Dialogo | UChicago Social Sciences

Wendy Edelberg (PhD'03 Economics, MBA'97)

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:52:12 +0000

Wendy Edelberg is a Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution, where she also served as director of The Hamilton Project from 2020 to March 2025. Prior to joining Brookings, Edelberg served as Chief Economist at the Congressional Budget Office, Executive Director of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, on both President Obama and President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, and the Federal Reserve Board. In 2022, she was appointed as co-chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Climate and Macroeconomics Roundtable. A macroeconomist, Edelburg's research has spanned from household spending and saving decisions to the economic effects of fiscal policy, to systemic risks in the financial system.

Edelburg earned her PhD from the Department of Economics in 2003 and her MBA in 1997 from the Booth School of Business. She received her BA in Economics from Columbia University in 1993.

Alumni of the Division of the Social Sciences are characterized by Chicago’s deep commitment to scientific analysis, methodological innovation, and the use of theory to extend the explanatory and predictive power of social research. Whether an MA or PhD graduate (or both), each takes those values into careers in the academy and in a broad range of sectors including banking and finance, technology, and social technology, consulting and market research, health fields, and government/policymaking, among others.

SSD’s Dialogo podcast brings alumni into conversation with Paul Poast, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Deputy Dean for Doctoral Education, and Kelly Pollock, Dean of Students. Each season will feature alumni with careers in a particular field or industry.

Ben Storey (PhD'05 Social Thought) and Jenna Silber Storey (PhD'10 Social Thought)

Fri, 2 Jan 2026 19:27:03 +0000

Ben Storey and Jenna Silber Storey serve as Senior Fellows at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), specializing in research surrounding liberal education, civic thought, and the university's relationship to society. Prior to joining AEI, Ben served as the Jane Gage Hipp Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Furman University, and Jenna served as an Assistant Professor in Politics and International Affairs at the Furman University. They are co-authors of Why We Are Restless: On the Modern Quest for Contentment (Princeton University Press, 2021), and are working on their next book project, The Art of Choosing: How Liberal Education Should Prepare You for Life.

Ben Storey earned his PhD from the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought in 2005. He received his BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jenna Silber Storey earned her PhD from the Committee on Social Thought in 2010, having previously received her BA from Boston University.

Episode 6: Mauricio Moura (MA'03)

Wed, 4 Jun 2025 21:02:39 +0000

Mauricio Moura is the founder, CEO, and chairman of the board of IDEIA, a market research consultancy firm based in Brazil. He is also co-founder of the Zaftra Fund, as well as board member and visiting researcher at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.

Moura earned his BA in Economics from the University of São Paulo, going on to earn his MA from the University of Chicago MAPSS program in 2003. He then pursued an MA in Political Management from George Washington University as well as a PhD in Economics and Politics from Fundação Getulio Vargas.

Episode 5: Theresa Mah (PhD'99)

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 19:02:08 +0000

Theresa Mah is the Illinois State Representative for the 24th House District (previously the 2nd District priot to 2021). In 2016 she made history as the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Prior to her election, Dr. Mah worked with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's administration on efforts to improve diversity and minority representation in state government.

Rep. Mah earned her BA from Berkeley and her PhD in History from the University of Chicago in 1999. After graduating, she was an Assistant Professor at Bowling Green State University until she returned to Chicago to pursue politics, advocacy, and activism.

Episode 4: Rupal Patel (MA'05)

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:54:42 +0000

Rupal Patel is a 2x CEO, corporate adviser, international speaker, and author of 'From CIA to CEO: Unconventional Life Lessons for Thinking Bigger, Leading Better, and Being Bolder.' Prior to her private-sector career, Patel worked as an intelligence analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a position she entered after completing her degree in the Committee on International Relations (CIR) program.

Patel earned her BA from Columbia University, her MA in International Relations from CIR in 2005, and her MBA from the London Business School.

Episode 3: Anna Paulson (PhD'94)

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:20:55 +0000

Anna Paulson is executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. She leads the Bank’s research and policy analysis work, overseeing the department that provides analytic support for monetary policymaking and conducts research on banking and financial markets, macroeconomics, microeconomics, and the regional economy. She attends meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the group responsible for formulating the nation’s monetary policy, and serves on the Bank’s Executive Committee. Prior to joining the Chicago Fed, Paulson was an Assistant Professor of Finance in the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Paulson earned her BA from Carleton College and her PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago in 1994.

The views expressed are Paulson's and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve System or the FOMC.

Episode 2: Luke Charters (MA'17)

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:59:58 +0000

Episode 2:

Luke Charters is the Labour Member of Parliament for York Outer, elected in the July 2024 general election. Prior to his poltiical career, Charters worked at the Bank of England as well as the Financial Conduct Authority, focusing on fraud, before serving as a Senior Manager of Compliance at Remote, a payroll and HR services company.

Charters earned his BA from Oxford University and his MA from the University of Chicago MAPSS program in 2017.

Episode 1: Stephen Richer (MA'08, JD'15)

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:52:36 +0000

Episode 1:
Stephen Richer is the elected (Republican) Maricopa County Recorder and oversees public recordation, voter registration, and early voting in Maricopa County, Arizona. He was named “Arizonan of the Year” in 2021 by The Arizona Republic, “Republican Politician of the Year” in 2022 by Phoenix New Times, “Government Leader of the Year” in 2023 by The Arizona Capitol Times, and “Democracy Defender,” in 2024 by Time Magazine.

Stephen received his B.A. from Tulane University, and his M.A. and J.D. from the University of Chicago. He has previously worked as an attorney and businessman.