About the Team

Our Mission

UChicagoGRAD’s career development team is a dedicated group of advisors and relationship builders. With academic and professional backgrounds that align with those of the populations we serve, we understand the graduate and postdoctoral experience and the distinct value that rigorous advanced-degree training brings to the wider world.

We support graduate students and postdocs by providing individualized advising, skill-building workshops, career exploration events, and connections to employers and alumni. Our nationally recognized resources and programs equip those we serve to become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government. We encourage graduate students and postdocs to bring their passion for inquiry and innovation to the career development process, empowering them to define and achieve their own visions of professional success.

Career Development Team

	Monica Barry, Director, External Relations monicabarry14@uchicago.edu (773) 834-2962 Monica works closely with external stakeholders inclusive of employers and alumni to cultivate long-term partnerships, create and sustain hiring pipelines, and advocate on behalf of graduate students and postdocs. She supports the Advance Internship Program, experiential programming, and on-campus and external employment opportunity promotion. Monica earned her MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago.
	Steffen Blings, Associate Director, Graduate Career Development sblings@uchicago.edu (773) 834-3096 Steffen is a dedicated career advisor for social science and humanities PhD students and postdocs. He received his PhD in Government from Cornell University. Prior to joining the UChicagoGRAD team he served as an assistant professor and research project manager. Steffen also organizes professional development events to support graduate students and postdocs at UChicago.
	Elahe Ganji, Associate Director, myCHOICE eganji@uchicago.edu (773) 795-5437 As the associate director of myCHOICE, Elahe leads the development and implementation of programming that supports the career and professional development of UChicago STEM doctoral and postdoctoral trainees. Before joining myCHOICE, Elahe gained advanced multi-disciplinary research and administration experience as a graduate trainee at the University of Delaware College of Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School and a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Illinois.
	Amy Hark, Director of STEM Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Development ahark@uchicago.edu (773) 834-5002 Amy is a dedicated career advisor for STEM PhD students and postdocs. She received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Northwestern University and prior to joining the UChicagoGRAD team worked as a postdoctoral researcher. Amy also organizes professional development and career exploration events to support graduate students and postdocs at UChicago.
	Emmett Kraus, Employer Relations Coordinator eekraus@uchicago.edu
	Breanna Langett, Assistant Director, Graduate Career Development blangett@uchicago.edu Breanna is a committed career advisor for Humanities and Social Sciences students with UChicagoGRAD. Prior to joining the team, she taught Economics & US History in NYC and advised PharmD students at Temple University in Philadelphia. Breanna received her MA in Teaching from Binghamton University.
	Fiona Maxwell, Assistant Director, Graduate Career Development fmaxwell@uchicago.edu Fiona is a dedicated career advisor for graduate students in the Humanities and Social Sciences. She will be receiving her PhD in History from the University of Chicago in June 2025. In addition to supporting professional development programming, Fiona specializes in public speaking and writing coaching and contributes to GRAD’s Communication Lab. Her background in theatre, improv, and storytelling informs her approach to helping students practice conversational and narrative communication styles.
	Leah Ramsey, Assistant Director, Programming and External Relations leahramsey@uchicago.edu Leah facilitates experiential learning initiatives and programming for graduate students and postdocs across divisions at UChicago. She works closely with alumni and campus partners to organize professional development opportunities. Leah received her MA from the University of Chicago Divinity School.
	Courtney Wiersema, Senior Director, Professional Development and External Relations cwiersema@uchicago.edu (773) 702-3999 As director of the Professional Development Team, Courtney oversees the delivery of career development, experiential learning, fellowships, and communications programming. She previously directed the Mellon- and NEH-funded PATHS program at UChicagoGRAD. She serves as a dedicated career advisor for PhD students and postdocs in the Humanities Division. She received her Ph.D. in History from the University of Notre Dame.

Career Development Interns

	Rachel Chery, MA Career Advising Intern rtoussaint@uchicago.edu Rachel Chery is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the Music Department at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on the history of radio in Haiti and the role it and YouTube play in connecting Haitians transnationally. As a UChicagoGRAD career advising intern, she supports MA students in the Humanities and Social Sciences with career exploration, resume and cover letter preparation, interviewing, and the PhD application process.
	Emilia Wenzel, Career Advising Intern eszmyrgala@uchicago.edu Emilia Wenzel is a 4th-year PhD candidate in the Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago, researching pre-k teacher beliefs and practices surrounding early math learning. As a UChicagoGRAD Career Advising Intern, Emilia advises graduate students on topics such as resume writing, interview preparation, and career exploration. Emilia’s background as a former teacher and experience mentoring students and organizing student-focused events informs her approach to guiding students in their academic and career pathways.
	Nora Lambert, Career Advising Intern nslambert@uchicago.edu Nora Lambert is a PhD candidate in the Department of Art History at the University of Chicago, where she specializes in late medieval and early modern Italy. Prior to arriving at the University of Chicago, she held positions at several art museums including the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nora was the Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art, where she curated the 2021 exhibition, Lust, Love, and Loss in Renaissance Europe. In her new role at UChicagoGRAD, Nora advises MA students interested in pursuing careers or further graduate school in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Employer Relations Intern

Ziling Zeng, Employer Relations Intern zzeng1@uchicago.edu Ziling Zeng is a 1st-year graduate student in MAPSS at the University of Chicago, specifically on the psychology track. Prior to arriving at the University of Chicago, she was an undergraduate student at the University of California, Davis. Outside of work and study, she enjoys exercising and painting.