Jailene Aguirre is a fifth-year doctoral student in Human Development and Family Studies and is working with Chairwoman Carol Ammons. As a Guatemalan-American, first-generation college student from a low-income background, Jailene has a unique perspective and genuine interest in understanding the lived experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented individuals. Her research aims to use research-to-policy initiatives to explore various contexts with the goal of creating positive social change that will uplift families and their respective communities. Jailene’s projects will encompass leading a working group regarding the establishment of parole in the state of Illinois by engaging with stakeholders, examining policies, and drafting legislation.

Benjamin Campbell is currently a PhD student in Kinesiology and Community Health who will be working with Chairwoman Carol Ammons. Benjamin is studying youth substance use, nature access, and health policy. He brings many years of experience in criminal justice and substance use / mental health spaces and has a passion for developing effective policy for better serving residents of a community. Benjamin’s policy research focus will largely be on criminal justice policy reforms, specifically surrounding the re-establishment of parole in Illinois and higher education in prison programs. Tangentially, he will also help out on a project to understand expanded ADA Workplace protections for those with neurological disorders.

Ha Young Choi is a graduate student in Human Development and Family Studies and placed with State Representative Michael Marron. Ha Young’s project aims to determine why young individuals do not stay and find jobs in the state of Illinois (a growing trend that has intensified in the last few years). This project will collect survey data from three key population groups: young job seekers, young employees, and employers. Based on the collected data, Ha Young will work together with Marron and his staff to explore policy and legislative options that could address the gap between “the needs of young adults entering the labor force” and “the needs of the region’s industries.”

Mia Chudzik is a doctoral student in the special education department. Her research focuses on trauma-informed care in early childhood special education settings. This project addresses the various problems that individuals with disabilities and their families face by researching US legislation and policies that could be applied to Illinois. The overall goal of this project is to design policy that will provide further supports for individuals with disabilities and their families in Illinois.

Mia Leigh Renna is a graduate student in civil engineering placed with State Representative Michael Marron. Mia’s professional history includes more than eight years of military service in the US Army’s Engineering Regiment and Corps of Engineers before enrolling in graduate school. Her research focus is on equitable disaster management policy aimed to reduce social vulnerability and negative outcomes from disasters, and her project aims to expand accessibility to solar power development for Illinois 104th district’s residents and businesses.