, he is interested in the intersection of economic development, immigration policy, and international relations. Yaseen has experience in the private sector, research, and non-profit work. He is looking to help any students who wish to combine a career in business and public policy by reviewing cover letters, drafting resumes, and building networks.
The IOP's Career Development program offers a variety of workshops aimed at preparing students with all levels of experience for a career in public service.
Our career team helps students write their resume and cover letter, become comfortable with networking, and hone interviewing skills. We also invite political practitioners to network with students and share their experiences within their respective fields.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, many of our workshops will be Lunch & Learns on Fridays from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. We'll gather in the IOP living room, eat pizza, and put our heads together to prepare you for your desired career field.
