GRADUCon - UChicagoGRAD | The University of Chicago

About

GRADUCon is the university’s annual career exploration conference for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. Each year the conference brings together hundreds of participants for a full day of career-themed panel discussions and one-on-one conversations with UChicago alumni mentors. By centering the stories and advice of alumni, GRADUCon inspires students and postdocs and empowers them to achieve their professional goals.

GRADUCon 2026 will take place on March 27, 2026. Browse panels by subject area (HUMSS and STEM) and view the full schedule (updates in progress) alongside speaker bios.

PANEL OVERVIEWS

HUMSS

STEM

SCHEDULE

9:00–10:00 a.m. | Careers in Museums | Library Lounge

Leila Makdisi (she/her) | Senior Manager of School & Family Experience, Adler Planetarium (University of Chicago, MAPSS History & Philosophy of Science ’13)
Amanda Block | Director, Curatorial Documentation and Research, Office of the President and Director Art Institute of Chicago (University of Chicago, MA Art History ’15)
Kristen Lopez (she/they) | Curatorial Coordinator, Collections Information & Digital Interpretation The Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University (University of Edinburgh, MSc Medieval Literatures, Languages and Cultures ’17; University of Chicago, PhD Romance Languages and Literatures ’24)
Christine Mehring (moderator) | Mary L. Block Professor of Art History and the College University of Chicago (Harvard University, PhD History of Art and Architecture ’01)

10:00–11:15 a.m. | Careers in Media and Publishing | Max P Cinema

Aurora Martinez del Rio (she/her) | Content Strategy Analyst, McMaster-Carr (University of Chicago, PhD Linguistics ’23)

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Careers in Development and Fundraising | Library Lounge

Alexander Jania (he/him) | Institutional Giving Manager, Hyde Park Art Center (University of Chicago, PhD History ’22)
Jasmine Benjamin (she/her)

1:00–2:00 p.m. | Careers in Research and Development | Library Lounge

2:15–3:15 p.m. | Careers in Entrepreneurship and Startup | Library Lounge

Connor Horn | Co-founder, CEO K1 Semiconductor (University of Chicago, PhD Quantum Engineering ’25)

3:30–4:30 p.m. | Careers in Consulting | Max P Cinema

Nikhil Etikela | Consultant, Simon-Kicher (University of Chicago, AB Neuroscience ’23, ScM Precision Health ’24)
Ellie Vorhaben (she/her) | Senior Consultant, Deloitte (University of Chicago, MPP Government and Public Services ’22)

9:00–10:00 a.m. | Insights Roles in Industry | Max P Cinema

Sarah Nodarse (she/her) (moderator) | Founder and Leader, Highrise Vista Consulting LLC (University of Chicago, MA Social Sciences ’00; University of Chicago, PhD Anthropology ’06)

10:00–11:15 a.m. | Careers in Advocacy and Policy | Library Lounge

Andrew Herrera (he/him/él) | President, Herrera Strategy (University of Chicago, MaPP ’20)
Luvia Quiñones (she/her/ella) | Senior Director, Health Policy Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) (University of Chicago MPP ’11)

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Careers in Gaming | Max P Cinema

Kellie Lu (she/they) | Game Designer, Filament Games (University of Chicago, MA Humanities ’21)
Josh Miles (he/him) | Director, Cultural Foresight & Strategy Electronic Arts (EA) (University of Chicago, MA Social Sciences ’13)
Patrick Jagoda (moderator)

1:00–2:00 p.m. | Careers in AI & ML | Max P Cinema

Ali Vanderveld (she/her) (moderator) | Machine Learning Scientist (Cornell University, PhD Physics ’07; California Institute of Technology, Postdoctoral Scholar ’07–’10; University of Chicago, KICP Postdoctoral Fellow, ’10–’13)

2:15–3:15 p.m. | Careers in Quantitative Finance | Max P Cinema

Simon Andreichuk (he/him) | Quant Trader, Eagle Seven (University of Chicago, MS Financial Mathematics ’21)

3:30–4:30 p.m. | Careers in Science Communication | Library Lounge

Jordan Greer (he/him) | Social Media Manager, Cell Press (San Francisco State University, MS Animal Behavior ’17; University of Chicago, MS Evolutionary Biology ’20)
Sheila Evans (she/her) | Public Information Specialist, American College of Surgeons (University of Chicago, MA Humanities ’23)
Jordan Bimm (he/him) (moderator) | Assistant Instructional Professor of Science Communication and Public Discourse, University of Chicago (York University, MA Science & Technology Studies ’10; York University, PhD Science & Technology Studies ’18; Princeton University, Postdoctoral Training, Sociology of Science, ’20)

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BIOS

Leila Makdisi (she/her) | Senior Manager of School & Family Experience, Adler Planetarium (University of Chicago, MAPSS History & Philosophy of Science ’13)

Leila has over a decade of experience in informal museum education and science communication which includes the development, implementation and evaluation of programming, as well as training staff and volunteers, for institutions in Chicago. Her work focuses on making science and scientific thinking exciting and accessible by employing facilitation techniques that encourage learners to build self-confidence. Leila holds a BA in physics from Bard College and is a 2013 UChicago MAPSS graduate focusing on the history and philosophy of science. Leila is currently the Senior Manager of School & Family Experience at the Adler Planetarium.

Amanda Block | Director, Curatorial Documentation and Research, Office of the President and Director Art Institute of Chicago (University of Chicago, MA Art History ’15)

Amanda Block is the director, curatorial documentation and research, in the Office of the President and Director at the Art Institute of Chicago. She supports the deputy director’s portfolio of curatorial and curatorial affairs departments, contributing to the collection, care, interpretation, and research of works of art across the museum in addition to guiding the museum’s scholarly documentation, provenance research, and cataloguing initiatives.

Kristen Lopez (she/they) | Curatorial Coordinator, Collections Information & Digital Interpretation The Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University (University of Edinburgh, MSc Medieval Literatures, Languages and Cultures ’17; University of Chicago, PhD Romance Languages and Literatures ’24)

Kirsten Lopez (she/ella/they, Mexican/Guatemalan) joined The Block team in 2024 as Curatorial Coordinator after completing her doctoral work at UChicago on medieval tombs, epitaphs, and contemporary installation art. Throughout her involvement in projects spanning public history at the Chicago History Museum, qualitative data analysis for the journal Modern Philology, and museum education at The Smart Museum of Art, Kirsten has developed a transhistorical, humanistic understanding of cultural production that considers multiple, interacting receptive contexts. Kirsten’s current role includes efforts to improve digital museum accessibility, ethical archiving, and object-based teaching and learning for students, faculty, and community.

Christine Mehring (moderator) | Mary L. Block Professor of Art History and the College University of Chicago (Harvard University, PhD History of Art and Architecture ’01)

Dr. Christine Mehring is the Mary L. Block Professor of Art History and the College at the University of Chicago. Her research, writing, and teaching in modern and contemporary art focuses on abstraction; postwar European art; the crossovers between art and design; and photography and the relations between old and new media. Complementing her scholarly publications, she has curated exhibitions, public art projects, and public programs on and beyond campus, and spearheaded curricular initiatives to expand student opportunities in curation and objects study. Her forthcoming co-edited volume on Monochrome Multitudes, which grew out of her eponymous 2022 exhibition, includes texts by 42 current and former students. She currently leads a team of over a dozen students to curate a fall 2027 exhibition of postwar artist’s books in the Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center. In addition to academic careers, her advisees have gone on to positions at the Art Institute of Chicago, Blaffer Museum, Hawai’i Contemporary, Leslie Lohman Museum, LACMA, MCA Chicago, MoMA, SFMoMA, Wrightwood 659, and the Yale University Art Gallery.

Aurora Martinez del Rio (she/her) | Content Strategy Analyst, McMaster-Carr (University of Chicago, PhD Linguistics ’23)

Aurora is a multidisciplinary researcher and communicator, currently working as a Content Strategy Analyst within the Publishing Department at McMaster-Carr. She started her career following the completion of her doctoral research, focused on variation in American Sign Language, and moved into data management for a youth development non-profit. In her current role, Aurora conducts product research and creates content to help improve customers’ experience navigating McMaster-Carr’s website.

Alexander Jania (he/him) | Institutional Giving Manager, Hyde Park Art Center (University of Chicago, PhD History ’22)

Alex Jania is a fundraiser, educator, and strategic storyteller. Currently the Institutional Giving Manager at Hyde Park Art Center, Alex uses his storytelling, grant writing, and project management experience to steward and secure over 1 million dollars in annual funding for the Art Center’s 3 million dollar budget. Alex also continues to publish in academic journals, teach, and pursue writing projects in his areas of expertise including disaster studies, environmental history, and modern Japan.

Connor Horn | Co-founder, CEO K1 Semiconductor (University of Chicago, PhD Quantum Engineering ’25)

Connor Horn is a semiconductor and materials science professional with experience spanning industry, national laboratories, and academic institutions. He founded K1 Semiconductor, a company focused on advanced semiconductor wafer manufacturing, in 2025 as a spinoff of his PhD research in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at UChicago. Prior to his PhD, he earned his bachelors degree in Engineering Physics from Cornell University, where he developed a strong foundation in applied research. He brings a research-driven approach to solving complex technical problems with a focus on driving innovation and near-term value creation in deep-tech industries.

Nikhil Etikela | Consultant, Simon-Kicher (University of Chicago, AB Neuroscience ’23, ScM Precision Health ’24)

Nikhil Etikela is a healthcare and life sciences consultant at Simon-Kucher, where he works on global engagements spanning the U.S., Europe, and Asia. His project experience covers a wide range of strategic and therapeutic areas, including rare diseases, neurology, and precision medicine and diagnostics. His work focuses on pricing and market access strategy, regulatory/market landscape assessment, and M&A advisory across the product lifecycle. Aside from consulting, he has worked on various research endeavors at the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, the University of Chicago, and Yale University, informing his interest in translating scientific innovation into scalable healthcare solutions. Nikhil earned both of his degrees from the University of Chicago (A.B. Neuroscience ’23, Sc.M Precision Health ’24).

Ellie Vorhaben (she/her) | Senior Consultant, Deloitte (University of Chicago, MPP Government and Public Services ’22)

Ellie is a Government and Public Services Senior Consultant at Deloitte where she leverages her expertise in communication, stakeholder management, and data and policy analysis to drive meaningful change in the public sector. She has several years of experience in federal grants management, broadband infrastructure policy, and financial analysis, with a background in international economics, economic forecasting, and public policy.

Sarah Nodarse (she/her) (moderator) | Founder and Leader, Highrise Vista Consulting LLC (University of Chicago, MA Social Sciences ’00; University of Chicago, PhD Anthropology ’06)

Dr. Nodarse is an organizational culture strategist who helps organizations improve current performance and future resilience through cultural intelligence. Over two decades as a trusted advisor to large, multinational organizations, Dr. Nodarse has built effective employee listening strategies, trained managers and leaders in core people skills, and helped executives build the talent management systems and collaborative mindsets they need to achieve their strategic objectives. With a background in cultural anthropology (specialized in organizational culture) and over a decade of experience living and working in Europe, Dr. Nodarse debuted her consulting career on the Employee Experience team at Willis Towers Watson (formerly Towers Perrin – ISR) in both the Paris and Chicago offices. She subsequently expanded her subject matter expertise in talent management and her consulting and facilitation skills at The Zone Global and Language & Culture Worldwide in Chicago. In 2025 she founded Highrise Vista Consulting LLC. Driving her work today is the belief in the power of culture to help organizations reach their full potential and solve the world’s most pressing problems. Highrise Vista’s core mission is to build cultural intelligence or CQ, the core people competency that drives organizational success. CQ empowers leaders to lead authentically, inspiring their teams to align to common goals, work better together, and grow through conflict.

Andrew Herrera (he/him/él) | President, Herrera Strategy (University of Chicago, MaPP ’20)

Andrew Herrera is the founder of Herrera Strategy, an MBE certified Public Affairs firm that provides full-service public policy campaign support—from power mapping and message development to coalition building and policymaker engagement. Andrew began his career working on the Affordable Care Act rollout in Illinois before consulting for global brands on multicultural marketing campaigns and spending years mobilizing working families in support of progressive candidates. After earning his Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School in 2020, he transitioned to the non-profit media sector, serving as Director of Growth Strategy and later Director of Network Growth at City Bureau, where he led the national expansion of the acclaimed Documenters program and developed expertise in non-profit funding and administration. Drawing on his combined background in communications, grassroots organizing, public policy training, and non-profit leadership, Andrew founded Herrera Strategy with his wife in 2020. The firm now lobbies on behalf of advocacy organizations around labor and environmental issues while advising clients and candidates across a broad range of policy matters and providing robust strategic communications and branding support. He is a proud Pilsenite where he is an aspiring baker and gardener with a growing family.

Luvia Quiñones (she/her/ella) | Senior Director, Health Policy Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) (University of Chicago MPP ’11)

Luvia Quiñones serves as the Senior Director of Health Policy at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). In this role, Luvia oversees the organization’s health justice work and in collaboration with ICIRR’s members develops ICIRR’s health policy agenda with a special focus on access to health care for uninsured. Luvia has a Master in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Chicago and a BA in International Studies from DePaul University. She is the daughter of Mexican Immigrants from Durango, Mexico. Currently, she serves as a board member of the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (IAFCC) and Thresholds.

Kellie Lu (she/they) | Game Designer, Filament Games (University of Chicago, MA Humanities ’21)

Kellie Lu is a twice award-nominated game designer, content designer and game writer. At Filament Games, Kellie leads teams of 4-6 to create educational games and uses a full range of design skills, from level design to systems design. Kellie also runs a ludonarrative analysis discussion club.

Josh Miles (he/him) | Director, Cultural Foresight & Strategy Electronic Arts (EA) (University of Chicago, MA Social Sciences ’13)

I currently lead a research team within EA’s Consumer Insights function that supports central strategy initiatives, new incubation products, and cultural foresight research. Our work ranges from leading insight-led ideation workshops to develop new business and creative ideas, tracking emerging trends impacting the interactive entertainment space, and evaluating the potential of early game concepts. Prior to joining EA, I worked in design research and strategy consulting roles, leveraging my social science background and ethnographic training to support innovation projects for companies across tech, healthcare, and CPG.
Ali Vanderveld (she/her) (moderator)
Ali Vanderveld is a Machine Learning expert and former Astrophysicist. She was most recently a Senior Staff Data Scientist at Wayfair, where she led the development of novel search and recommendation technologies. Prior to Wayfair, she led a team focused on language AI at Amazon Web Services and was the Director of Data Science at ShopRunner. She has also worked at Civis Analytics, at Groupon, and as a technical mentor for the Data Science for Social Good Fellowship. Ali has a PhD in theoretical astrophysics from Cornell University and got her start working as an academic researcher at Caltech, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the University of Chicago, working on the development teams for several space telescope missions, including ESA’s Euclid.

Simon Andreichuk (he/him) | Quant Trader, Eagle Seven (University of Chicago, MS Financial Mathematics ’21)

B.A. in Math and Computer Science from Boston University and M.S. in Financial Mathematics from the University of Chicago. Quant Trader on FX Desk at Eagle Seven. Over 3 years of experience in futures trading and quantitative research. Staying active through soccer and mountain biking in my free time.

Jordan Greer (he/him) | Social Media Manager, Cell Press (San Francisco State University, MS Animal Behavior ’17; University of Chicago, MS Evolutionary Biology ’20)

I work within the Media and Comms Department of Cell Press helping to manage/support both the brand and all journals underneath the Cell Press umbrella (Cell, Current Biology, Chem, etc.) with their social media goals. Additionally, I support the press office by interviewing scientists and writing press releases that are submitted to journalists pre-embargo for potential news coverage. Outlets who have covered our research include CNN, NPR, the New York Times, and more.

Sheila Evans (she/her) | Public Information Specialist, American College of Surgeons (University of Chicago, MA Humanities ’23)

Sheila Evans is a Chicago-based science writer dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific research and the public. Her work spans the spectrum of science, from the benefits of growing human organs in space to unraveling the genetics of yellow fuzzy bats. Previously, she honed her writing and media relations skills at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum. She now applies that expertise in her role at the American College of Surgeons.

Jordan Bimm (he/him) (moderator) | Assistant Instructional Professor of Science Communication and Public Discourse, University of Chicago (York University, MA Science & Technology Studies ’10; York University, PhD Science & Technology Studies ’18; Princeton University, Postdoctoral Training, Sociology of Science, ’20)

Jordan Bimm is a historian of science and assistant instructional professor of science communication and public discourse at the University of Chicago, specializing in space exploration and the search for life beyond Earth. He also brings a decade of journalism experience and six years as a public-facing media expert on space topics. At UChicago, he plays a leading role in the Science Communication and Public Discourse (SCPD) minor, where he develops and teaches its primary courses. He also directs the undergraduate Science Communication Research Fellows program. His scholarly work has appeared in Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences (HSNS), Social Studies of Science (SSS), and Technology & Culture, and he has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Scientific American, and WIRED. His contributions have earned a Guggenheim postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the David Edge Prize for social studies of science. He recently co-led the NASA-supported workshop Communicating Discoveries in the Search for Life in the Universe (CDSLU), served on NASA’s Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (DARES) Task Force 1, and sits on the SETI Institute’s Science Advisory Board.

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