CHICAGO — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumna Elizabeth Gutierrez calls her immersive Illini Science Policy Program experience both exciting and atypical.
In 2022, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation in Chicago had just hired its first executive director. New master’s degree in hand, Gutierrez started her position as an ISPP scholar at ILLCF, where she was able to help Oswaldo Alvarez shape the next phase of the Latino community advocacy organization.
“From the start, I was able to get involved in literally everything, from policy framework, events and scholarships to board management,” Gutierrez said of her jump-right-in start. “It was just the two of us for about seven months of my year in the program.”
University of Illinois Extension’s ISPP pairs graduates from the University of Illinois System’s three universities, which also includes campuses in Chicago and Springfield, with agencies and organizations that work to support and strengthen Illinois communities. ISPP’s sixth cohort that launched this summer is making a difference in agriculture, digital equity, education, environmental justice, and health equity.
ISPP Director Evangeline Pianfetti believes strongly in the program’s partnership model.
“The Illinois Science Policy Program is policy collaboration at its finest,” she said. “Extension professionals, community organizations, and public leaders partner to engage in meaningful dialogue so scholars can be part of behind-the-scenes policy work and the positive change it creates.
“By working to address complex challenges and elevating community voices, the program helps to prepare the next generation of public service and policy leaders to make a lasting impact.”
Path to policy work
A first-generation college student, Gutierrez transferred to University of Illinois from Moraine Valley Community College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in food science and human nutrition and her master’s in nutritional sciences.
During her coursework, Gutierrez became more and more interested in what shapes health beyond personal choices. Exposure to federal programs such as SNAP, WIC, and the National School Lunch Program showed her that policies that support access and education can change lives.
One assignment opened her eyes wide.
The instructor challenged students to feed themselves for one week on how much money SNAP funding allots.
“It was difficult,” Gutierrez said. “Failing at that, and explaining why, put things in perspective. Some people have multiple mouths to feed on SNAP. We had a lot of discussion around who sets those limits and how that’s influenced by public policy.”
That experience sparked an interest that shaped her career and connected her Mexican American heritage with ILLCF’s mission to advance Latino communities.
Inspiring others
Pianfetti recalls encouraging Gutierrez to pursue ISPP.
“I told her your worth will be defined in ways you can’t see when you’re just starting out. Your career path won’t be linear,” Pianfetti said, emphasizing the value of taking risks, of putting yourself out there.
The advice proved prophetic.
After her ISPP term ended, Gutierrez stayed on at ILLCF to serve as its chief of staff. Now, she’s been deputy director for more than a year.
In true pay-it-forward fashion, Gutierrez makes sure the next generation of ISPP scholars working with ILLCF gets a robust experience from the moment they start, just like she did.
“Elizabeth has been a huge part of making my ISPP scholar experience at the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation amazing,” said José Miguel Acosta Córdova, an urban planner and researcher who earned his PhD in geography from University of Illinois. “From the beginning, she has treated me as a colleague and given me the trust and space to bring my own ideas and experience, while also helping me better understand the policy landscape we are working within.
“I have learned a lot from her in a relatively short amount of time.”
ISPP’s immersive approach works.
“I’m grateful to have had a truly hands-on experience and exposure I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise,” Gutierrez said.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.