Harris Career Development is here to help you navigate policy careers with attention to real-time industry demands and a deliberate, cross-cultural approach to relationship building. Our two key aims are to (1) ensure clarity and confidence on your path to meaningful work experiences; and (2) establish a strong sense of lifetime career support.

Meet our Career Coaches

Our Career Coaches are here to support your search from exploring options to negotiating offers.

LeChae Mottley

Associate Director, Career Development

LeChae supports Harris graduate students in exploring career options that align with their interests and values and developing essential strategies to support their short-term and long-term career goals. She has worked in social services in Chicago since 2015. She has worked with clients of all ages with various career goals, from supplementing income to transitioning into new careers. Additionally, LeChae worked as a trauma therapist for survivors of sexual assault. She also has experience providing mental health counseling for community college students.

LeChae completed her bachelor of journalism in strategic communication from the University of Missouri. Additionally, she earned a master of arts degree in social service administration from The University of Chicago's Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.

Marina Williams

Associate Director, Career Development

Marina works with Harris students to explore career options, identify professional development goals, and select pathways that align with students’ values. Prior to joining Harris, Marina taught English abroad through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, assisting in course curriculum and delivery for more than 800 students in grades 1-9. Intercultural work within her local Japanese community inspired Marina to pursue a graduate degree in international relations, during which time she also mentored international and local students at the high school level and beyond.

Following graduation, Marina further fostered her passion for education and public service by joining Rotary International’s Peace Centers team, assisting in fellowship program management for graduate students studying peace and conflict resolution. Marina holds a BA in English and Japanese language and culture from Northwestern University and an MA in law and diplomacy from Tufts University, Fletcher School. Following her graduate degree, she also earned certificates in adult mental health first aid, workplace negotiation, and project management.

Ethan Rucker

Associate Director, Digital Solutions & Career Systems Manager

Through his experiences as a licensed professional counselor, advisor, and educator, Ethan established his passion for cultivating student career readiness. He received a BS in Psychology from the University of Florida and taught in Indianapolis through Teach for America. Ethan moved to Chicago in 2014 and earned an Ed.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University Chicago. He advised students in career engagement and planning at Loyola as both a graduate career advisor and academic advisor.

Alejandro Monroy, LSW

Associate Director, Career Development

Since 2011, Alejandro has been working with students from high school to graduate school in variety of roles.  Whether in admissions, academic advising, or career readiness, at his core, he is enthusiastic about partnering with students to guide them through their academic and career goals.  Most recently, Alejandro coached Master’s candidates in their career exploration and readiness at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA).  He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University, and a A.M. degree in Social Service Administration from SSA.  Outside of Harris, Alejandro is a freelance photographer and volunteers with organizations working to advance inclusive policies and communities at the intersection of education and immigration.

 

 

Meet our Employer Partnerships Team

The Employer Partnerships team is here to forge relationships with employers that want to hire Harris talent.

Alli Foley

Senior Associate Director, Employer Partnerships 

With over a decade of experience in employer partnerships, workforce development, nonprofit leadership, and education, Alli Foley is committed to fostering career growth and industry engagement. In her current role, Alli manages employer relationships spanning international development organizations, research institutions, think tanks, nonprofits, and foundations. Through strategic partnership building, student mentorship, and market analysis, she enhances recruitment pipelines and connects top talent with impactful career opportunities.

Alli started her career in education. First as an educator in the classroom and then as the Director of LAUNCH U, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting first-generation college students, designed training curricula, expanded corporate partnerships, and led large-scale fundraising initiatives to provide students with professional mentorship and career development resources.

Alli earned her BA in English and psychology and also completed her MA in educational studies with secondary teaching certification at the University of Michigan. 

Christina Xu

Associate Director, Employer Partnerships

Christina Xu works as the Associate Director of Employer Partnerships. She manages all facets of the relationship development with employers in Greater China, securing internship and full-time opportunities for Harris students, while growing and maintaining the Greater China employer portfolio. She also advises students on appropriate career management and job search skills through well-designed programming, as well as provides opportunities for engagement between employers and students. 

Prior to joining the Employer Partnerships team, Christina served as Finance Manager in Harris finance team after transferring from the Chemistry Department at The University of Chicago. She worked with faculty and students on grants & contracts preparation, and submission; advised and assisted in budget development, financial reporting, and other relations and communications with funding agencies and subawardees. She was responsible for all post-award activities, including forecasting, reconciliation and monitoring all expenditures. Christina also guided faculty, staff and procurement specialists on policies and procedures for fulfilling all aspects of the procurement process. After graduating from business school, Christina was an International Product Development Manager. She developed a global sourcing strategy, led the new product development team on searching for new sources, recommended new product categories & pricing through extensive market analysis, and launched marketing campaigns through multiple channels. She managed the entire product development cycle and procurement process, and had extensive experience working with international partners. 

Christina holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the Capital University of Economics & Business and a MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a dual concentration in Marketing and Finance. 

Jason Hanchar

Senior Associate Director, Employer Partnerships

Jason brings nearly two decades of sales, marketing, relationship management and corporate partnerships experience to Harris. He has focused his professional efforts on delivering against business objectives by driving top-notch solutions, implementing innovative strategies and providing best-in-class account management and client/customer service to a variety of industries.  Jason strives to be a difference-maker in all aspects of his life and loves bringing people together.  He is committed to maximizing opportunities through strategic partnerships, working cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders and developing authentic and mutually beneficial relationships.  

Originally from Northwest Indiana, Jason earned his Master's degree in Sports Management from Indiana State University and holds a B.S. in Communications & Public Relations with a Journalism minor, also from Indiana State University.  In his spare time, Jason enjoys attending Cubs games, being outdoors, going to concerts, spending time with friends and exploring the city. 

Sibyl Day

Senior Associate Director, Employer Partnerships

Sibyl is an experienced professional with over 15 years in employer engagement, client management, and healthcare policy. In her current role, she manages corporate partnerships in consulting, finance, and healthcare, fostering strategic relationships that connect organizations with top talent.

Sibyl joined Harris Public Policy following a diverse career in healthcare consulting and client management.  Her experience includes health policy research and analysis, program management and evaluation, client relationship management at previous companies including Evolent Health, Health Dialog and Mathematica Policy Research. 

Sibyl has a BA from Occidental College and a MPH in Health Management from Yale University’s School of Public Health.

 

Paige Azuma

Director, Employer Partnerships

Paige manages the strategic direction and operations of the employer partnerships team. In this role, she works to ensure that the Career Development Office effectively implements the necessary employer engagement strategies to support hiring and create new pathways for employers to hire Harris students. 

Paige joined Harris Public Policy with over 15 years of experience in in non-profit management and fundraising consulting where she provided strategic leadership and project management for a diverse portfolio of nonprofit clients, including organizations in education, the arts, environmental advocacy, and international services. Her work is rooted in helping mission-driven organizations expand their impact and achieve long-term sustainability.

Paige completed her BA in sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University and her MA from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration.
 

Additional Career Resource: UCHICAGOGRAD

Along with the Career Readiness Team for Harris, there are additional tools and resources to help you explore your options, connect with professionals, and develop professional skills at UChicagoGRAD.