The IDS Student Leadership Council

The Information Design & Strategy Student Leadership Council is a student-led organization that provides opportunities and resources to augment the IDS student experience and advocates for the student body. The IDS Student Leadership Council acts as a liaison with staff and faculty, plans events, keeps students informed on relevant topics, and curates spaces for IDS students to network and support each other. It plays a role in ensuring that IDS graduates and alumni are equipped with the knowledge and resources necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry of information design. All IDS students and alumni are welcome to participate. 

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Mission Statement

The mission of the IDS Student Leadership Council is to support and enrich IDS students’ academic experience, develop personal and professional communities, and promote and protect inclusion of diverse perspectives.

Vision Statement

Graduates of the Northwestern IDS program will feel a sense of comradery with their classmates and a deep understanding of Information Design in practice.

   

Let's Connect

Current, former, and prospective students are invited to join our LinkedIn group, or contact us via email. Current IDS students and alumni are also encouraged to join our Facebook Group.

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IDS Student Leadership Council FAQs

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Where can I find more information about events and initiatives?

Information about the latest activities and events for the IDS Student Leadership Council can be found in multiple places:

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email idsstudentleadership@u.northwestern.edu.

What is the history of the IDS Student Leadership Council?

The IDS Student Leadership Council was organized for the first time in the winter quarter of 2020–21. The founding members were selected by SPS staff through an application process. Student Leadership Councils exist in other SPS graduate programs, as well.

How can I get involved in the SLC?

Council positions are a two-year commitment and anyone interested in joining the council may apply for available positions when vacancies are announced.

Nonetheless, IDS students are encouraged to play an active role the initiatives of the SLC by participating in community discussions on social media, regularly attending events, checking the Canvas platform for current information about SLC activities, and providing feedback (which can be done via email, social media, or our Canvas discussion board).

What is the application process for the SLC?

Council positions require a one-year commitment and, when a term is set to expire, the position is opened for applications. The application process consists of (1) submission of required materials and (2) an interview process for final candidates. Priority for officer positions is given to current IDS students (with the exception of an Alumni Chair, if instituted) and new officers are selected by the sitting President and Vice President of Operations.

Is the SLC a volunteer-based organization?

Yes, all SLC positions are on a volunteer basis.

What are the roles of each SLC position?

President

  • Act as central representative of student leadership council
  • Determine and communicate council strategy, priorities, and agenda 
  • Take the lead in ensuring the continuance of the council from year-to-year, including transition planning and managing access to SLC assets
  • Take responsibility of other offices or necessary duties, if assigned offices are unable to fulfill their responsibilities and General Council is unable to assist
Vice President of Operations
  • Serve as the lead for SLC operations and project management
  • Support President in determining council strategy, priorities, and agenda
  • Co-lead the scheduling and execution of board meetings 
  • Act as central representative of student leadership council in the absence of the  President 
  • Provide logistical assistance with board events 
Events Chair
  • Lead and execute event logistics
  • Serve as lead manager of Eventbrite or registration system
  • Coordinate event announcements and communications with Communications Chair
  • Provide event recap write-ups and work with Advocacy and Analytics Chair to assess event KPI’s, as well as propose improvements or ideas for future events
Content & Communications Chair
  • Manage development and delivery of SLC email announcements, including but not limited to updates, initiatives, and event invitations
  • Coordinate with the team to build the communications calendar
  • Manage communications with students through all channels
  • Manage social media platforms, including development and publishing of social media content
  • Coordinate with DEI chair to develop and maintain inclusive messaging and content
Visual Communications Chair
  • Create digital and print assets to promote the IDS program, SLC and/or SLC events and initiatives
  • Coordinate with Content & Communications Chair and Events Chair to develop all visual content
  • Capture and collect documentation and assets related to SLC events and efforts (photographs, videos, and other media)
  • Support Content & Communications Chair as needed for social media publishing
Community Engagement Chair
  • Coordinate with Content & Communications Chair & Visual Communications Chair on social media platforms and digital/print asset creation
  • Develop and maintain engaging messaging and content
  • Coordinate with Events Chair to plan engaging events for students
  • Work with Advocacy & Analytics Chair to build out student surveys to gauge interest and satisfaction/feedback
  • Research community engagement resources
Advocacy and Analytics Chair
  • Leads the collection and analysis of data in order to assess the effectiveness of SLC initiatives, as it pertains to fulfilling the SLC mission
  • Researches developments in the field of Information Design, in collaboration with IDS faculty and students, to propose relevant curricular changes to the SLC and IDS program
  • Collaborates with Events Coordinator and Communications Chair to insure that all events and communications reflect community and serve the SLC mission and student body
General Counsel
  • At least one of the two General Counsel members must be in attendance at all council meetings and take minutes
  • Assist on basic event logistics, as well as capturing assets for the board to use for communications purposes (video and photography of event attendees and panel speakers) 
  • Assist with other council needs when other members are absent or positions are vacant; make sure there’s  council presence at the open council meetings and events
Alumni Chair
  • Provide insight from previous experience within the program
  • Propose and develop effective communication process with IDS alums to notify them about events and help them stay connected with the IDS program
  • Assist with other council needs when other members are absent or positions are vacant; make sure there is council presence at the open council meetings and events

IDS Student Leadership Council Members

Ryan J. Hough

PRESIDENT

Photo of Ryan HoughRyan J. Hough serves as President of the Information Design and Strategy Student Leadership Council at Northwestern University, where he bridges the intersection of data visualization, strategic communication, and human-centered design. As an MS candidate specializing in data visualization and content communication, Hough leads initiatives to connect students with industry professionals and advance the discourse in information design practice.

Professionally, Hough applies design thinking and strategic communication principles at McMaster-Carr, where he develops materials ranging from employee communications to C-suite documentation. His interdisciplinary background in artificial intelligence, international business, design technology, and information strategy positions him to advocate for the transformative power of thoughtful information design in organizational and societal contexts.

 

Olivia Tarvers

VICE-PRESIDENT

Olivia Tarvers is a Registered Nurse and an IDS student on track to graduate in the spring of 2026. She’s worked on prescription and non-prescription therapeutics for health challenges like MS, depression, substance and opioid use disorders, chronic insomnia, and diabetes. She loves user research, thinking through and mapping a patient’s product experience, and building products that prioritize health literacy.

Her goal is to use her creativity and diverse background to make healthcare more equitable and accessible through digital products.

 

Cassandra Desrosiers

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHAIR

LinkedIN

Photo of Cassandra DesrosiersCassandra Desrosiers is the Community Engagement Chair of the IDS Student Leadership Council at Northwestern University. With a background in sociology and web development, she brings a human-centered yet technical approach to community building and digital strategy. In her role, she focuses on designing inclusive experiences—both online and offline—that reflect the values and diversity of the IDS community.

Desrosiers's foundation in sociology shapes how she listens, connects, and creates space for dialogue, while her experience as a web designer helps her translate ideas into clear, accessible tools. As a creative technologist and UX Engineer, she is especially interested in the intersection of technology and design, applying both through storytelling and community impact.

Outside of school, Desrosiers is a toddler mom and runs a digital studio that helps purpose-driven brands and local small businesses build a strong online presence. Across her leadership and client work, she is committed to creating systems that are strategic, human, and designed to inspire action.

 

Summer Chaves

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR

Photo of Summer ChavesSummer Chaves is a UX/UI designer, strategist, and behavioral researcher currently pursuing her MS in Information Design & Strategy at Northwestern University. With a background in neuroscience and a deep curiosity about how people think, feel, and connect, she designs experiences that blend empathy with systems thinking — building digital spaces that feel intuitive, inclusive, and quietly bold.

Chaves serves as the Visual Communications Chair on Northwestern’s Student Leadership Council, where she helps translate complex ideas into clear, beautiful stories. Her work lives at the intersection of behavioral science, emotional storytelling, and human-centered design, with a particular focus on access, trust, and care — especially for those who are often overlooked by traditional systems.

Outside of school, Chaves can usually be found exploring Chicago with her husband and two dogs, editing film photos, or working on her capstone project — a neuro-sustainable redesign of hospital food systems that treats nourishment as a design opportunity, not just a logistical task.

Chaves is currently seeking full-time roles in sustainability, nonprofit, or healthcare design — spaces where she can keep reaching for all the figs.

 

Michael Swanson

ALUMNI CHAIR

Photo of Michael SwansonMichael Swanson graduated with a Master of Science in Information Design and Strategy from Northwestern University in 2022. His professional background in Information Technology, combined with the IDS program, led him to develop the Educational Technology Management Framework (ETMF). The ETMF integrates COBIT principles with Northwestern’s Information Design and Strategy methodologies to establish a comprehensive approach for managing and implementing educational technology.

Swanson directly implemented the newly created ETMF framework and continues to utilize it in his professional career as a Director of Technology at Proviso Township High Schools District 209. Swanson continues to emphasize the importance of alignment of technological innovation with institutional goals to advance both operational efficiency and educational outcomes.

 

Katy Kaushansky

GENERAL COUNCIL

Photo of Katy KaushanskyKaty Kaushansky is pursuing a Master of Science in Information Design & Strategy with a specialization in UX/UI. Kaushansky is a design researcher, strategist, and founder of K Squared Insights, a healthcare-focused research and strategy consultancy. She is passionate about turning insights into action, helping organizations navigate complex challenges, uncover opportunities, and design solutions that drive meaningful impact. In her free time, she enjoys teaching horseback riding, travel, and walking with her dog on Chicago’s lakefront trail.

 

Roger McMinn

FACULTY ADVISOR

Photo of Roger McMinnRoger McMinn is an Adjunct Lecturer in Northwestern’s IDS program and a Vice President of Marketing for BNY Mellon. McMinn has worked in marketing and communications for more than 25 years for well-known companies like Vanguard, Nuveen, and Nationwide. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Penn State University and an MBA in Marketing from Drexel University. McMinn is also a graduate of the Northwestern IDS program, and has previously taught IDS 403: Effective Communication. McMinn lives outside of Philadelphia, PA, with his wife, three kids, and two dogs.

View Professor McMinn's full bio on the IDS Faculty website. 

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