Shreya Joshi

Shreya is an IT professional with over four years of industry experience. She holds a Master’s in Management from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor’s in Information Technology. As a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Shreya offers a distinct blend of technical expertise and managerial acumen. Her experience includes leading teams in software implementation and data management projects. I have a robust background in project management, having collaborated with clients across the telecom, supply chain, e-commerce, and international banking sectors. Shreya is placed with the Department of Innovation and Technology.

Marissa Leal

Marissa graduated from University of Illinois Chicago with both a B.A. and M.A. in Criminology, Law, and Justice. As a student, Marissa was heavily involved with the LARES (Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services) office and is an advocate of the Latino community. During the program, Marissa created two research posters, which she presented at the 26th & 27th Annual ILACHE Conferences. After this, she went on to join UPPF as a student for the 2019 to 2020 cohort; she returned as a UPPF Graduate Assistant during graduate studies. In her spare time, she volunteers as an Election Judge, assisting on election day with the check-in and registration of voters. Her long-term goal is to enroll in law school and practice in the legal profession with hope to teach or advise at the college level. Her hobbies include painting and creating digital art.  Marissa is placed with the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus / Caucus Foundation.

Vyshnavi Jetti

Vyshnavi has a background in engineering, technology, and management, coupled with a passion for improving people’s quality of life. Throughout her academic and professional journey, she has consistently sought opportunities to positively impact society. By leveraging diverse roles, Vyshnavi has developed a well-rounded skill set in research, decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership. Her long-term goal is to work on leveraging technologies like AI and cloud computing to enhance the standard of living for people, using these advancements to drive meaningful and lasting improvements in society. Vyshnavi is placed with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency  - Office of Homeland Security. 

Mary Ojoma

Mary is a Nigerian licensed lawyer who completed her LLM degree at University of Illinois’ College of Law, concentrating in Corporate and Commercial Law. In addition to working as an associate at a top-tier law firm, Mary volunteered with a literacy foundation, advocating for education and providing mentoring and tutoring to out-of-school children. She also collaborated on the Tolerance Means Dialogue initiative, which fostered public discussions aimed at finding constructive approaches to living together in a pluralistic society. Mary is interested in policy issues around equality and the development of underserved and underrepresented communities. Mary is placed with the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus / Black Caucus Foundation.

Samantha Pierce

Sami completed their master’s in public administration (MPA) at UIS. Sami has had a long-standing passion for public service, equity, and community engagement. While completing their MPA, they produced research on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment of veterans with psychiatric disorders and wrote a textbook chapter on the function of genre in writing. They have a passion for understanding and addressing the unique socioeconomic issues facing rural populations from food insecurity to the opioid epidemic. Outside of career and academics, Sami spends time with friends, reads about social and political history, and works on various creative endeavors. Sami is placed with the Congressional Office of Representative Nikki Budinski.

Stephanie Schnaufer

Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree in food science and human nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and a master’s of business administration from Dominican University. During her MBA, she created the first student consulting business at her university which paired marketing students with developing small businesses to improve their website and social media presence. To connect to her nutrition background, Stephanie has partnered up with another fellow dietitian to lead free nutrition education events for underserved communities in Chicago. Her current hobbies include: long walks by the lake, open mic nights, and painting. Stephanie is placed with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Broadband.

M. Alex Sprinkle

Alex earned a master’s degree in community health from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has strong experience and passion for ensuring that all individuals, no matter their age, race, gender identity, or SES, have equitable access to community resources to maintain and improve physical and mental well-being. Alex supports his community as a public-school educator and through community service initiatives. In his spare time, Alex enjoys the outdoors, cooking, reading, and writing. Alex is placed with the Illinois Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Juliana Stratton. 

ALICIA L. ROSS

Degree/ Program: ABD, Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership

Hometown: Central Islip, Long Island, New York Host: Illinois DCEO, Office of Broadband

Alicia has extensive experience in learning technologies. She began her work as a consultant working in several Chicago Public Schools and later joined as a Technology Adviser for CUIP a University of Chicago organization. She conferred her master’s degree at University of Chicago with a thesis focused on digital divide in developing countries upon completion of her research in Ghana, West Africa.

Why are you interested in ISPP?

My experiences in school have given me an opportunity to explore my interest in the policy field, and I want to now begin applying my course experiences. I want to learn about policy work here in Illinois and believe in the important work that each Illinois State Department is doing for all of us here in Illinois, nationally, and internationally.

YU TIAN (⽥宇)

Degree/ Program: MS Civil Engineer & Urban Planning Hometown: Shanghai, China

Host: Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology

Yu Tian graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign with Master's degree in Urban Planning and Civil Engineering in May 2022. He is passionate in informing people by his expertise in spatial and demographic data analysis. His work in DoIT focused on linking resources with people, moved the accessible STEAM resources forward, and analyzed resources capacity for policymaking. Additionally, he is good at video editing and animation generating to promote event and information to the public. Apart from academic domains, he is interested in history and traveling, where he enjoys learning firsthand about different places and cultures throughout the world. Yu Tian enjoys meeting people and expects to learn from everyone.

Why are you interested in ISPP?

I am looking forward to putting into practice the skills and ideas I learned. Also, I am interested in utilizing my knowledge in different field and exploring potential chances of improve the social equity.

ELIZABETH GUITERREZ

Degree/ Program: MS Nutritional Sciences Hometown: Oak Forest, Illinois

Host: Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus / Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation

Elizabeth Gutierrez, from the south suburbs of Chicago, received her master's in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Her passion lies in policy and advocacy, focusing on public health and nutrition. She found a passion for promoting health equity through establishing nutrition security within communities through her time working and volunteering with the community. Her new experiences at ILLCF have lit a fire under her to learn more and specifically do more for her community in any way she can.  In her free time, she volunteers with the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access team, and is the public policy co-coordinator. When not checking stuff off her to-do list, she's probably cooking, playing with her chihuahua Moped, or trying to be outside with local music. 

Why are you interested in ISPP?

I have a passion for health equity and understand that policy has an impact to change individuals' lives. With that said, I am interested in honing my skills for a future career working with a diverse group of individuals so I can excel in my next position.

OLUWAKEMI ADEYEMI

Degree/ Program: Master of Laws Hometown: Osun State, Nigeria

Host: Illinois Legislative Black Caucus / Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation

Oluwakemi Adeyemi is a Nigeria-qualified legal practitioner with over five years post-call experience which cut across government agencies and private legal practice in dispute resolution and corporate/commercial practice. Oluwakemi uses his skills, knowledge, and experiences in the curation of solutions to challenges.

Why are you interested in ISPP?

I applied because I want to deploy my skills, knowledge, and experiences in finding solutions to problems that affect underserved communities.

OLUWASEUN OJO

Degree/ Program: Master of Laws Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Host: IDOA, Division of Natural Resources

Oluwaseun is a Nigerian-qualified attorney who previously worked as an associate with top-tier and leading commercial law firms in Nigeria, with significant experience providing legal advisory to private and public sector entities in connection with corporate and project finance transactions, acquisitions and corporate restructurings, infrastructure development and policy advisory. Oluwaseun is passionate about policy issues around climate change, sustainability, energy transition, and the development and financing of renewable energy projects.

Why are you interested in ISPP?

I believe the program will provide an excellent platform for me to express my long-nurtured interests in public policy and fully explore issues around climate change, energy transition and sustainability directly impacting the community.