DePaul University School of Public Service

Faculty Highlight: Prof. Lisa Dietlin

Professor Lisa Dietlin brings decades of experience in philanthropy, fundraising, nonprofit management, and advocacy to the School of Public Service.

One of her favorite ways to connect students with the field is through weekly guest speaker panels featuring professionals doing the work students hope to pursue after graduation.

"Whether it is nonprofit management, policy development, public service or advocacy, they are eager to tackle the issues facing the world. The future is in good hands."

Thank you, Professor Dietlin, for inspiring the next generation of public service leaders.

🎓 Congratulations to the School of Public Service Class of 2026!

This weekend, we celebrated the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and commitment to making a difference. From the classroom to the commencement stage, our graduates have demonstrated the values of service, leadership, and social impact that define the SPS community.

We are honored to have been part of your journey and look forward to seeing the positive change you create in the world.

Congratulations, graduates! 💙

Faculty Highlight: Prof. James Rudyk

Professor James Rudyk joined DePaul's School of Public Service full-time in 2025 after teaching public policy courses at DePaul since 2017. His professional background includes more than 16 years in grassroots nonprofit leadership and community development.

One example of experiential learning in Professor Rudyk's PPS 393 Capstone course involved a partnership with Here to Stay Land Trust and the Chicago Workers Cottage Initiative. Students surveyed historic Chicago Workers Cottage properties in the Hermosa neighborhood, conducted research, and worked directly with community organizations before presenting their findings to community partners.

"What I enjoy most about teaching and working with SPS students is seeing the same students develop their research and critical analysis skills over time as they continue to take SPS classes and learn more about the public policy process."

Thank you, Professor Rudyk, for helping students connect policy, research, and community impact.

Alumni Spotlight: Jim O'Reilly

This week's SPS Alumni Spotlight features Jim O'Reilly, Senior Project Manager for the Chief Executive Office at Chicago Public Schools!

During his time at SPS, Jim was particularly influenced by Professor Woods Bowman's courses on nonprofit and government accounting. A lesson about the complexity of school district finances, specifically the unique challenges of Chicago Public Schools, helped shape his career path and ultimately led him to a role in the district's budget office.

Today, Jim is motivated by the opportunity to serve his community through both government work and volunteer leadership. He credits public service with allowing him to live out the Vincentian values of social justice throughout his career.

Thank you, Jim, for your continued commitment to public service and community impact!

⏰ Reminder: Graduate Assistantship applications for the 2026–27 academic year are due this Friday, June 5!

Graduate Assistants (GAs) in the School of Public Service work alongside faculty on research and other projects while gaining valuable professional experience in a supportive academic environment.

Benefits include:
• Tuition waivers
• A stipend
• Opportunities to strengthen your research, writing, and professional skills
• Flexible remote and in-person work options

Both full-time (20 hours/week) and part-time (10 hours/week) positions are available for the academic year (September 2026–June 2027).

U.S. and international students are encouraged to apply.

Don't miss your chance to gain hands-on experience while advancing your graduate education!

Submit your application here: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/54862

This week’s Alumni Spotlight features Gary Scott, Senior Project Manager at Pace Suburban Bus! 🚌

During his time at DePaul’s School of Public Service, Gary developed a passion for equitable, safe, and reliable public transportation through his coursework, internship experiences, research, and study abroad opportunities.

For his capstone project, Gary researched “Accessibility to Affordable Housing for Chicago Young Adults, who live near CTA ‘L’ stations,” combining survey research, GIS analysis, interviews with experts, and transportation and housing data analysis. His work continues to shape both his professional career and volunteer involvement with Chicago-based urbanist organizations focused on affordability and accessibility.

Gary’s advice for current SPS students:
“Always keep asking questions and learning by connecting with professors, industry experts who present in classes and other students.”

Thank you, Gary, for your continued commitment to public service and community impact!

Reminder: Applications for 2026–27 Graduate Assistantships at DePaul’s School of Public Service are due June 5! 📣

Graduate Assistants (GAs) work closely with SPS faculty on research and other projects while gaining valuable professional and academic experience in a supportive environment.

Assistantships include:
• Tuition waivers
• A small stipend
• Flexible remote and in-person work opportunities
• The chance to build research, writing, and collaboration skills

Both full-time (20 hrs/week) and part-time (10 hrs/week) positions are available for the 2026–27 academic year (September–June).

U.S. students and international students are welcome to apply!

Start your application here: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/54862

On Saturday, May 16, graduate students from across DePaul's College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences gathered for the 2026 Graduate Student Symposium to present research, projects, and work they have developed throughout their programs.

Representing the School of Public Service, Sean Quinn presented on transforming nonprofit economic impact data into advocacy materials used by students during DePaul’s Day of Advocacy in Springfield.

The symposium also recognized outstanding graduate students from each LAS program and honored Ahmadou Dramé, Director of the Illinois Justice Project and DePaul MPA alumnus, with the Changemaker Award.

Congratulations to this year’s SPS outstanding graduate student award recipients:
• Zaria Bonds, Master of Nonprofit Management
• David Pray, Master of Public Administration
• Joel Thorson, Master of Public Policy
• Tess Pollins, Master of Science in International Public Service

We’re proud to celebrate the incredible work, leadership, and impact of SPS students and alumni!

This week, we’re highlighting Sean Quinn, one of our students in the Master of Public Administration program.

Sean shared that one of his favorite program experiences so far has been attending the SPS trip to Springfield, where students met with legislators and policy experts while building connections outside the classroom.

He also values the opportunity to learn alongside peers from different disciplines and backgrounds, an experience that has expanded his perspective on public service and exposed him to new ideas and solutions.

Sean recently presented at the LAS Graduate Symposium, where he shared work related to nonprofit advocacy, data storytelling, and student engagement during DePaul’s Day of Advocacy in Springfield.

We’re proud to spotlight Sean and his work in public service!

The DePaul Master of Public Administration program is proud to congratulate Bridget Henk and Suzanne Ostrovsky on being recognized by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) – Greater Chicago Chapter. 🎉

Bridget Henk was named DePaul’s 2026 Dean F. Eitel Outstanding Student of the Year at the ASPA reception on April 24. Henk serves as a Principal Project Manager with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and brings more than two decades of leadership experience in engineering and sustainability. A licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin and an ISI Envision Sustainability Professional and Trainer, Bridget was recognized by DePaul faculty for both her distinguished career and outstanding classroom performance.

Suzanne Ostrovsky received DePaul’s Outstanding Alumni Award in recognition of her leadership and contributions to public administration across the Chicagoland area. Ostrovsky recently served as City Administrator for the City of McHenry and previously held leadership roles with Hoffman Estates and the Village of Hinsdale. Before entering public service, she spent more than a decade working in real estate development at Perlmark Real Estate Partners. Suzanne earned her MPA from DePaul in 2012 as a Chaddick Scholar.

Please join us in celebrating Bridget and Suzanne for their incredible contributions to public service and public administration!