Our Board
Meet the 2025-2026 HCA Board Members
Nikitha "Niki" Reddy
President
Niki is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Harris School of Public Policy. Prior to joining Harris, she worked in public sector consulting, providing policy research, evaluation, and technical assistance support to several federal agencies and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she worked as a Summer Analyst at Manatt Health.
Helena Bauer-Mitterlehner
Operations Manager
Helena is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Harris School of Public Policy. Prior to joining Harris, she worked as an economic consultant, utilizing data analysis to address economic and financial questions in legal matters. Most recently, she worked as a Trainee at the German Marshall Fund in government relations and as part of their Geostrategy North team.
Courtney Washington
Program Manager
Courtney is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Harris School of Public Policy, with a focus on economic and community development. She brings a background in mixed-methods research and has experience translating complex findings for a range of audiences, from policymakers to community stakeholders. Most recently, Courtney served as an Economic Research Intern at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Charlie Schraw
Co-Partnerships Manager
Charlie is currently a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Harris School of Public Policy. Before graduate school, he worked in grant-making at Feeding America, helping to distribute millions of dollars in funding to food banks nationwide. Most recently, he was a Strategic Initiatives Fellow at World Business Chicago.
Kaushy Sendanayaka Arachchi
Co-Partnerships Manager
Kaushy is a lawyer and a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate focused on advancing equity through policy. She has advocated for minority communities, including advancing LGBTIQ+ rights in Sri Lanka, and is currently focused on criminal justice and reentry policy, with a growing interest in immigration. With experience in law, journalism, and nonprofit leadership, Kaushy engages with HCA’s existing and new diverse community partners.
Faustina Yick
Community Engagement Manager
Faustina is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Harris School of Public Policy, with a focus on education and finance policy. Prior to Harris, she worked on developing global philanthropic strategies, engaged with urban economic development in Chicago, and conducted research on education equity. Most recently, she worked at the Commercial Club of Chicago as an intern in their Strategic Planning department.
Grace Kan
1st Year Board Member
Lily Rudin
1st Year Board Member
Lily is a first-year MS Computational Analysis and Public Policy candidate with five years of experience as a Data Scientist in New York City. In that role, she contributed to the development of a free, accessible educational technology platform. While in New York, she also partnered with New York Cares to organize volunteer events across the city, including work at food pantries, park cleanups, and art-based therapy workshops at detox shelters across the city.
Sarah Zhao
1st Year Board Member