Sandra Lopez, MBA

University Talent Partner @ McMaster-Carr

About

With a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois Chicago and a foundational Bachelor's degree in Spanish, my journey has led me to serve as the Assistant Director of Recruitment and Engagement at the University of Illinois Chicago. Leveraging CRM tools, I've honed my skills in customer success and business consulting, ensuring peak engagement and recruitment strategies align with our institution's vision. Previously, as a recruiter for UIC's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Liautaud Graduate School of Business, my role encompassed strategic planning and active engagement with potential students at various events. Our team's collaborative efforts yielded innovative recruitment methods, and by regularly analyzing data and trends, we adapted our strategies to meet evolving enrollment needs. I'm dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and experiences, contributing to the dynamic culture at UIC.

Country

United States

City

Greater Chicago Area

Industry

Higher Education

Skill

Creative Strategy, Consumer Behavior, Analytical Skills, Sales Performance, Customer Success, Solution Selling, Business Process, Quantitative Analytics, Data Analysis, Business Case Preparation, Analytics, Creative Problem Solving, Business Value, Processes Development, Journey Mapping, Logical Approach, Qualitative Research, Original Thinker, Business Requirements, Business Knowledge

Experience

University Talent Partner

McMaster-Carr

2025-8 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

Assistant Director of Recruitment and Engagement

University of Illinois Chicago

2024-8 - 2025-9 · 1 yr 2 mos

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Liautaud Graduate School of Business

University of Illinois Chicago

2023-8 - 2024-8 · 1 yr 1 mo

Chicago, Illinois, United States

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University of Illinois Chicago

2021-11 - 2023-8 · 1 yr 10 mos

Correspondence & Partnership Lead

State of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission

2020-6 - 2021-11 · 1 yr 6 mos

Agriculture Extension Agent

Peace Corps

2020-2 - 2020-3 · 2 mos

Antananarivo, Madagascar

● Trained in Malagasy (language spoken in Madagascar), Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition to prepare for an agroforestry, conservation agriculture and nutrition education position in the community of Eastern Madagascar ● Gained hands-on experience to implement techniques for improved capacity in small, local, bio-intensive, climate-smart, food production to increase daily availability of and access to nutrient-dense food for household consumption

Next Generation Intern

Chicago Council on Global Affairs

2019-1 - 2019-6 · 6 mos

Chicago, IL

● Managed multiple database projects (in Salesforce and Excel) and created reports in order to track fundraising gifts and Emerging Leaders’ career trends and accomplishments ● Contacted 30+ area businesses (restaurants, exercise studios and recreational facilities) via phone and email to encourage donations for the annual Young Professionals silent auction; resulting in 10+ donations of items ● Researched future speakers in order to develop engaging PowerPoint presentations and/or handouts to inform attendees about current issues pertaining to program ● Reviewed news articles about Emerging Leaders and identifed recent noteworthy events to include in social media posts highlighting Emerging Leader alumni ● Communicated with communication’s team to update on any particular news (noteworthy events, job promotions) to add to SalesForce data ● Staffed 3+ events per month assisting with various tasks including ushering guests to their seats, passing microphone to guests during question/ answer sessions, setting up meeting rooms and displaying materials appropriately