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.
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.
