Returning Scholar Information Session

Seth Green is the dean of the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Chicago.

Before joining Graham, Green served as Founding Director of the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility at Loyola University Chicago. During his tenure, the Center launched a top-ranked specialty MBA program, a globally significant award for social innovation in business, and an array of educational programs that annually engage more than 4,000 learners. Green also served as an Executive Lecturer in Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business, teaching classes on social entrepreneurship and receiving recognition as the Mission-Driven Faculty Member of the Year in 2021.

Prior to Loyola, Green led Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.), a nonprofit organization that prepares low-income youth for post-secondary and life success. At Y.O.U., Green oversaw the fourfold expansion of programs and a $16.4 million fundraising campaign to build a state-of-the-art youth center. He also spearheaded two strategic planning processes, resulting in an enhanced program model and deepened impact. Alongside Y.O.U., Green taught courses on nonprofit management as an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University.

Earlier in his career, Green worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, guiding private sector clients through strategy development and change management. A recipient of McKinsey’s Community Fellowship, he spent one year of his time at the firm supporting nonprofit clients, including the Gates Foundation and United Way.

Green speaks and writes on social innovation. His commentaries and research have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Fortune Magazine, the Journal of Business Research, and the Social Innovations Journal, and he previously served on the Editorial Review Board of the Business and Society Review. Green has been a featured guest on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, MSNBC, and CNN, and his efforts have been covered by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. In 2008, Utne Reader named him one of 50 “Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.”

Green is civically engaged in Chicago, having served on the Campaign Cabinet of the United Way of Metro Chicago, the Impact Investing Advisory Council of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, the Advisory Board of Concordia Place, the Membership and Engagement Committees of the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Advisory Board of the Executives’ Club of Chicago.

A Marshall Scholar, Green holds a J.D. from Yale University, master’s degrees from Oxford University and the London School of Economics, and a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.

Esther Pandian-Riske, MA, MAPSS is the Program Director of the Graduate Student-at-Large (GSAL) Program at the University of Chicago. Originally from Singapore, she brings a global perspective to her role, shaped by her own experience as an international student. She holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Chicago: a Master of Arts from the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences and a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy Studies.

With over 20 years of academic advising and leadership experience, Esther has held key roles across prestigious institutions, including Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Illinois at Chicago Honors College, Dean of Multicultural Affairs at the Latin School of Chicago, and Assistant Dean of Students for the Graduate Division of the Social Sciences at the University of Chicago.

In her role at GSAL, Esther is dedicated to fostering an exceptional academic experience for her students. She specializes in guiding students as they explore research interests, map out courses, and connect with faculty and admissions directors to successfully transition into MA or PhD programs. She also facilitates a vibrant community through initiatives such as the weekly Thursday Graduate Students’ Happy Hour, which connects current students with alumni to promote networking, mentorship, and camaraderie. Esther welcomes the opportunity to connect with prospective students, current participants, and alumni, offering guidance and support at every stage of their academic and professional journeys

Esther’s work is rooted in a genuine commitment to helping students succeed. Through her guidance and emphasis on building connections, she ensures that students make the most of their time in the GSAL program while feeling supported every step of the way.

Daniel Hutter is a Returning Scholar and alumnus of the University of Chicago Graham School’s Basic Program of Liberal Education for Adults, from which he graduated in 2024. A physician by training, Daniel earned his Doctor of Medicine from Thomas Jefferson University and built a distinguished career as an ophthalmologist. Over the past decade, he has transitioned from full-time clinical practice to becoming an educator and global expert in cataract blindness eradication. He currently serves as a Virtual Reality Simulation Educator and Consultant with HelpMeSee, where he helps train surgeons worldwide. As a lifelong learner, Daniel continues to engage deeply with rigorous interdisciplinary study at UChicago, with particular interest in philosophy of science, artificial intelligence, and the intersection of science and liberal thought.

Cynthia Barnard is a Returning Scholar whose academic journey reflects a rich and interdisciplinary intellectual life. She holds a PhD and serves as a faculty member at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, bringing decades of experience in biomedical science and healthcare leadership. Through the Graham School’s Returning Scholars program, Cindy has immersed herself in advanced study in the humanities, with a particular focus on Jewish Studies and the Great Books tradition. Her academic background also includes formative study at St. John’s College, informing her deep appreciation for close reading, dialogue, and rigorous textual engagement. Cindy’s path exemplifies how accomplished professionals continue to return to the classroom to pursue intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning.