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 with 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.
Ava Iwasko is a third-year student studying Public Policy and Statistics. On campus, Ava writes for UChicago's newspaper, The Chicago Maroon, and is on the board of W+ and Spectrum. Last summer, Ava interned with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Federal Affairs Office in Washington, DC. Ava has also interned with A Better Chicago, a venture philanthropy fund devoted to improving youth education programs for low-income Black and Latino students across the South and West sides of the city.
Adam Jensen is a fourth-year undergraduate studying Public Policy and Environment, Geography, and Urbanization. On campus, he is involved in policy research at the Paul Douglas Institute, sings in the Motet Choir, and plays volleyball. Adam spent the summer of 2025 in the Washington D.C. Office of Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) and would love to speak about his Capitol Hill experience. He also has internship experience in wildfire prevention, conservation, Democratic fundraising, and progressive political strategy.
Prabhdeen Kaur is a Master of Public Policy student originally from New Delhi, India. Before Harris, she spent nine years in consulting with KPMG and AON, working with national and state Governments. Her work has focused on regulatory simplification, investment promotion, and data-driven policy design.
Jose Alvarez is a second-year student majoring in Political Science with a minor in Human Rights. He has previously interned at Zambrano Law Firm, a personal injury law firm in South Texas, the Office of State Representative Kam Buckner (IL-26), and the Office of U.S. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34). On campus, Jose is involved in the Student Advocate’s Office, the Community Service Fund Committee, and the Neighborhood Schools Program. He is excited to help you navigate the process of applying for an internship!
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.
