Our Board
Meet the 2024-2025 HCA Board Members
Sumner Perera
President
Sumner is currently a second year Masters of Public Policy Candidate at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Prior to Harris, she worked as a cancer biology researcher, with global advocacy and national research nonprofit organizations, as a political organizer, and is currently a Mayoral Fellow with the City of Chicago.
Melinda Wang
Operations Lead
Melinda is a second year Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Prior to Harris, she worked as a Consultant at Deloitte for four years, and as a student has had internships in municipal bonds investing at State Farm, international climate finance with the U.S. DFC, and small business loan funds at LISC Strategic Investments.
Michael Rosenbaum
Program Lead
Michael is currently a second year Master of Science in Computational Analysis and Public Policy at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Prior to Harris, he worked at nonprofit and social benefit organizations to research and improve government services.
John ("Jay") Parrish
Co-Partnerships Lead
Jay is currently a second year Master of Public Policy Candidate at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Prior to Harris, he served in the US Army and worked as a Gartner consultant this past summer.
Thejasvi Venkatachalam
Co-Partnerships Lead
Thejasvi is a second year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Prior to Harris, she worked as a scientist studying embryonic development, and as a student has worked for the Administration for Children and Families in the federal government.