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2025-2026 Challenge: Governing the Environment

Academics / Majors and Minors / Public Policy / Public Policy Analysis Challenge / 2025-2026 Challenge: Governing the Environment
25-26 public policy analysis challenge: governing the environment
Challenge Guidelines Preliminary Round Rubric Final Round Rubric

Public Policy Analysis Challenge

Preliminary Round
April 16, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tarble Room, Brown Hall

Final Round
Sunday, April 26, 3–5 p.m.
Tarble Room, Brown Hall

Tara NatarajanOur Emcee — Tara Natarajan, PhD

Krebs Provost and Dean of the Faculty
Vice President for Academic Affairs  

Final Round Judges

Richard (Max) Melstrom

Richard (Max) Melstrom, PhD

Endowed Associate Professor, School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago

The Honorable Mark Kirk

The Honorable Mark Kirk

United States Senator (Illinois, 2010–2017)
United States Representative (Illinois, 10th District, 2001-2010)

Buddy Huffaker Judge

Buddy Huffaker

Executive Director, The Aldo Leopold Foundation

Amanda Urban

Amanda Urban, JD

Associate Regional Counsel, Environmental Protection Agency

Preliminary Round Judges

Lauren E. DeCarlo

Lauren E. DeCarlo, JD

Managing Associate, Sidley

Leslie Shad

Leslie Shad, JD

Chair, Climate Action Evanston
Lead, Natural Habitat Evanston

Jill Mason Terzakis

Jill Mason Terzakis ‘88

Program Director, Master of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, Loyola University Chicago