Student Profile: David Karpinski, MPP Class of 2026

A recent graduate from the University of Illinois Chicago, David Karpinski took an interest to politics and political theory. “I initially majored in music business, but I didn’t feel the passion I was seeking from a path of study. I then tried finance, where the connection to society was closer to my interests. Finally, I landed on political science. The theory and discussion of my courses satisfied my interests.”

Karpinski’s college experience provided him the space to explore career paths. “I worked on local campaigns, knocking doors and making phone calls. That involvement helped me realize I wanted to focus more on the government and policy route as opposed to campaign work.”

As a result, Karpinski began thinking about the next steps in his educational and professional journey. “I recently interned with a lobbying organization where I learned how to strategically present and promote policy, and I realized that that experience, combined with my other experiences, have all been pointing toward a career in policy and politics. As a result, I began looking for graduate programs that would provide me with more skills for my technical toolkit so I could better analyze and understand policy.”

After learning about the Harris Master of Public Policy (MPP) from a friend, Karpinski decided that Harris was the right path for him. “I want to take the economic principles I know and apply them to real-world problems. The MPP program will allow me to improve my technical background while also gaining broad frameworks for policy analysis. I look forward to the challenging and rewarding coursework, especially the rigor the core will provide. UChicago’s flexible intellectual environment attracted me.”

Harris’ location also drew Karpinski to the program. “In the long term, I want to be involved in Chicago politics, something that Harris will set me up to do. Programming with the Institute of Politics and the Urban Policy Student Association will be Chicago-focused, which will enhance my understanding of the policy landscape in the area. This will help initiate my political career in the city.”

In addition to UChicago and Harris organizations, Karpinski is excited to engage with local politics in the city. “I love working with elected officials. Each has their own story and their own ideas. By interacting with elected officials, I learn more about the decision-making process, where politics meets policy.”

Karpinski aspires to eventually work as an elected official in Chicago. “I have always been connected to the city of Chicago, and I want to give back and push for good policy. Chicago provides an interesting policy playground for democracy, and I believe that Chicago can be a trailblazer for U.S. cities. I want to be part of that.”