2026 Polsky Policy Fellow, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Eric Parrilla is a fourth-year student majoring in Economics and Public Policy Studies with an interest in applying data analytics to policy design and implementation. This summer, he will be working with the Office of Energy and Business Utility at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development to develop performance metrics for grant programs that support renewable energy adoption and help communities address the impacts of pollution. Through his work advancing performance management for programs that contribute to Illinois’s clean energy transition, he hopes to strengthen his skills in data management and program evaluation while gaining domain knowledge that he can apply in future roles with think tanks or non-profits working to advance sustainability and clean energy policies.