Meet the Recruitment Team

Ranjan Daniels

Senior Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Global Outreach

Ranjan is responsible for student recruitment and admissions, financial aid, executive education, new program development, and international partnerships. Ranjan has twenty years of experience building relationships and products, opening new markets, and driving innovation at the University of Chicago, Kaplan, Berkshire Hathaway, the Tribune Company, and the City of Chicago.

“We have a global student body who are united by a passion to make a difference in their communities and countries—from the South Side of Chicago to New York City to Delhi to Mexico City. They all share a common sense of curiosity, desire to make an impact, and drive to take on the big questions and challenges. Hearing their individual stories and what motivates them to make a difference is inspiring.”

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Devon Reber Drehmer

Senior Director of Student 
Recruitment 
and Operations

As Senior Director of Student Recruitment and Operations, Devon strategizes new ways to reach and cultivate prospective and admitted students, builds a pipeline of diverse students, leads a team of recruiters in their outreach, and ensures timely delivery of admission decisions and essential information to prospects. 

Devon is passionate about diversity and inclusion and has considerable experience working with graduate students committed to social impact. She spent nearly four years as the Director of Social Work Field Education at Wheelock College, where she was responsible for 150 students’ community-based internships and community outreach building. Prior to that, Devon was in leadership roles for almost 10 years at the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, a national nonprofit that develops service leaders to meet the health needs of underserved communities. She started her career as a development assistant at the community-based nonprofit Transition House.

“I’m passionate about helping students find their path to doing good work in the world. Right now, it feels particularly valuable.”

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Jessica Gagle

Director of Recruitment and Outreach Management

Jessica is the Director of Student Recruitment. She enjoys assisting prospective students as they navigate the admissions and application process. She is passionate about matching students with programs that will enable them to achieve their personal and professional goals and being an active partner through each individual’s educational journey.

She has over ten years of experience in admissions and student services, most recently at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University. She completed a BA in history at Ohio University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education at Loyola University Chicago.

“I am excited to work with such a bright, engaged group of students. It is invigorating to discuss their future goals and the various ways in which they hope to positively impact their industry, organization, and society. Now is the time for smart leaders driven by data and science, and this is an area where Harris students and faculty excel. I am humbled and honored to be working in such a dynamic environment.”

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Jay Landau

Director of Recruitment Analytics and Marketing

Jay leads analytics and marketing strategy for the Student Recruitment & Global Outreach team at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. He manages a team responsible for digital marketing, communications, lead generation, and data analysis for degree and non-degree programs. Jay works to develop a diverse and talented pipeline of students who are prepared to take on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Jay’s work focuses on building program visibility and interest, improving diversity and selectivity of students, exceeding application targets, and analyzing data to predict and strategize admissions and enrollment. He is passionate about responsibly advancing the field of data science to make an impact in the education, nonprofit, and public sectors.

"As someone with experience in the NGO and non-profit sector I have seen firsthand how important it is to have committed and rigorous public policy practitioners. It’s a real privilege for me to be able to contribute to the Harris mission every day and get to know truly impactful people and learn about their meaningful work."

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Shilin Liu

Executive Director of Partnerships and Credential Programs

Shilin focuses on developing programs and partnerships that amplify the Harris scholar impact and serve the learning needs from diverse global learners. She firmly believes that learning can be done at anytime in any format as long as you have the right teacher and support, and that’s what motivates her and the team to continuously design and deliver high-quality learning experiences online and in-person.

“I love contributing to our vibrant community and helping more students (especially international students) to explore Harris and Chicago. I especially love the small, family feel of Harris and the ways in which people support each other and learn and grow with each other—from students to faculty to staff.”

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Blake Edwards

Senior Associate Director of Marketing and Communications

Blake develops and implements cohesive marketing and communications plans designed to drive student enrollment. He collaborates with his colleagues in Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Student Recruitment to deliver consistent voice, tone, and messaging across multiple platforms. Prior to joining Harris, Blake served as Project Manager and Marketing and Advertising Coordinator for Governors State University and Senior Editor and Project Manager for The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Blake also has taught English and literature at community colleges throughout the Chicagoland area. Blake earned a dual bachelor’s degree (English and Creative Writing) from University of California, Riverside and an MFA in Creative Writing (fiction concentration) from Brown University.

"I enjoy working at Harris because I am a strong believer in evidence-based solutions, and I thrive in a collaborative environment where those solutions are often realized."

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Matthew Gadbury

Associate Director of Custom Programs

Matt is responsible for collaborating with both stakeholders and UChicago faculty to design curricula and deliver rigorous non-degree programs for learners in various stages of their academic and professional careers. Matt spent almost 10 years working for the office of Global Education & Training at the University of Illinois, where he built training partnerships with international corporations, universities, and NPO’s.Matt holds a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a focus on the cognitive science of teaching and learning. His research focused extensively on how interest, as a motivational variable, can be used to promote knowledge gain and development of expertise for learners of all ages.

“I find it inspiring to be surrounded by colleagues and students with such energy and passion for their work and studies. I also truly appreciate the emphasis on data-driven solutions to policy issues and how this mentality permeates the school. I am proud to be a part of Harris, and everyday I think about how I can contribute to Harris’ mission of improvement and providing solutions to problems big and small.”

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Shyla Harton

Assistant Director of Credential Programs

Shyla Harton has joined the Harris School as the Assistant Director of Credential Programs, where she'll focus on recruitment, evaluation, and program implementation. Previously, she served as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director at a St. Louis-based behavioral health organization, creating and evaluating DEI initiatives to promote inclusivity and equity. Shyla holds a Bachelor's in Social Work with a DEI certificate from the University of Kentucky and a Master's in Social Work with a focus on Social Impact Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship from Washington University in St. Louis. She is also NCCJ-certified in facilitating DEI trainings and dialogue.

“What excites me about working at Harris is the opportunity to help working adults and young professionals, like myself, navigate their next steps in contributing to global policy changes and data analysis that have the potential to impact the world. Additionally, Harris offers a supportive and collaborative environment that stands out. It's truly rewarding to be part of an organization that prioritizes the well-being and success of its staff, faculty, and students.”

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Rebecca Hou

Associate Director of Student Recruitment & Global Outreach

Rebecca Hou is the Associate Director of Student Recruitment & Global Outreach and her primary goal is to ensure a positive and personalized prospective student experience unique to Harris. She serves as the initial point of contact for prospective students, organizes the execution of recruitment events, and oversees collection of application and enrollment documentation.

She has over seven years of experience in program coordination and student services. Prior to joining Harris, Rebecca worked at Illinois Tech as a Senior Enrollment Advisor for the Office of Graduate Admissions.

“It excites me everyday knowing that the work I’m doing provides opportunities for people who will grow and make a lasting impact on the world. Here at Harris, students are constantly encouraged to listen, share, research, and reflect. I hope everyone can come to embrace the top-notch education, feel the passion and motivations that our students have, and join them in their respectful and intellectual discussions with renowned faculty within a community that promotes active learning, open minds, diversity, and inclusion.”

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Jade Jiang

Program Associate of Custom Programs

Jade Jiang is the Program Associate of Custom Programs at the Harris School of Public Policy, supporting faculty and managing program design and operations. Prior to her work at Harris, she worked in HR and technical recruiting for Fortune 500 clients, overseeing recruitment across multiple industries and roles.
Jade holds a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, where she was also a teaching assistant and Communications and Training Associate. She earned her B.A. in Economics from Kalamazoo College.

"What excites me most about Harris is the opportunity to develop learning and development solutions in public policy alongside our faculty team and a diverse portfolio of clients and partners. This work is both intellectually engaging and deeply rewarding."

Sam Johnson

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Sam writes and edits recruitment marketing communications including blog posts, student profiles, emails, event descriptions, and website updates. One of her main goals as a writer is to bring out the student voice in university communications.

In order to better understand the student experience, Sam completed the Persuasive Writing Credential Program and the Data Analytics Credential Program at Harris.

Prior to joining Harris, Sam worked as a copywriter in both Advancement and Marketing at Governors State University (GSU), where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in English. She is glad to continue making a difference through writing at Harris. 

"My favorite part of my job is interviewing students for profiles. Hearing about the work they do to enhance policy on a global scale gives me so much hope for the future."

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Ashley Mayer

Associate Director of Custom Programs

In her role, Ashley focuses on program design and client development for Harris’ non-degree custom programs. Prior to joining Harris, Ashley was a member of the Office of Career Advancement, where she built partnerships with financial services firms to connect top employers with UChicago’s undergraduates.

Ashley earned her BA in Economics from Villanova University, MA in Public Policy from Harris’ Evening Master’s Program, and has 10 years of experience in program management, employer relations, and consulting.

"As a student in Harris’ Evening Master’s Program, I saw how crucial it is to develop public sector leaders who take an evidence-based approach to policymaking. I’m thrilled to be a part of such a passionate community dedicated to moving the needle in the social sector and supporting data-driven policy leaders in their journey of life-long learning!"

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Karen McCleary

Associate Director of Student Recruitment

In her role as Associate Director of Student Recruitment, Karen connects with prospective students to show them all of the amazing opportunities available at Harris. Following the principles students learn at Harris, she loves using data-informed methods to find best-fit students for each program.

Prior to her time at Harris, Karen worked in the undergraduate admissions offices at the California Institute of Technology and Barnard College. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Carleton College and a Master of Education in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

“I find it so invigorating to interact with students and colleagues who are so passionate about the most pressing public policy issues of our time. No matter their area of interest, our students are going to change the world, and it’s an honor to be a part of their journey.”

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Absera Melaku

Associate Director of Credential Programs

Absera is a public health practitioner with over ten years of management experience in the academic, nonprofit, government, and philanthropy sectors. In her current role, Absera supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of credential and non-degree programs spanning topics in data science, public policy, and leadership development. 

Most recently, Absera served as Assistant Director of Training and Communications for UChicago’s Center for Health and the Social Sciences, where she managed  federally funded training programs spanning basic, translational, clinical, and social sciences. These programs engaged scholars across undergraduate, predoctoral, dual-degree, postdoctoral, and junior faculty career levels.

"Our credential programs are a wonderful opportunity to democratize higher education and provide a broader audience access to rigorous coursework in statistics and data analytics that Harris Public Policy is so renowned for. It’s inspiring to virtually connect with and train changemakers and scholars from all corners of the globe!"

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Roni Raulwing

Associate Director of Marketing

Roni Raulwing joins as an Associate Director of Marketing, SRGO. Roni is a California native now thriving as a Chicago transplant, and her career in digital marketing spans more than 15 years. Her professional journey encompasses pivotal roles at educational and healthcare institutions, including Stanford Medicine Children's Health and Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she held the position of Associate Director of Marketing for degree and certificate programs. Roni's expertise also spans working with startups and renowned companies like Adobe, Druva, and VMWare.

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Hillary Werner

Associate Director of Student Recruitment

Hillary Werner is an Assistant Director of Student Recruitment who assists prospective students in the application process and create personalized experiences for them.

Hillary have been working in higher education since 2018 in a variety of roles across graduate programs. Prior to coming to Harris, she worked as the Admissions Counselor for Outreach and Recruitment at Rush Medical College, specializing in the recruitment and admissions of underrepresented students. From 2018 until 2021, she worked at Northeastern University School of Law in hybrid admissions and financial aid positions. Hillary began her career as a first-grade teacher in Boston, MA before making the change to higher education.

Hillary earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Boston University in 2017 and her Master of Education from Northeastern University in 2021.

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Zoe Wu

Assistant Director of Credential Programs

Zoe is the Assistant Director of Credential Programs. She oversees all aspects of the credential programs, including business development, external client management, student recruitment, faculty communication, and program delivery.

During her MPP studies at Harris, she worked as a graduate assistant in admissions and at the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at UChicago. Zoe holds a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MPP from Harris.

“As a Harris alum, I am excited to collaborate with the next generations of data-driven leaders, assisting them in realizing their potential to create a social impact. Guiding students through their transformative journeys in our credential programs brings me great joy. I understand the significance of this path and am dedicated to ensuring their experience is remarkable.”

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Madison Zaccardelli

Assistant Director of Marketing

Madison is the Assistant Director of Marketing. She works closely with her colleagues to align on a distinct and consistent voice and tone across marketing efforts for Student Recruitment and Global Outreach team. She works to nurture leads and deliver marketing materials to prospective students. Prior to joining Harris, Madison worked as the Marketing Coordinator for the Chicago-based stationery store, Paper Source. Madison graduated from DePaul University in 2017, with a B.S. in Digital Marketing.

"It is easy to market a product you believe in and I wholeheartedly believe in an education from Harris School of Public Policy. The passion at Harris is contagious—from faculty to staff, to prospective and current students. I look forward to seeing each cohort grow and evolve into policymakers and proponents for change!"

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Lingyang Zhang

Assistant Director of Credential Programs

Lingyang supports the design and development of Harris’ new credential programs and partnerships development.
Prior to joining Harris, Lingyang had over ten years of experience in program management. She served as Program Manager and Research Fellow for Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. Before Stanford PACS, Lingyang worked at Beijing Ginkgo Foundation as a Program Director to grant social entrepreneurs in China. She also managed the planning, design, and implementation of an ESG practical course for the EMBA program of Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.
Lingyang earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Xiamen University in China and an MA in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

“When I was studying at Harris after years of practice in the social sector, I deeply realized how the courses and research at Harris could strongly equip people and promote social impact on different fields. It’s really exciting that I could join the effort of expanding those methodologies and tools to broader social innovation practitioners with more flexible formats.”

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