Managing Director of External Affairs & Operations, Chicago Debates - LinkedIn
About: Lauren Hince is originally from Minnesota but has lived in Chicago for eight years. She currently works as the Managing Director of External Affairs & Operations at Chicago Debates, leading corporate and community engagement initiatives to support the organization's mission. She is actively involved in the Chicago climate community through volunteering for Chicago Environmentalists and Reduce Waste Chicago. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Political Science from Ripon College. Lauren has long-term goals to use her fundraising and nonprofit knowledge to pivot towards sustainably aligned missions and looks forward to exploring this further at Booth.
BCSC members should reach out for: Volunteer opportunities. She's connected with a variety of local Chicago nonprofits always looking for help. Specifically interested in waste management and circularity initiatives.
Fun fact: Lauren has a miniature schnauzer named Franklin. Her and Franklin have been training for agility competitions and hope to compete in their first trial soon.
Senior Manager, RWE - LinkedIn
About: Sanjana Kartik is from EVERYWHERE. Born in India, raised in Toronto, and now living and working in Chicago, she likes to call herself a global citizen. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s in Energy Systems Engineering, with a focus in Solar Energy. Currently, Sanjana is a Senior Manager in the engineering department at RWE Clean Energy, specializing in engineering work in the utility-scale solar space. Sanjana has always been passionate about the renewables and sustainability sectors. She hopes to bring awareness to and provide networking opportunities from the renewable companies she has worked at.
BCSC members should reach out for: Connections in and questions about the renewable energy sector in the US.
Fun fact: Sanjana is a tropical gal! She loves being out in the sun and has always lived by a body of water. Something about being next to a large body of water has always provided her happiness and calmness.
Senior Associate, Sargent & Lundy - LinkedIn
About: Elvin hails from Aurora, IL and has called Chicago his home for his whole life! Before Booth, Elvin studied his masters and bachelors in mechanical engineering at Illinois Tech. He now works full time as a senior mechanical engineer for Sargent & Lundy. His duties include mentoring new associates and working with clients for all their energy needs. He hopes to find a role in balancing the ever-increasing demand for energy and pressing need for raising sustainability issues to more stakeholders.
BCSC members should reach out for: Decarbonization initiatives across different industries and case competitions.
Fun Fact: Elvin loves museums. He’s volunteered as a science educator at the Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium. Please keep him up to date with all things penguins.
Product Leader, Owens Corning - LinkedIn
About: Paul grew up in Cincinnati and currently lives in Chicago. He holds a Bachelor’s in Applied Engineering Sciences with concentrations in Supply Chain and Packaging from Michigan State. In 2017 he joined Owens Corning's Supply Chain Leadership Program before pivoting into Corporate Strategy. As an internal consultant with OC, he led projects focused on Solar Roofing, Glass Bottle Recycling, and EU Decarbonization Policy. He currently works as the Product Leader of a fiberglass roving used in wind blades, ladder rails and electrical grid hardware within OC's Glass Reinforcements business. He also supports the company's global circularity and decarbonization strategy while managing their new Sustaina and Sustaina Loop circular content glass fiber product lines.
BCSC members should reach out for: Product Management, Strategy, NVC, industrial decarbonization, top classes to take at Booth or to just nerd out about the IRA and all the exciting work being done to combat the climate crisis.
Lead Data Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - LinkedIn
About: Hello! I am Ashvin Veligandla. I’m a father, husband and an immigrant from India. I work as a Lead Data Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While my day job is related to Data Analytics and machine learning, I have a deep passion for corporate sustainability. I have advocated for simple to complex solutions using my leadership and technical skills to bring about sustainable and meaningful change at various organizations I have worked in the past and present. Since graduating from Booth in 2024, I am looking at various ways to contribute my skills to both the nonprofit and for-profit sector.
BCSC members should reach out for: Navigating school, work, and family, Classes to take to prepare for sustainability sector/jobs, SNVC and NVC competitions, Starting a sustainability focused resource group at work, Chicago Nonprofits focused on climate issues.
2025-2026
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Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics - Website
Marianne Bertrand is the Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is a Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Center for Economic Policy Research, and the Institute for the Study of Labor.
Professor Bertrand is an applied micro-economist whose research covers the fields of labor economics, corporate finance, political economy and development economics. Her research in these areas has been published widely, including numerous research articles in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Journal of Political Economy, the American Economic Review, the Review of Economic Studies and the Journal of Finance.
Professor Bertrand is the Pritzker Director of the Inclusive Economy Lab at the University of Chicago Urban Labs. Professor Bertrand also served as co-editor of the American Economic Review.
