Chicago Booth Welcomes Next Cohort of Neubauer Civic Scholars

This fall, 12 emerging social sector leaders will join the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as part of its growing Civic Scholars Program.

The new students will join 24 current students and 24 alumni of the program designed for rising leaders dedicated to careers in social impact. This year’s cohort includes five Full-Time MBA students, four Evening MBA students, and three Weekend MBA students.

Since 2016 with support from the Neubauer Family Foundation, Chicago Booth’s thriving Civic Scholars Program offers scholarships to Booth MBA students who work in the government or nonprofit sectors. Each fall, the program admits a cohort of students—known as Neubauer Civic Scholars—who discuss and apply their MBA learnings to the social sector together, support one another’s leadership journey, and offer unique perspectives within the larger Booth community.

“With the program entering its seventh year, we are delighted to welcome our new cohort of Neubauer Civic Scholars,” said Starr Marcello, deputy dean for MBA Programs. “Neubauer Civic Scholars bring important voices to Booth’s classroom and community by providing broader perspectives on issues including the role of business in society, the implications of expanding public-private partnerships, and opportunities for business leaders to engage productively with government and nonprofit organizations.”

In addition to the core curriculum, Neubauer Civic Scholars gain access to specialized programming, dedicated faculty directors, and unique opportunities to engage with civic leaders. “Chicago Booth helps students think clearly and rigorously about their sector, whether it be corporate or social. Our scholars gain the quantitative and qualitative tools for problem-solving and knowledge of underlying disciplines that create greater social impact,” said George Wu, the John P. and Lillian A. Gould Professor of Behavioral Science and faculty codirector of the Civic Scholars Program.

“Booth’s multidisciplinary approach to business education and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation’s partnership with the Civic Scholars Program provides scholars with the insights and tools necessary to tackle complex problems in their fields.”

A distinctive feature of the Civic Scholars Program is its cohort model and dedicated cocurricular programming. Activities such as retreats and roundtable discussions facilitate experiential and community-based learning, hone leadership skills, establish cross-social sector connections, and seed future collaboration. Scholars also seize opportunities to take leadership roles within the student community and can leverage all of these experiences to impact their organizations. The scholarship includes a commitment to continue working in the social sector after graduation.

“Neubauer Civic Scholars are committed to helping address some of the world’s greatest challenges in the government and nonprofit sectors. I am honored and thrilled to be part of training the next generation of social impact leaders,” said Pradeep K. Chintagunta, the Joseph T. and Bernice S. Lewis Distinguished Service Professor of Marketing, who serves as faculty codirector of the Civic Scholars program with George Wu. “Booth’s Civic Scholars Program is a unique opportunity for nonprofit and government leaders who previously might not have considered or been able to afford an MBA.”

To learn more about the Civic Scholars Program, visit ChicagoBooth.edu/civicscholars. You can also nominate individuals for the scholarship program through this online form or share this pdf. For more information, contact program director Wai-Sinn Chan.

Note: The deadline to apply for the 2022–23 admissions cycle for the Full-Time MBA Program is September 22, 2022, for Round 1 and January 5, 2023, for Round 2. The Evening and Weekend MBA Program deadline is March 24, 2023.

A hearty congratulations and warm welcome to the incoming 2022 class of Neubauer Civic Scholars.

Neubauer Civic Scholars

Nora Bergman, Chicago
Weekend MBA
Program Manager, Holocaust Community Services, CJE Senior Life

Alexis Butler, Kansas City, Missouri
Weekend MBA
Senior Program Manager, Corporation for Supportive Housing

Rachel Huynh,* Houston, Texas
Full-Time MBA
Senior Program Associate, Results for Development

Mohit Jindal, Mumbai, India
Full-Time MBA
Team Lead, Dasra
 
Sudhanshu Kaushik, New York
Evening MBA
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Young India Foundation
 
Mary Kircher, Cincinnati, Ohio
Evening MBA Program
Special Projects Lead, Gradient Learning
 
Benya Kraus, Waseca, Minnesota
Evening MBA
Co-Founder, Lead For America
 
Michelle Mbekeani, Chicago
Weekend MBA
Policy Advisor, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
 
Kruti Mehta, New York
Full-Time MBA
Director of Policy & Advancement, Zeta Charter Schools, Inc.
 
Govind Srivastav, San Francisco
Full-Time MBA
MicroMentor Global Programs Officer, Mercy Corps
 
Daniel Tollefson, Chicago
Evening MBA
Special Assistant to the President & CEO, Chicago Community Trust
 
Nathan Weil, Chicago
Full-Time MBA
Analytics Manager, University of Chicago Crime Lab
 
*Accepted as a dual degree student, matriculating at Booth in Autumn 2022