Feature

Words of Wisdom from Women in Policy

Harris School students gathered at a downtown bar and grille last week for food, drinks, and an alumni panel discussion—organized by the student group Women in Public Policy—on working in the public policy arena.

The event featured Jean Heideman, MPP’99, director of the Day School and Child Psychiatry Outpatient Programs, Rush University Medical Center; Marie Trzupek Lynch, MPP’96, executive vice president of strategic planning, new ventures, and children’s services, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; and Katie McClain, MPP’04, Chicago city director, Clinton Climate Initiative, William J. Clinton Foundation.

Lynch, a mother of four, worked in city government followed by a private consulting firm after the Harris School. With one child and the desire to have more, she wanted to find a more family friendly environment. Through her not-for-profit consulting work, she said, “I fell in love with the YMCA. I loved their mission.”

After four and a half years at the YMCA’s national headquarters and a second child, Lynch said she missed her “local roots” and moved to her current position. “I feel like I have 1,000 kids for whom I’m their voice,” she said. And in order to leave her children each day, the love of her job and the organization’s mission is essential.

When Heideman decided to attend the Harris School part-time, she worked at her current job and already held degrees in nursing and a master’s in psychiatric nursing. She pursued an MPP because she was interested in a bigger picture, understanding population groups rather than just individuals’ needs.

Ultimately, she found the shift difficult to make and stayed at Rush, but she said, “I came with a clinical perspective and learned to appreciate things in a different way.” She noted that her policy training does not go to waste—her economics classes now help her analyze costs and benefits for students and she regularly crunches numbers and writes executive summaries for budgets.

McClain, based in Chicago with the Clinton Foundation, has had a long interest in environmental issues. While at the Harris School, she explored the range of possible career paths. Eventually, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn’s office called about a senior policy advisor position on environmental policy. She said, “Chicago is a really great leader in green environmental [programs].”

After three years working for the state, she joined the Clinton Foundation to help Chicago reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, a job in which she said she sees “tangible results.”

All three speakers agreed that workplace sexism is still pervasive, particularly at the upper levels. Heideman noted that sexism does thrive in hospitals, “In a medical center it’s a special problem because most men are doctors and women are nurses.”

In terms of salary, Lynch said it has been easier to ensure women are paid equal to their male counterparts because so much information is online—particularly for nonprofit organizations. She said, “I always felt like I’ve been paid fairly, but that’s because I’ve done my research.”

Lynch also said a policy education gives alumni data and power. She explained, “You have so much more credibility because of the way you think.”