2025-26 UPPF Research Symposium: From Research to Policy, Showcasing Impactful Student Research – Recap
Congratulations to the 2025-26 Urban Public Policy (UPPF) fellows for their completion of the UPPF program!
The 2025-26 UPPF Research Symposium demonstrated the potential for student research to generate valuable insights and recommendations on public policy issues. Fellows’ projects stemmed from hands-on internship experiences on policy-related topics such as immigration reform, mental health, and community development. 24 students successfully completed the UPPF program this year, and we congratulate them all on behalf of IPCE. The Institute expresses immense gratitude to the community partners who hosted UPPF Fellows and served as internship sites this year.
We are excited to see what they do in the future and wish them each the best. Cheers to:
- Diana Barajas
- Alberto Castelan
- Harshil Choudhary
- Alex Cifuentes
- Anahi Cruz
- Emily Diaz
- Jacob Flores
- Edgar Flores
- Nevaeh Gullette
- Ashley Jacobsen
- Angelynn Jimenez
- Saharay Lopez
- Roma MacPherson Wilson
- Emma Morales
- Rasheedah Na'Allah
- Priscilla Obikili
- Maria M Pampin Costa
- Thanairy Perez Ramos
- Jose Ramirez
- Karina Santana
- Dea Talelli
- Nicholas Tunks
- Luna Valderrama
- Devonte West
We would like to thank our Keynote Speaker, State Representative Norma Hernandez, for her inspiring and motivating address to our fellows.
The Institute also expresses immense gratitude to the community partners who hosted UPPF Fellows and served as internship sites this year:
Our 2025-2026 UPPF Partners:
- 12th Ward Office, Alderperson Julia Ramirez
- 22nd Ward Office, Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez
- 26th Ward Office, Alderperson Jessie Fuentes
- Brilliance and Excellence
- Children's Legal Center
- Cook County Office Bureau of Asset Management/Build Up Cook Program
- Cook County Department of Research, Operation and Innovation
- Hispanic Federation
- Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF)
- The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement - UIC (IPCE)
- Illinois PIRG
- Office of State Representative Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez
- Office of State Representative, Norma Hernandez
- Office of State Senator Celina Villanueva | 12th District
- Office of State Senator Cervantes
- Office of State Senator Omar Aquino
- Office of the City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin
- Safer Foundation
- The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) - Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP)
- Tree House Humane Society
- UIC- Great Cities Institute (GCI)
- United States Probation Office
