Barbara Bhojraj
MPA - Financial Management

Barbara (Basia) Bhojraj is a full-time student in her first year of the MPA program. With a concentration in Financial Management, Basia hopes to secure a position in budgeting or financial management in a public or nonprofit organization in Chicago area. While she is currently a member of PASA, Basia plans to join the PASA board this semester and help to create a professional networking team to plan future Panel Series events, which connect MPA students with professionals from different types of organizations. Basia also works part-time for the UIC Urban Transportation Center as a Research Assistant. She is currently working on a travel behavior study for the CTA. Basia comes to the MPA program after having worked in the private sector for three years. Prior to that time, she was an AmeriCorps volunteer for the University of Chicago Urban School Improvement Program. Basia received her B.S. in International Economics in 2003 from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

Marla Parker
MPA - Information Technology

Marla Parker is a full-time, first year MPA student. After completing her degree, she hopes to consult with urban public agencies and nonprofit organizations on ways to effectively apply technology in improving their mission delivery and organizational efficiency. She is also working at the Environmental Protection Agency as an information technology intern in the Superfund Division. Prior to coming to the MPA program, she worked in the private sector at a marketing and advertising agency. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan.

Kara Pennoyer
MPA - Local Government Management

Kara Pennoyer is a full-time, second year MPA student. With an emphasis in Local Government Management, Kara is hoping to work in public service in the Chicago area. As the current Chair of PASA, she helps to plan professional and social events for fellow students. Kara is also a Research Assistant at CUPPA's Survey Research Lab and is currently working on a study examining services available to Chicago Public Housing residents. Kara received her undergraduate degree in 2006 from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in Political Science and Communication Studies with a minor in Public Administration.

Matt Smith
MPA - Financial Management

Matt Smith is a 2008 candidate for the Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His academic concentration is financial management. In addition to his studies, he is a research assistant at the Urban Transportation Center in the university's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. Over the summer of 2007, he was a Mayoral Fellow in the Chicago Mayor's Office, working on public policy issues related to capital planning, performance management, accessible housing, eldercare, and transportation. His involvement in UIC's Public Administration Student Association has included serving on the board, as well as organizing several social events. In the spring '08 semester, Matt will lead a team of current students to develop a comprehensive survey tool which will measure student feedback on their experience and provide new insights for improvement. This effort represents just one of the many aspects of the program's long-standing commitment to continuous improvement. Prior to entering graduate school, he held a number of management positions in corporate finance, sales, and marketing with two Fortune 300 companies. He graduated cum laude from Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology. As an undergraduate, he lived in Luxembourg for a semester, studying communications.

Reginald Spears
MPA - Financial Management

Reginald received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Spring 2007. He is currently affiliated with the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor, where he investigates complaints of fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct regarding State of Illinois employees and vendors conducting business with the State. Reginald was formerly associated with Project BUILD, a non-profit organization with the mission to decrease recidivism rates of youth in Illinois. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., American Society for Public Administration, and Public Administration Student Association.

Kristina Wallig
MPA - Local Government Management

Kristina Wallig, Co-Chair and Social Coordinator of PASA, is a second-year MPA student with a Local Government Management concentration. She attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, where she double-majored in German and Political Science. Currently, Kristina has a research assistantship for the Governance Cluster at the Great Cities Institute and recently finished research for the 2008 Government Performance Project. She hopes to begin a career in federal or local government when she graduates this May.

Ada Varshavsky
MPA - Planning Processes and Development

Ada became involved in PASA the summer preceding her first semester. It was her first experience on a student organization board, acting as a Communication Officer. Ada has contributed to the PASA newsletter, from the earlier version, QuikTakes, to PA News. Ada feels this has been a great opportunity to make connections with fellow students and colleagues outside of the classroom. Her experience has been in human resources and program analysis (both private and public sectors). During her studies, Ada's goal has been to integrate the resources offered by both planning and administration, currently taking (baby) steps to bridge multi-disciplinary theories and applications in the process of making decisions.

Evelyn Yang
MPA - Financial Management

Evelyn Yang is a full-time MPA 2003 student concentrating in financial management. Prior to joining the MPA program, she worked in the private sector as a marketing associate for Houghton Mifflin Co. As part of the PASA Board, she organizes Panel Series events as an opportunity for professional development and networking. She is also a Research Assistant in CUPPA's Survey Research Laboratory where she works on studies involving ethnic disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and an annual survey for Chicago Public Schools. Evelyn holds a B.S. in Marketing and Management Information Systems from Boston University.