Alumni Spotlights

Christopher Gregory (MSPE 2022) is now working as an Economist for the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce, International Economics Directorate, Direction Investment Division, Operations System and Analysis Branch in Suitland, Maryland. His work entails collaborating with the...

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one our MSPE family, Sri Adiningsih. Sri’s epitaphic can be found at Prof. Sri Adiningsih, Ph.D., M.Sc., Passed Away (ugm.ac.id). Sri began her...

Maria Rocha Godinho Barros (MSPE 2023) after graduating, Maria returned to work at the Central Bank of Brazil in Brasilia. She is now working as a central bank analyst in the Department of Competition and Finance Market Structure.  

Chenyu “Steven” Zhang (MSPE 2022) landed a job as a private equity analyst at China Merchants Capital Management in Beijing, China. This is one of the largest private equity firms based in China, which oversees more than $41 billion of private equity, infra and real estate assets...

Alumnus Steve Thayer of Handler Thayer, LLp, shares his advice on starting a business. Steve is an alumnus of the University of Illinois Department of Economics.

José Cantero Sienra (MSPE '00), Economist, has been appointed as a Full Member of the Board of the Central Bank of Paraguay on July 28, 2017, for a period of five years.

Mzwanele Mfunwa (MSPE '93), is currently employed as Chief of the Sub-Regional Initiatives Unit in the Southern Africa Office (Lusaka, Zambia) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). His research focuses on macroeconomic policy, private sector promotion, trade...

Danara Tileubergen (MSPE '15), is currently working as a senior researcher at the Economic Research Institute in Kazakhstan.

Jose Sanchez Segura (MSPE '05), after completing the MSPE Program, Jose was awarded a degree in public polices at Escuela de Gobierno in Guatemala. He has been working for the Superintendencia de Bancos in Guatemala since 2008.

Zakhele Lukhele (MSPE '90), was awarded a post graduate diploma in advanced banking law from the University of Johannesburg in 2006. Zakhele is a managing director (CEO) at the Swaziland Development and Savings Bank (SwaziBank). His work involves all aspects of banking, combining...

Aziz Hatipagaoglu (MSPE '05), was awarded a Ph.D. in economics from Gazi University in 2014. Aziz is the founder and general manager of the HG Group Education and Consultancy LLC in Istanbul, Turkey. This organization does international marketing and branding consultancy as well as...

B.A. Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Sean is Vice President of International Compensation Services for Cartus, responsible for continuing development of the International Assignment Compensation Services practice at Cartus. Responsibilities include managing the...