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Emerging Leaders Directory

More than 50 resident and nonresident fellows offer research, analysis, and commentary on US foreign policy and public opinion, global food security, and global cities.

Mark Schneider 

Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
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Now with Kirkland & Ellis, Mark Schneider was previously an assistant US attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and served as chief of appeals. A federal prosecutor based in Chicago, he also handled a multi-year national security investigation that resulted in the first successful prosecution for a violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act in 27 years.

Michael Scudder, Jr. 

Circuit Judge, Seventh Circuit, United States Court of Appeals
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Michael Scudder Jr. is a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He earned his BBA as co-valedictorian from Saint Joseph's College and his JD magna cum laude from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Before law school, Scudder worked as an auditor for Ernst and Young and is a certified public accountant.

Joseph Seliga 

Partner, Co-Head of Projects and Infrastructure Group, Mayer Brown
Joseph Seliga practices in state and local government law with a focus on major infrastructure public-private partnership transactions. He's advised on the leases of the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge and the Indiana Toll Road, which received the Project Finance North American Transport Deal of the Year Award, as well as many other projects in the United States and abroad.

Aisha Sethi 

Director, Yale Dermatology Global Health Program, Yale University
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Currently at Yale University, Dr. Aisha Sethi also has experience serving on the steering committee as an assistant director of outreach for the Center for Global Health at the University of Chicago. After attending medical school in Pakistan, she completed her post-doctoral fellowship, internship, and residency in dermatology at Yale University, where she also served as chief resident.

Nirav Shah 

Principal Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Before joining the CDC, Dr. Nirav Shah was in the global life sciences practice of the law firm Sidley Austin, LLP, and a lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago, where he taught courses in global public health and mathematical epidemiology. Shah also served as the chief economist of the Ministry of Health of Cambodia during his tenure as a Henry Luce Scholar.

Sean Shelby 

Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Fund
Sean Shelby was previously a vice president at Isobar, a global digital marketing agency, where he partners with clients to create solutions integrating strategy, design, and technology into digital experiences. As a member of the Isobar US management team, he helps lead an agency powered by over 3,000 people in 63 offices across 37 markets.

Ross Shelleman 

Group Chief Executive Officer, Aisle Rocket
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Ross Shelleman is the CEO of Aisle Rocket, after previously serving as president and CEO of Target Data, a venture-backed "Big Data" and analytics company focused on the life event of moving. Before founding Target Data, Shelleman held various senior business development positions across a multitude of industries, including technology, healthcare, and managed services.

J. Jordan Shields 

Partner, Juniper Advisory
Headshot for Jordan Shields
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J. Jordan Shields joined Juniper Advisory, a specialized investment banking firm that provides government-owned, non-profit, and faith-based hospitals strategic transaction support, in 2011, in part due to the work his class of Emerging Leaders did exploring the opportunities and risks of privatizing public infrastructure, specifically hospitals.

Roger Shores 

Founder, Life 4.0
Roger Shores founded Life 4.0, a consulting endeavor focused on his passion for spreading his proven business philosophies across various well-established start-up and non-profit organizations. He's a leader in Chicago civic and charitable affairs, including as an active member and past board chairman for the Chicago Youth Centers organization.

Anthony E. Simpkins 

President & Chief Executive Officer, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago
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Anthony Simpkins is a leader in Chicago’s affordable housing community and has held multiple roles serving the City of Chicago. As Managing Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing, he administered housing and community development policies, programs, and strategic investments. Before that, he was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County by the Illinois Supreme Court.