Katie Kennealy, Associate Director of Career & Alumni Affairs
Katie oversees career development and employer relations for the Department of Economics. She has been with the department since 2015 and brings more than 20 years of experience in career services, most of it at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
In addition to meeting with students and employers, Katie facilitates ECON 198: Economics at Illinois and ECON 298: Internships. She is passionate about helping students achieve their career goals and is continually exploring innovative ways to connect them with experiences beyond the classroom that support their professional development.
Lily Leon, Coordinator of Career and Alumni Services
Lily is the coordinator for career and alumni services in the Department of Economics. She advises students, facilitates ECON 198: Economics at Illinois, and supports career development through career education, campus partnerships, and engagement with the economics alumni community.
Lily works with students at every stage of their career journey, from exploring career options and securing internships to applying for jobs and considering graduate school. She is committed to helping students navigate the career development process with confidence.
She earned a master's degree in higher education administration and policy and a bachelor's degree in human development in context from Northwestern University. She also completed minors in Latina/o studies and psychology. As an undergraduate, Lily served as a career ambassador with Northwestern Career Advancement and later worked there as a career counseling intern. She also completed a graduate internship with the University of Chicago Career Advancement office.
Outside of work, Lily enjoys reading, weightlifting, watching anime, playing video games, and spending time with her partner and two cats. As a first-generation college graduate, she values the career guidance she received and is passionate about providing the same empathetic support to economics students.
Laura Sales, Graduate Assistant
Laura is a second-semester master's candidate in human resources and industrial relations at the School of Labor and Employment Relations. She graduated in the spring of 2023 from ISU with a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and a minor in psychology. In her free time, Laura likes going to plays and musicals, spending time with her dogs, and hosting/attending game nights. Laura is super excited to support students within the economics department as they discover their passion and plan their career paths.
Amy Cai, Career Intern
Amy is a junior majoring in Economics with minors in Business and Advertising. At Illinois, she is a LAS 101 Intern and involved with Letters of Love UIUC. In her free time, Amy enjoys binge-watching shows, hanging out with her friends, and embroidering. She is excited to share helpful resources and support Economic students.
Amy Bayarsaikhan, Career Intern
Amy is a junior majoring in Economics with a minor in Spanish. She has been involved in Illinois Business Consulting and Beta Alpha Psi. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, making jewelry, and reading. Amy is super excited to support other Economics students and grow their confidence.
Jessica Mucollari, Career Intern
Jessica is a junior majoring in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics with minors in Business and Data Science. While at Illinois, she has been heavily involved in Illinois Business Consulting and the Albanian Student Association. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with friends, cooking, and reading. She is really looking forward to being a resource for her fellow economic undergrads to help them grow professionally and reach their career goals!