Megan grew up in Littleton, Colorado before attending the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in international political economy and a bachelor’s degree in politics and government with a focus on international relations. After graduating, Megan returned to Colorado to work in state politics and most recently at a private foundation serving rural nonprofits. Megan is passionate about social policy issues such as youth mental health and preventing gun violence, which led her to volunteering roles in advocacy and restorative justice programming. In her free time, Megan enjoys cooking, reading, swimming, hiking and traveling.
Ashley Aguilar is a rising second-year MPP from Chicago, IL. While at Harris she is pursuing a certificate in health administration and policy (GPHAP). Her policy interests are in early childhood education, behavioral health, and upward mobility. Her research interests are in human flourishing and psychology of religion. This summer she is interning with the Ingalls Development Foundation to advance the planning, execution, and analysis of a community needs survey to inform stakeholders working on development efforts in Harvey, IL. She is also leading a research project funded through the Arthur Quern Fellowship. The project aims to characterize the determinants of human flourishing among Harvey residents and the extent to which religious or spiritual practice is utilized to cope with prevalent stressors.
Janna Mangasep is a Master of Public Policy student at Harris. After obtaining her bachelor's in Political Economy from Tulane University, she decided to attend Harris due to the program's quantitative rigor and values around meaningful social impact. She aims to work in policy data analysis for her post-graduate career, potentially within her interest areas of education, reproductive rights, and racial/gender equity. This summer, Janna will be a Data Analyst for the University of Chicago's Inclusive Economy Lab under Dr. Chimare Eaglin, and she looks forward to collaborating with her fellow Harris students for the Summer of Social Impact program!
Nadir Khan is an econ graduate and currently serves as a Pakistani federal government employee. Having worked for education non-profits and in the public sector for over 5 years, Nadir is passionate about finding innovative data driven solutions to governance challenges in the developing world. He aims to continue the efforts to make public service delivery more responsive, transparent, integrated and efficient. Nadir is an avid traveler and likes to hike and listen to music in his free time.
"The fact that DPSS was virtual allowed me to access the program in a way that I wouldn’t have if it meant putting a pause on my career, so I was really excited for this opportunity for professional development."
Reema is a second-year MPP student at Harris Public Policy. She is specializing in global conflict and international development, and she is passionate about using her research skills for advocacy-driven storytelling. This summer, she’ll be working as a Communications Intern for Institute for Governance Reform, a think tank based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. At Harris, Reema is a Research Assistant, Pearson Fellow, and Lead Producer for Root of Conflict, a podcast about violent conflict around the world and the people, societies, and policy issues it affects. She is on the leadership teams for University of Chicago Public Policy Podcasts and the International Development Policy Association. Additionally, she is a published writer, poet, journalist, and digital media producer, and her work can be found at reemasaleh.com.