Student Profile: Kerem Tasdan, MPP Class of 2026

“I’m a huge nerd about history, geography, politics, and the humanities,” said Kerem Tasdan, MPP Class of 2026, “and studying those subjects illuminated for me how our interconnectedness makes us more alike than it does different.”

Studying across disciplines informed Tasdan’s approach to his undergraduate program at Illinois State University, where he majored in political science and economics with a double minor in Middle Eastern and South Asian studies and peace and conflict resolution studies. Tasdan admitted he had initially approached his undergraduate career with a very set path. “I thought, ‘I’ll get my degree, pursue international relations, and work for the State Department somewhere in DC’.”  

However, that approach changed as Tasdan’s interest in economic development, trade policy, and infrastructure and transportation developed. “Through my coursework, I began to wonder: how do we implement effective policy when it comes to funding roads and bridges? How do we support the greatest amount of infrastructure possible while also allotting the necessary time and budget to build it?”

Then, an internship with the office of Senator Dick Durbin in 2023 broadened Tasdan’s interest in domestic policy. “I worked on constituent issues—ranging from helping people with their passports to veteran benefits and social security. While the work wasn’t directly connected to domestic policy, working within that system to help people get the resources they needed did open my eyes to more domestic, localized opportunities to make an impact.” 

By the time his senior year at ISU came around, Tasdan said he knew two things: “First, I wanted to bridge the worlds of domestic and international policy. Second, I wanted to go to graduate school.” 

While exploring graduate programs, Tasdan said connecting research and development with real life policy implementation was key, and that he considered economics a common denominator. “Economics can be daunting because it's so theory-based, but it can produce rewarding results. So, I knew I wanted to get my hands dirty in some numbers—to have the analytical tools and skills necessary to succeed in whatever career path I chose. And that’s why I chose the Master of Public Policy at UChicago Harris.”

The summer before he began his studies at Harris Public Policy, Tasdan said his eyes were opened to another facet of policymaking—communication. “I began interning with Mercury Public Affairs, a public consulting firm that works with clients ranging from agriculture to transportation and infrastructure to economic security advocacy. Through my internship, I saw that beyond research, running the numbers, and having the data, the importance of communication—with stakeholders, constituents, advocacy organizations, or businesses who have some form of vested interest in policy outcomes—could not be overlooked. It's just as important to be able to learn how to communicate good public policy as it is to be able to research it.”

As for goals after graduation, Tasdan said working for the state or federal government as a policy advisor, policy consultant, or policy researcher appeals to him. “I feel most rewarded in my work when I can see the direct, positive impact that it has. If my work actively helps uplift others, that would be incredibly rewarding.”