Hailey Aldrich (she/her) is a dual Masters Candidate in Social Work, Social Policy, Social Administration & Social Sector Leadership and Nonprofit Management at the Crown Family School at the University of Chicago. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ithaca College in May of 2022 with her Bachelors of Science in Communication, Management & Design with minors in Journalism and Legal Studies. After graduating, Hailey moved to Washington, D.C., to complete a year of service through the AmeriCorps VISTA program with the National Homelessness Law Center (the Law Center). After her contract year, Hailey joined the Law Center team full time as the Development Associate where she has had the opportunity to learn about the nonprofit funding landscape in the U.S. and connect with the larger domestic housing justice movement. Hailey was introduced to the concept of housing instability and homelessness through her service at shelters and soup kitchens as a child. In college, this service developed into street outreach and garnering community awareness through collaborating with community organizations and the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity, of which she served as advocacy chair (2 years) and president (1 year). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hailey worked as an intake coordinator at her local domestic violence shelter and learned about the intersection between gender-based violence and homelessness. In the spring of 2024, Hailey was a part of the fundraising and community organizing efforts around the U.S. Supreme Court Case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, the first case about homelessness to be heard by the Court in over 40 years. Hailey understands housing to be a human right and homelessness to be a result of unjust housing policy and systemic oppression. She seeks to look beyond and learn about different housing and community development models with the goal of working toward housing and economic justice. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Hailey is a lover of the arts and likes to frequent the city’s wonderful museums. From growing up at the base of the Adirondack Mountains in New York State, she feels grounded in being outdoors and has enjoyed getting to explore the many beautiful neighborhoods in Chicago.

Kaushy S. Arachchi is a human rights lawyer and a second-year MPP student at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. She focuses on promoting equity through policy in criminal justice and immigration. Kaushy has experience in law, journalism, and nonprofit leadership, which informs her policy studies. She has worked on advocacy for minority communities, including LGBTIQ rights in Sri Lanka. Currently, as a Justice Reform Intern at the Illinois Justice Project, she works on issues of reentry and housing stability. She is particularly interested in how housing policy can help reentry populations, including people with conviction records and those on registries who face homelessness.

Micah Arnold (any pronouns) is a Master of Public Health student focused on how the built environment influences health disparities through urban design, climate change, and housing policy. As an academic and professional, Micah is particularly interested in framing housing as healthcare and examining how place-based inequities become embodied in population health outcomes. Professionally, Micah works as a Data Analyst with the Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health at University of Chicago Medicine. In this role, they help analyze how socioeconomic drivers—including housing stability, access to care, and stigma—affect patients’ engagement with HIV and sexual health services. Their work supports projects that expand access to and retention in care through wrap-around service models, including approaches that align with HOPWA. Outside of academia, they enjoy baking, crochet, and exploring Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.

Alison Collard de Beaufort (she/her) is a French-American second-year Master of Public Policy student at the Harris School, focusing on Urban Policy and International Development. Prior to UChicago, Alison earned her Bachelors in Society, Technology, and Policy from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is the founder of the Vision Zero Youth Council (VZYC), a youth-led organization that advocates for meaningful youth engagement and safe, sustainable, and equitable systems of transportation. Through the VZYC, she created patented technology to keep pedestrians safe, was involved in successfully passing multiple pieces of legislation at the New York State level, and has presented at high-level events including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Summit and the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit

Dinasha (Dani) Ediriweera is a second-year MSW student at the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Dani is focused on pursuing clinical social work and housing policy during her time at Crown and in her future career. As a New Yorker, Dani has always been involved in rental rights advocacy, and Chicago has expanded her interests to include housing policy. She discovered her passion for housing policy while working as a Case Manager Intern at the Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH), where she prepared rental assistance applications and provided housing and other resources. Dani also attended the 2025 Illinois Housing Summit to expand her understanding of housing policy in Chicago. Dani supported several social work and social policy studies and organizations, including a study that focused on improving the health and well-being of individuals from underserved communities who were living with HIV, research on city residency requirements for police, research and advocacy for criminal justice reform, and advocacy for urban schooling reform. Dani previously received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with Minors in Business Studies and Politics, from New York University. During her free time, she loves learning more about tarot and spirituality, reading and writing by the lake, and trying out new restaurants with her friends

Noah Fisher is an MS candidate in the Applied Data Science program. His work and research interests lie at the intersection of policy, technology, and economics. Noah earned his Bachelor’s degree from the Murphy Institute at Tulane University, where he completed his thesis research on the administrative inefficiencies of housing policy and development programs. During this time, he served as an extern for the City of New Orleans, where he conducted research on identifying barriers to the redevelopment of city-owned properties. He continues his work through policy research, where he advocates for the universal implementation of credit transference for public purpose tax credit programs. As a Kreisman Fellow, Noah looks forward to continuing his work on housing issues. Through his studies in Data Science, he hopes to further develop tools and frameworks that assist community stakeholders in navigating the complex burdens associated with public-purpose development programs such as Public Activity Bonds and tax credit programs.

Elisheba (pronounced Ellie-she-ba), who prefers to go by Ellie, is a Master of Arts in International Relations candidate at the University of Chicago’s Committee on International Relations, where she specializes in global governance, urban development, and  social equity. Her academic focus explores peacebuilding and how international policy frameworks can strengthen stability, gender equality, and community resilience. Originally from Harlem, New York, Ellie’s commitment to housing law and policy stems from witnessing the long-term impacts of housing exclusion on families like her own. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College, where she studied Women’s Studies with a minor in Political Science and a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Ellie is also an alumna of the Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE), where she founded Legacy Fund, a venture dedicated to reimagining how communities build wealth and access pathways to ownership through a housing model powered by blockchain technology. Legacy Fund was awarded the Emerging Venture Award and Audience Choice Award at the CBE New Venture Competition and was later accepted into the Black Ambition HBCU So Ambitious Pre-Accelerator. Ellie serves as a Development & Partnerships Intern at the Nascent Group, an organization that transforms underutilized assets into cultural and economic engines for community revitalization. In this role, she contributes to several initiatives, including the Ujima Hive project, which is reinventing the concept of a community center by co-locating local organizations and creating a vibrant business laboratory. As a Kreisman Fellow, she is eager to explore how global housing policy frameworks can be adapted into locally driven strategies that dismantle exclusion and expand access. This fellowship provides the space to sharpen the tools she brings to her entrepreneurial and community work, and apply these insights to her role with the Nascent Group.

Jonathan Kim is a J.D. candidate at the Law School interested in the intersection of law and technology with a particular emphasis on the role of emergent technology. He graduated from UChicago with an A.B. in Classics and A.M. in Digital Studies and participated in public policy and leadership events. With a background in the Chicago suburbs as well as having lived and worked in the East Coast, the American South, and Asia, Jonathan is particularly interested in localized approaches to housing issues and the application of innovative regulatory policies and solutions. Prior to law school, Jonathan worked as a software engineer and in municipal courts. As a law student, Jonathan has interned with the Housing Initiative Transactional Clinic assisting nonprofits acquire affordable housing properties as well as a crypto startup. When he is not in class, Jonathan is actively involved in the Christian Legal Society, APALSA, and the Chicago Journal of InternationalLaw. In his limited free time Jonathan enjoys attending lively debates, going on long runs, and trying new restaurants with friends.

Daniel Koslovsky is an MPP candidate at the Harris School of Public Policy where he is learning to hone his data analysis and communication skills. He is interested in bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners to advance effective policy making in the fields of housing and household finance. Prior to pursuing his MPP, he gained experience working as an analyst at NERA Economic Consulting and as a data and grant manager at Justine PETERSEN, a financial inclusion nonprofit in his hometown of St. Louis. He earned degrees in Economics and Government at the College of William & Mary. In his free time he loves to play tennis, chess, and hunt for the best bakeries in Chicago.

Jeffrey Leon is a Chicago native living in Gage Park. He has a background in neuroscience and five years of experience working in various fields involving quantitative testing, educational outreach, and community organizing. He is a dual-degree graduate student in Public Policy at the Harris School and Social Sector Leadership at the Crown Family School, focused on land development in Gage Park through affordable housing, economic mobility, and land stewardship. His academic work explores how policy and community-driven strategies can address displacement, revitalize abandoned land, and promote sustainability in historically disinvested neighborhoods.

Heyang Liu is a graduate student of Public Policy candidate at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, specializing in sustainable development and urban policy. His research focuses on building sustainable cities in the context of climate change. Heyang previously served as a research assistant at the University of Hong Kong, where he conducted a pre-analysis of New York City’s Airbnb short-term rental legislation. At the University of Chicago, he has examined how climate shocks in Alabama influence the probability of children entering the foster care system, and whether housing insufficiency plays a mediating role in this process. Through this fellowship, he aims to further explore policies on climate-adaptive housing and housing related energy emissions, supporting affordable and sustainable living environments. Outside of policy research, Heyang enjoys exploring Chicago’s history and culture. Inspired by Sudhir Venkatesh’s Gang Leader for a Day, he visited neighborhoods near Washington Park, including the site of the former Robert Taylor Homes, to better understand the lived realities behind classic sociological studies of the city. 

Shayone Rahman is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, concentrating on survey research and data analytics. Originally from Los Angeles, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley. She brings extensive experience in systems, housing program management, advocacy, and designing equitable systems for communities that have been traditionally overlooked in housing access. Rahman currently serves as a consultant at Enfuse Action Collective LLC, where she partners with Continuums of Care nationwide to develop VAWA survivor-focused housing models. She previously worked at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), managing LA County’s Permanent Supportive Housing portfolio and streamlining housing processes across multiple jurisdictions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led emergency shelter programs at St. Joseph Center, creating pathways from interim to permanent housing for vulnerable populations. Beyond her academic and professional work, Rahman enjoys caring for her several houseplants, road tripping with her partner and cats, and cooking. As a Kreisman Fellow, she is eager to bring her cross-sector experience, trauma-informed approach, and analytic training to the program. Also, deepen her understanding and strengthen collaboration with peers and leaders working in the housing policy.

Taha Rashid is a second-year graduate student focused on building more accountable, equitable systems through data, finance, and implementation reform. At the University of Chicago’s Harris School, he is pursuing a Master of Public Policy with a specialization in Data Analytics and Municipal Finance. His academic work centers on how cities can use better tools—financial, regulatory, and operational—to close the gap between policy design and delivery. While at Harris, Taha served as a Mayoral Fellow in the City of Chicago, where he worked on housing strategy and process reform. He helped build a cross-departmental unified tracking system for over 20 LIHTC projects, supported capital strategy for the City’s $75M Missing Middle Housing Initiative, and developed a Cost of Delay model to analyze permitting bottlenecks under the Cut the Tape initiative. He also authored a policy memo on shelter accessibility that helped shape the City’s ADA training reforms. Prior to graduate school, Taha worked at Acumen, a global nonprofit impact investor, where he supported over 200 social entrepreneurs tackling urban poverty. His work focused on blended finance strategy, regulatory barriers, and scaling solutions in under-resourced communities. He began his career as a Fellow with Teach For Pakistan, where he taught Afghan refugee students in an underserved community. Since then, he has remained active in civic and volunteer efforts, including with Global Shapers (Chicago), where he helped small businesses access city funds, and Harris Community Action, where he led research for a youth violence prevention program. Outside of work, Taha is a high-altitude trekking enthusiast, an avid board game player, a weekend birdwatcher, and a loyal cricket fan.

Martin Rose is a Full-Time MBA candidate at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business concentrating in Finance, Economics, and Strategic Management, with a focus on real estate investment and development. He is passionate about bridging affordability, sustainability, and capital strategy to create resilient urban communities. Originally from De Pere, WI, Martin earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin‚ Madison. He began his career in Philadelphia as a Project Manager and Landscape Designer with OLIN and DAVID RUBIN Land Collective, collaborating with developers on large-scale mixed-use multifamily and commercial projects, as well as institutional campuses for universities and Fortune 100 companies. These experiences provided early exposure to how developers and institutions balance community needs, design aspirations, and affordability regulations that vary city to city. At Booth, Martin has expanded this foundation through applied projects, including the Social Impact Housing Lab, where he worked with Brinshore Development to evaluate strategies for Chicago’s West Haven community amid the challenges of the nearby 1901 Project. These experiences reinforced his interest in aligning private capital with public priorities to address housing needs. Outside of academics, Martin assists with program development for Chicago Scholars and is, it seems, always training for a marathon.

Minhye Seo is a Mansueto Urban Policy Fellow at the University of Chicago who aspires to design policies that modernize and sustain coastal communities. She is particularly interested in how fishing villages and ports serve distinct and vital functions within regional systems. Her work explores ways to revitalize these spaces through environmentally conscious and community-centered approaches, integrating sustainability into both infrastructure and local economies. Her broader research interests span urban and environmental policy, coastal governance, and sustainable community development, focusing on how public policy can foster balance between ecological preservation and economic resilience. Before joining the University of Chicago, she served as a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in South Korea, where she managed international fisheries negotiations and policy implementation for sustainable marine resource management. Through her work in public administration, she gained experience addressing the tensions between economic growth, environment protection, and local livelihoods. Minhye holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Gyeongsang National University, which provides her with a strong scientific foundation for understanding ecological and environmental systems. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Policy in University of Chicago.