AU Today - Alumni

Andrea Vallejo ’20 is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, a background that inspired her to major in political science and public policy at AU and co-found the HOPE student organization, which continues to serve students to this day. “Giving back and helping others has always...

Inspired by her father’s career in law enforcement, Amanda Parlow ’25 initially pursued patrol work. Despite gaining valuable soft skills, Parlow struggled to find fulfillment in a series of customer-facing and security roles, and soon realized her calling lay elsewhere in the...

As a high school student, Carlos Paret ’96 learned about business, entrepreneurship, and personal finance in classes offered by Junior Achievement. His experience with the nonprofit was so positive that Paret volunteered weekly with JA of Chicago and then JA of Philadelphia after...

Hanna Anderson ’26 MSW/MPA was named Social Work Student of the Year by Agents of Change, an exam preparation and education platform for aspiring social workers. One of two students to receive the national honor, Anderson earned free test preparation materials valued at $500 for her...

Earlier this month, Shaka Rawls ’99, principal of Leo High School in Chicago, returned from a meeting to a surprise assembly announcing him as a recipient of the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership. Students, colleagues, family members, former classmates, and reporters...