Alumni Council

As Harris continues to grow, the Alumni Council serves as the bridge between Harris Public Policy, our global community of alumni and current students. With members spanning the globe and working across a broad array of sectors, the Alumni Council connects our global alumni base to the Keller Center, and current Harris students to the world.

The Council strives to:

• Provide resources for alumni networking, professional development, and career advancement

• Assist current students in career placement

• Facilitate communication between alumni and Harris

• Extend the resources of Harris Public Policy by engaging alumni

• Promote the common interests of alumni and Harris

In addition to working through the full Council, members contribute through our Committees and Task Forces:

• Alumni Awards Committee solicits nominations and applications, reviews and selects recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Rising Star Award, and Alumni Service Award

• Alumni Relations Committee plans events, volunteering, webinars, mentorships, regional chapters and other ways for alumni to connect with each other, the school, and current students

• Careers and Networks Committee supports career and professional development activities for students and alumni

• Development Committee expands alumni financial support for Harris, such as through the Alumni Fellowship Fund, Class Gifts, Harris Society and Irving Harris Fund

• Nominations and Membership Committee maintains the pipeline of Alumni Council members and administers yearly elections for officers

Join the Council

The Alumni Council seeks applications from potential new members who are invested in securing a strong future for Harris. Applications for new members will be accepted in Winter of 2025.

Contact the Council

The Alumni Council is here to serve you.

We encourage alumni to contact the Council with ideas or questions by reaching out to Alumni Council President, Steve Sellick, AM'93.

Alumni Council Members

On this page:

• Saeb Ahsan
• Kai Andersen-Guterman
• Karolina Arias
• Peter Biava
• Dipak Bishwokarma
• Cindy Castañeda
• Poppy Coleman
• Nimit Dhir
• Nicholas Epstein
• Rachel Essel
• Ryan Fitzsimons
• Chantal Forster
• Heather Ann George
• Christian Gaona
• Ryan Higgins
• Dylan Jacovo
• Anna Lee
• Joseph Lester
• Andrew Means
• Chris Morton
• Molly Murray
• Yimeng (Edward) Qiu
• Stephen Sellick
• Urmi Sengupta
• David Spearman
• Thomas Whamond
• Fanmei Xia
• Yunsong Yu

Kai Andersen-Guterman, MPP/AM'10 (joint degree with the Crown Family School of Social Work) 

Seattle, WA

Kai's been working in child and family policy and child-serving systems (child welfare, prevention services) for 22 years. He's worked in direct services, research, consulting, and leadership at local, state, and federal levels in the US. He's currently working as Knowledge Management Consultant at Akin, a Seattle based non-profit focused on strategies to deliver population-level impact to child and family well-being. He seeks to leverage Knowledge Management approaches within these systems to gather, synthesize, and curate the best ideas to deliver impact at scale.

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 Peter Biava, MPP/MBA'19

Washington, D.C.

Peter Biava is an investment professional focused on the development and financing of sustainable global infrastructure. His project development experience includes transportation & mobility, water & waste, and industrial decarbonization & electrification. A graduate of the joint degree MPP/MBA program, Peter is passionate about social impact and public-private partnerships, especially where innovative methods are used to align the long-term interests of public and private stakeholders.

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Dipak Bishwokarma, AM'20

Waterloo, Ontario 

Dipak is a researcher and international development practitioner across the area of disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation, community resilience, community-based natural resources management, and public policy especially in the developing country context. He is an interdisciplinary researcher with primary interests in climate change vulnerability and disaster risk reduction, social capital-tourism-disaster management nexus, and natural resource management. Currently, Dipak is pursuing his Ph.D. degree at the University of Waterloo, Canada and also engaging in Teaching Undergraduate Students as a Sessional Lecturer.

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Cindy Castañeda, MPP'95

Sedona, AZ

Cindy is a retired higher education professional.  Her career included work in community colleges, universities, and the federal government.  She worked in multiple roles including professor, assistant, and executive dean in both the instructional and student services areas.  She also put her education policy background to work as an elected school board member in Garland, Texas, as an appointed Trustee for The Thacher School in Ojai, California, and for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund as a member of an Advisory Council.   

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Poppy Coleman, MPP'14

Pittsburgh, PA

Poppy Coleman, MPP, is senior manager of the Government Products Encounter Team at UPMC Health Plan, a Medicaid managed care organization in Pennsylvania with over 700,000 Medicaid, CHIP, and LTSS participants. Poppy oversees daily operations to deliver compliant and timely medical encounter data to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. She has a passion for working collaboratively across teams to bring analytics and operations together. Poppy received her BA in anthropology from Macalester College and MPP from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy with a certificate in health administration and policy.

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Nimit Dhir, MPP'05

Washington, D.C. 

Nimit is an attorney in the national security group of the D.C. office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.  He previously has worked in a range of foreign policy and national security positions, including as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in India, as counsel in Congress, and as an analyst for the federal government.  

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Nicholas Epstein, MPP'13 

Highland Park, IL

Nicholas Epstein is a public policy, government affairs, real estate, infrastructure and economic development professional. Nicholas is the founder and a Principal at FlatIron Investments. He delivers urban and economic development, infrastructure and commercial real estate, as well as government affairs and public policy solutions for private sector firms and state and local governments on developments and investments. Nicholas possesses expertise on site selection, land use, design, zoning and entitlements, housing policy and regulations, as well as as public private partnerships. 

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Rachel Essel, AM'22 

Chicago, IL

Rachel currently serves as a Senior Analyst at Valor Equity Partners, where she assists in the sourcing, analysis and tracking of all investment opportunities. Prior to joining Valor, Rachel was a Senior Research Analyst at the BCG, where she led cross-functional knowledge sharing efforts and helped develop BCG's perspectives on the global Industrial Goods sector alongside senior leaders and stakeholders. Rachel holds a B.A. ('18) from Northeastern University. In June 2023, Rachel graduated from with an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

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Ryan Fitzsimons, MPP'19 

Chicago, IL

Ryan Fitzsimons is the Deputy Director of Financial Operations for the Chicago Police Department, where he is responsible for aligning the Department’s budget with operational priorities and advancing reform efforts. Prior to joining CPD, he worked as a math teacher in Detroit and Washington, D.C. As a member of the alumni council, Ryan aims to inspire more students to explore careers in municipal government.  While at Harris, he was the recipient of the King Harris Scholarship.

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Chantal Forster (Vice President), AM'19

Chicago, IL

Chantal Forster is the co-author of the Responsible AI Adoption Framework for Philanthropy and former Executive Director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG). Starting her career in predictive AI with SPSS, Chantal's career has come full circle as she now advises philanthropic organizations on the ethical and strategic use of AI.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantalforster/

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Heather Ann George, AM'19 

Wabash, Indiana

25-years of experience in wealth management for high net worth and ultra high net worth clients.  I support families through wealth transitions in areas such as family governance, education, and philanthropy as families seek guidance in developing cohesive strategies to bridge generations and build legacy.

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Christian Gaona, MPP'24

Chicago, IL

Christian A. Gaona is an industrialist and entrepreneur specializing in natural resources, energy, infrastructure, and trade policy. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago's Harris School and a Master of Science in Natural Resource & Energy Policy from the Colorado School of Mines. As owner of GGG Contracting and CEO of Texchange Unbrokered Inc., he has driven significant growth, secured investments, and forged partnerships. Christian also has extensive experience as a General Foreman and Contractor in the mining and construction sectors.

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Ryan Higgins, MPP'17

Brooklyn, NY 

Ryan Higgins is a Senior Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Verizon, where he leads Verizon's flagship responsible business program, Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, which supports over 600 Title I middle and high schools nationwide in helping to close the digital divide.  Over his career, Ryan has worked at STEM-focused nonprofits and school district administration.  He is committed to working toward equity in education, having started his career as a seventh-grade math teacher through Teach For America in Oklahoma.  Ryan holds an MPP (’17) from the University of Chicago and a BA from Vanderbilt University.

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Dylan Jacovo, MPP'21

Raleigh, North Carolina

Dylan currently serves as an Associate of Postsecondary Transitions at Education Strategy Group (ESG). Prior to joining ESG, Dylan served as an Associate Policy Analyst at The Hunt Institute. At Harris, Dylan was an Irving B. Harris Fellow, served as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at the Harris School, where he helped support the design and implementation of the school’s first DEI strategic plan and served as Academic Committee Chair for HSG. Dylan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona and earned his MPP at Harris.

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Anna Lee, MPP/MDV'00

Chicago, IL 

Anna Lee is United Way of Metro Chicago’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Anna works with community leaders, public sector partners, donors, and academic institutions in innovative efforts to build a stronger region. Prior to United Way, Anna was at The Chicago Community Trust as a Senior Director of Community Impact. Anna earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Boston College and master’s degrees in divinity and public policy, both from the University of Chicago. Anna is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and serves on the boards of Forefront and Disability Lead. 

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Joseph Lester, MPP/MBA'19

Atlanta, GA

Joseph Lester is currently Director of Enterprise Transformation and Strategy at Visa, where he leads large-scale, cross-functional initiatives to drive organizational change and business growth. Previously, he held strategy roles at Visa and Walmart, partnering with C-suite leaders on transformative workforce initiatives. Earlier in his career, Joseph led education and civic engagement efforts in the nonprofit and tech sectors. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford and an MBA/MPP from The University of Chicago.

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Andrew Means, MPP'11

Park City, UT

Andrew Means is a serial social entrepreneur leading organizations that use data and technology to create impact. He currently works with foundations and nonprofits on the use of emerging technology to drive impact. He co-founded data governance firm BrightHive and is founder and host of Good Tech Fest. He has previously held leadership positions at Salesforce.org, Uptake.org, The University of Chicago’s Center for Data Science & Public Policy, and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. He holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harris School at the University of Chicago and is currently at UC Berkeley for his Executive MBA. Andrew is a member of the Board of Directors at Everfree.

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Chris Morton, MPP'98

Washington, DC

Chris Morton is CEO of the American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association representing title insurance companies, title and settlement agents, independent abstracters, title searchers and real estate attorneys who protect real property owners and mortgage lenders against losses from defects in titles. Morton leads an organization focused on improving the skills and knowledge of providers in the real property transaction, effectively advocating for member concerns and standardizing products for industry use. Previously, Morton served as the Chief Advocacy Officer and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the association.

A seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the financial services arena, Morton has demonstrated success in numerous legislative and regulatory affairs leadership roles over his career. He has been recognized as a Top Lobbyist by The Hill newspaper and named as one of the 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy by Washingtonian magazine.

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Molly Murray (Vice President), AM'20 

Chicago, IL

Molly Murray serves as President and CEO of the Autoimmune Association were she leads efforts to improve the lives of those living with autoimmune disease by advancing the organization’s four pillars: Advocacy, Awareness, Education and Research. She is a career nonprofit and trade association professional who holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, as well as the CAE credential. In her spare time she enjoys staying active outdoors, fostering dogs, traveling and checking out the culinary scene wherever she is.

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Yimeng (Edward) Qiu, MSCAPP'21

New York City, NY

Edward Qiu is a Senior Researcher at FTSE Russell, focusing on quantitative research, machine learning, and data-driven investment strategies. His work supports the development of practical models in areas such as factor investing and financial technology, aiming to improve decision-making across investment platforms. With a background in both finance and public policy, he holds an MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) from the University of Chicago’s Harris School. He is particularly interested in exploring how emerging technologies can be thoughtfully applied to complex financial challenges.

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Stephen Sellick, AM'93

San Francisco, CA

Steve Sellick is the Founder and Chairman of Gnarus Advisors, an economics consulting firm providing analytic and expert services to clients facing complex challenges arising from uncertainty, potential litigation, or disputes. He draws on over 30 years of multidisciplinary experience & training in economics, public policy, litigation, risk management, business development, entrepreneurship, and business transformation as a trusted advisor on complex, high-stakes issues in risk management, governance, corporate litigation, and public policy.

Steve is a board member at AVIVO Wines and the Sonoma County (CA) Regional Parks Foundation.  He is the Vice President of the San Francisco chapter of the Private Directors Association and Director of the PDA Governance Lab. He serves as a mentor to business founders with StartOUT and other organizations focused on promoting entrepreneurship in underrepresented communities. Steve is also a member of the Harris Council.

Steve earned a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an A.M. from Harris.

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Urmi Sengupta, MPP'04

Oak Park, IL

At MacArthur, Urmi is responsible for a mix of impact investing and grantmaking activities focused on field-building to support increased investor awareness and engagement. Previously, she worked with small business finance and microfinance institutions, developing a range of capacity-building initiatives which included conceptualizing and running the first global community network for emerging market small business banks. Urmi has a management degree with a specialization in finance from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and a master’s degree (summa cum laude) from Harris.

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 David Spearman (Secretary), MPP'14

Chicago, IL

David currently leads Project Management at Community Tech Alliance, a group of technologists developing better data infrastructure for progressive political organizations. He previously led data product development and business strategy at BallotReady, a civic tech platform born out of the Harris School. He's driven to apply his policy and analytical skills from Harris to the start-up sector, looking for ways to drive positive change through data and tech solutions.

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Fanmei Xia, MPP'22

New Haven, CT

Fanmei Xia is a PhD student in Sociology at Yale University. Her research focuses on the sociocultural factors shaping reproductive decision-making and fertility intentions. Fanmei employs multi-method approaches in her work, situating individuals in complex social structures and seeking to unravel how policy, gender, culture, and socioeconomic disparities influence and interact with one’s reproduction processes. She also has ongoing work on focusing on education and migration.

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Yunsong Yu, AM'23

St Louis, MO

Yunsong is currently a doctoral student in Finance at the Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to beginning her PhD, she worked as a Data Management Assistant at the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Peru. During her postgraduate studies in the MACRM program at the University of Chicago, she served as a research assistant at the Booth School of Business, contributing to projects on venture capital and private equity in emerging markets.

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